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Biographical  Sketches  of  Prominent  and  Representative  Citizens, 
Together  with  Biographies  Oi  a  i  the 

Soveniors  of  the  Itate,  and  of  the  fresideiits 

Ol=    THE     UNITED     STMTES. 


CHICAGO: 
LAKE  CITY  PUBLISHING  CO. 

1893 


pi^Ep/^QE 


^>;^ -1-0-*- <5^- 

5 1  IE  greatest  of  English  historians,  Macaulat,  aud  one  of  the  most  brilliant  writers  of 
the  present  ceutiuy,  has  said:  "The  history  of  a  country  is  best  told  iu  a  record  of  the 
lives  of  its  people."  In  conformity  with  this  idea  the  Portrait  and  Biographical 
Record  fjf  ^jjjg  county  has  been  prepared.  Instead  of  going  to  musty  records,  and 
taking  therefrom  dry  statistical  matter  that  can  be  appi-eciated  by  but  few,  our 
corps  of  writers  have  gone  to  the  people,  the  men  and  women  who  have,  by  their 
enterprise  and  industry,  brought  the  county  to  rank  second  to  none  among  those 
comprising  this  great  and  noble  State,  and  from  tlieir  lips  have  the  story  of  their  life 
struggles.  No  more  interesting  or  instructive  matter  could  be  presented  to  an  intelli- 
gent public.  In  this  volume  will  be  found  a  record  of  many  whose  lives  are  worthy  the 
imitation  of  coming  generations.  It  tells  how  some,  commencing  life  in  poverty,  by 
industry  and  economy  have  accumulated  wealth.  It  tells  how  others,  with  limited 
advantages  for  securing  an  education,  have  become  learned  men  and  women,  with  an 
influence  extending  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land.  It  tells  of  men  who 
have  risen  from  the  lower  walks  of  life  to  eminence  as  statesmen,  and  whose  names  have 
become  famous.  It  tells  of  those  iu  every  walk  in  life  who  have  striven  to  succeed,  and 
records  how  that  success  has  usually  crowned  their  efforts.  It  tells  also  of  man}',  very 
many,  who,  not  seeking  the  applause  of  the  world,  have  pursued  "the  even  tenor  of  their  way,"  content 
to  have  it  said  of  them  as  Christ  said  of  the  woman  performing  a  deed  of  mercy — "they  have  done  what 
they  could."  It  tells  how  that  many  in  the  pride  and  strength  of  young  manhood  left  the  plow  and  the 
anvil,  the  lawyer's  office  and  the  counting-room,  left  every  trade  and  profession,  and  at  their  countiy's 
call  went  forth  valiantly  "to  do  or  die,"  and  how  through  their  efforts  the  Union  was  restored  and  peace 
once  more  reigned  in  the  land.  In  the  life  of  every  man  and  of  every  woman  is  a  lesson  that  should  not 
be  lost  upon  those  who  follow  after. 

Coming  generations  will  appreciate  this  volume  and  preserve  it  as  a  sacred  treasure,  from  the  fact 
that  it  contains  so  much  that  would  never  find  its  way  into  public  records,  aud  which  would  otlierwise  be 
inaccessible.  Great  care  has  been  taken  in  the  compilation  of  the  work  and  every  opportunity^  possible 
"given  to  those  represented  to  insure  correctness  in  what  has  been  written,  and  the  publishers  flatter  them- 
selves that  they  give  to  their  readers  a  work  with  few  errors  of  consequence.  In  addition  to  the  biograpb 
ical  sketches,  portraits  of  a  number  of  representative  citizens  are  given. 

The  faces  of  some,  and  biographical  sketches  of  many,  will  be  missed  in  this  volume.     For  this  the 

publishers  are   not   to   blame.     Not   having  a  proper  conception  of  the  work,  some  refused  to  give  the 

?  information  necessary  to  compile  a  sketch,  while  others  were  indifferent.     Occasionally  some  member  of 

Ithe  family  would  oppose  the  enterprise,  and  on  account  of  such  opposition  the  support  of  the  interested 
one  would  be  withheld.  In  a  few  instances  men  could  never  be  found,  though  repeated  calls  were  made 
at  their  residence  or  place  of  business. 

May,   1893.  Lakk.  Crrv  Pi  i:i.isiiiN('rC«). 


I  375232 


'i\fp%^u.->^' 


OF  THE 


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OF  THE 


lLIMOIS 


FIRST  FRESIDKNT. 


M 


o 


HE  Father  of  our  Country  was 
born  in  Westmorland  Co.,  Va., 
Feb.  2  2,  1732.  His  parents 
were  Augustine  and  Mary 
(Ball)  Washington.  The  family 
to  which  he  belonged  has  not 
been  satisfactorily  traced  in 
England.  His  great-grand- 
father, John  Washington,  em- 
igrated to  Virginia  about  1657, 
and  became  a  prosperous 
planter.  He  had  two  sons, 
I  "wrence  and  John.  The 
former  married  Mildred  Warner 
and  had  three  children,  John, 
Augustine  and  Mildred.  Augus- 
tine, the  father  of  George,  first 
married  Jane  Butler,  who  bore 
him  four  children,  two  of  whom, 
Lawrence  and  Augustine,  reached 
maturity.  Of  six  children  by  his 
second  marriage,  George  was  the 
eldest,  the  others  being  Betty, 
Samuel,  John  Augustine,  Charles 
and  Mildred. 
Augustine  Washington,  the  father  of  George,  died 
in  1743,  leaving  a  large  landed  property.  To  his 
eldest  son,  Lawrence,  he  bequeathed  an  estate  on 
the  Patomac,  afterwards  known  as  Mount  Vernon, 
and  to  George  he  left  the  parental  residence.  George 
received  only  such  education  as  the  neighborhood 
schools  aflbrded,  save  for  a  short  time  after  he  left 
school,  when  he  received  private  inr,truction  in 
matheniat'cs.       His    spellin(i   was   rather   defectiv«. 


■^g^'*:^%'.^■J^c^'.%^tiSi'^^l^^^^^^^^■«■^>'d^^^V' 


Remarkable  stories  are  told  of  his  great  ijhysica^ 
strength  and  development  at  an  early  age.  He  was 
an  acknowledged  leader  among  his  companions,  and 
was  early  noted  for  that  nobleness  of  character,  fair- 
ness and  veracity  which  characterized  his  whole  life. 

AVhenGeorgewasi4yearsoldhehadadesiretogoto 
sea,  and  a  midshipman's  warrant  was  secured  for  him, 
but  through  the  opposition  of  his  mother  the  idea  was 
abandoned.  Two  years  later  he  was  appointed 
surveyor  to  the  immense  estate  of  Lord  Fairfax.  In 
this  business  he  spent  three  years  in  a  rough  frontier 
life,  gaining  experience  which  afterwards  proved  very 
essential  to  him.  In  175  i,  though  only  19  years  of 
age,  he  was  appointed  adjutant  with  the  rank  of 
major  in  the  Virginia  militia,  then  being  trained  for 
active  service  against  the  French  and  Indians.  Soon 
after  this  he  sailed  to  the  West  Indies  with  his  brother 
Lawrer.ce,  who  went  there  to  restore  his  health.  They 
soon  returned,  and  in  the  summer  of  1752  Lawrence 
died,  leaving  a  large  fortune  to  an  infant  daughter 
who  did  not  long  survive  him.  On  her  demise  the 
estate  of  Mount  Vernon  was  given  to  George. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  Robert  Dinwiddie,  as  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor of  Virginia,  in  1752,  the  militia  wa? 
reorganized,  and  the  province  divided  into  four  mili- 
tary districts,  of  which  the  northern  was  assigned  to 
Washington  as  adjutant  general.  Shortly  after  this 
a  very  perilous  mission  was  assigned  him  and  ac- 
cepted, which  others  had  refused.  This  was  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  French  post  near  Lake  Erie  m  North- 
western Pennsylvania.  The  distance  to  be  traversed 
was  between  500  and  600  miles.  Winter  was  at  hand, 
and  the  journey  was  to  be  made  without  military 
escort,  through  a  territory  occupied  by  Indians.     Tb« 


GEORGE   WASHINGTON. 


trip  was  a  perilous  one,  and  several  limes  he  came  near 
losing  his  life,  yet  he  returned  in  safety  and  furnished 
a  full  and  useful  report  of  his  expedition.  A  regiment 
of  300  men  was  raised  in  Virginia  and  put  in  com- 
mand of  Col.  Joshua  Fry,  and  Major  Washington  was 
commissioned  lieutenant-colonel.  Active  war  was 
then  begun  against  the  French  and  Indians,  in  which 
Washington  took  a  most  important  part.  In  the 
memorable  event  of  July  9,  1755,  known  as  Brad- 
dock's  defeat,  Washington  was  almost  the  only  officer 
of  distinction  who  escaped  from  the  calamities  of  the 
day  with  life  and  honor.  The  other  aids  of  Braddock 
vvere  disabled  early  in  the  action,  and  Washington 
alone  was  left  in  that  capacity  on  the  field.  In  a  letter 
to  his  brother  he  says :  "  I  had  four  bullets  through 
my  coat,  and  two  horses  shot  under  me,  yet  I  escaped 
unhurt,  though  death  was  levelino  my  companions 
on  every  side."  An  Indian  sharpshooter  said  he  was 
not  born  to  be  killed  by  a  bullet,  for  he  had  taken 
direct  aim  at  him  seventeen  times,  and  failed  to  hit 
him. 

After  having  been  five  years  in  the  military  service, 
and  vainly  sought  promotion  in  the  royal  army,  he 
took  advantage  of  the  fall  of  Fort  Duquesne  and  the 
expulsion  of  the  French  from  the  valley  of  the  Ohio, 
to  resign  his  conmiission.  Soon  after  he  entered  the 
Legislature,  where,  although  not  a  leader,  he  look  an 
active  and  important  part.  January  17,  1759,  he 
married  Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge)  Custis,  the  wealthy 
widow  of  John  Parke  Custis. 

When  the  British  Pariiament  had  closed  the  port 
•jf  Boston,  the  cry  went  up  throughout  the  provinces 
that  "The  cause  of  Boston  is  the  cause  of  us  all." 
It  was  then,  at  the  suggestion  of  Virginia,  that  a  Con- 
gress of  all  the  colonies  was  called  to  meet  at  Phila- 
delphia,Sept.  5,  1774,  to  secure  their  common  liberties, 
peaceably  if  possible.  To  this  Congress  Col.  Wash- 
ington was  sent  as  a  delegate.  On  May  :o,  1775,  the 
Congress  re-assembled,  when  the  hostile  intentions  of 
England  were  plainly  apparent.  The  battles  of  Con- 
cord and  Lexington  had  been  fought.  Among  the 
first  acts  of  this  Congress  was  the  election  of  a  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  colonial  forces.  This  high  and 
responsible  office  was  conferred  upon  Washington, 
who  was  still  a  memberof  the  Congress.  He  accepted 
it  on  June  19,  but  upon  the  express  condition  that  he 
receive  no  salary.  He  would  keep  an  exact  account 
of  expenses  and  expect  Congress  to  pay  them  and 
nothing  more.  It  is  not  the  object  of  this  sketch  to 
trace  the  military  acts  of  Washington,  to  whom  the 
fortunes  and  liberties  of  the  people  of  this  country 
were  so  long  confided.  The  war  was  conducted  by 
him  under  every  possible  disadvantage,  and  while  his 
forces  often  met  with  reverses,  yet  he  overcame  every 
obstacle,  and  after  seven  years  of  heroic  devotion 
and  matchless  skill  he  gained  liberty  for  the  greatest 
nation  of  earth.  On  Dec.  23,  1783,  Washington,  in 
a  parting  address  of  surpassing  beauty,  resigned  his 


commission  as  commander-in-chief  of  the  army  to 
to  the  Continental  Congress  sitting  at  Annapolis.  He 
retired  immediately  to  Mount  Vernon  and  resumed 
his  occupation  as  a  farmer  and  planter,  shunning  all 
connection  with  public  life. 

In  February, 1 7 89,  Washington  was  unanimously 
elected  President.  In  liis  presidential  career  he  was 
subject  to  the  peculiar  trials  incidental  to  a  new 
government ;  trials  from  lack  of  confidence  on  the  part 
of  other  governments;  trials  from  want  of  harmony 
between  the  different  sections  of  our  own  country; 
trials  from  the  impoverished  condition  of  the  country, 
owing  to  the  war  and  want  of  credit;  trials  from  the 
begiuTiings  of  party  strife.  He  was  no  partisan.  His 
clear  judg.nent  could  discern  the  golden  mean;  and 
while  perhaps  this  alone  kept  our  government  from 
sinking  at  the  very  outset,  it  left  him  exposed  to 
attacks  from  both  sides,  which  were  often  bitter  and 
very  annoying. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  he  was  unani- 
mously re-elected.  At  the  end  of  this  term  many 
were  anxious  that  he  be  re-elected,  but  he  absolutely 
refused  a  third  nomination.  On  the  fourth  of  March, 
1797,  at  the  expiraton  of  his  second  term  as  Presi- 
dent, he  returned  to  his  home,  hoping  to  pass  there 
his  few  remaining  yeais  free  from  the  annoyances  of 
public  life.  Later  in  the  year,  however,  his  repose 
seemed  likely  to  be  interrupted  by  war  with  France- 
At  the  prospect  of  such  a  war  he  was  again  urged  to 
take  command  of  the  armies.  He  chose  his  sub- 
ordinate officers  and  left  to  them  the  charge  of  mat- 
ters in  the  field,  which  he  superintended  from  his 
home.  In  accepting  the  command  he  made  the 
reservation  that  he  was  not  to  be  in  the  field  until 
it  was  necessary.  In  the  midst  of  these  preparations 
his  life  was  suddenly  cut  off.  December  12,  he  took 
a  severe  cold  from  a  ride  in  the  rain,  which,  settling 
in  his  throat,  produced  inflammation,  and  terminated 
fatally  on  the  night  of  the  fourteenth.  On  the  eigh- 
teenth his  body  was  borne  with  military  honors  to  its 
final  resting  place,  and  interred  in  the  family  vault  at 
Mount  Vernon. 

Of  the  character  of  Washington  it  is  impossible  to 
speak  but  in  terms  of  the  highest  respect  and  ad- 
miration. The  more  we  see  of  the  operations  of 
our  government,  and  the  more  deeply  we  feel  the 
difficulty  of  uniting  all  opinions  in  a  common  interest, 
the  more  highly  we  must  estimate  the  force  of  his  tal- 
ent and  character,  which  have  be-^n  able  to  challenge 
the  reverence  of  all  parties,  and  principles,  and  na- 
tions, and  to  win  a  fame  as  extended  as  the  limits 
of  the  globe,  and  which  we  cannot  but  believe  will 
he  as  lasting  as  the  existence  of  man. 

The  person  of  Washington  was  unusally  tan,  erect 
and  well  proportioned.  His  muscular  strength  was 
great.  His  features  were  of  a  beautiful  symmetry'. 
He  commanded  respect  without  any  appearance  of 
haughtiness,  and  ever  serious  without  l-veing  dull. 


?«l^^''       ^ 

mt^  ^ 


y^^n  J^/m-i^j 


SECOND  PRESIDENT. 


=5 


:yi-...t4,.t».t.4'»4.t..Jwfet;.>t..feA>VJi 


\J  OHN    ADAMS,     the 


second 
-  President  and  the    first    Vice- 

lb 

"  President  of  tlie  United  States, 
was  born  in  Braintree  ( now 
Quincy  ),Mass.,  and  about  ten 
miles  from  Boston,  Oct.  19, 
^  1735-  His  great-grandfather,  Henry 
Adams,  emigrated  from  England 
about  1640,  with  a  family  of  eight 
sons,  and  settled  at  Braintree.  The 
parents  of  John  were  John  and 
Susannah  (Boylston)  Adams.  His 
father  was  a  farmer  of  limited 
means,  to  which  he  added  the  bus- 
iness of  shoemaking.  He  gave  his 
eldest  son,  John,  a  classical  educa- 
tion at  Harvard  College.  John 
graduated  in  1755,  and  at  once  took  charge  of  the 
school  in  Worcester,  Mass.  This  he  found  but  a 
''school  of  affliction,"  from  which  he  endeavored  to 
gain  relief  by  devoting  himself,  in  addition,  to  the 
study  of  law.  For  this  purpose  he  placed  himself 
under  the  tuition  of  the  only  lawyer  in  the  town.  He 
had  thought  seriously  of  the  clerical  profession 
but  seems  to  have  been  turned  from  this  by  what  he 
termed  "  the  frightful  engines  of  ecclesiastical  coun- 
jils,  of  diabolical  malice,  and  Calvanistic  good  nature,'' 
of  the  operations  of  which  he  had  been  a  witness  in 
his  native  town.  He  was  well  fitted  for  the  legal 
profession,  possessing  a  clear,  sonorous  voice,  being  ' 
ready  and  fluent  of  speech,  and  having  quick  percep- 
tive ix)wers.  He  gradually  gained  practice,  and  in 
1764  married  Abigail  Smith,  a  daughter  of  a  minister, 
and  a  lady  of  superior  intelligence.  Shortly  after  his 
marriage,  (1765),  the  attempt  of  Parliamentary  taxa- 
tion turned  him  from  law  to  politics.  He  took  initial 
steps  toward  holding,  a  town  meeting,  and  the   resolu- 


tions he  offered  on  the  subject  became  very  populai 
throughout  the  Provnice,  and  were  adopted  word  for 
word  by  over  forty  different  towns.  He  moved  to  Bos- 
ton in  1768,  and  became  one  of  the  most  courageous 
and  prominent  advocatesof  the  popular  cause,  and 
was  chosen  a  member  of  the  General  Court  (the  Leg- 
lislature)  in  1770. 

Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  delegates 
from  Massachusetts  to  the  first  Continental  Congress, 
which  met  in  1774.  Here  he  distinguished  himselt 
by  his  capacity  for  business  and  for  debate,  and  ad- 
vocated the  movement  for  independence  against  th^ 
majority  of  the  members.  In  May,  1776,  he  mcved 
and  carried  a  resolution  in  Congress  that  the  Colonies! 
should  assume  the  duties  of  self-government.  H^ 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  committee  of  nvej 
appointed  June  11,  to  prepare  a  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence. This  article  was  drawn  by  Jefferson,  but 
on  Adams  devolved  the  task  of  batding  it  through 
Congress  in  a  three  days  debate. 

On  the  day  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  passed,  while  his  soul  was  yet  warm  with  th; 
glow  of  e.xcited  feeling,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  wife 
which,  as  we  read  it  now,  seems  to  have  been  dictated 
by  the  spirit  of  prophecy.  "Yesterday,"  he  says,  "the 
greatest  question  was  decided  that  ever  was  debated 
in  .America;  and  greater,  perhaps,  never  was  or  wil 
be  decided  among  men.  A  resolution  was  passed 
without  one  dissenting  colony,  '  that  these  United 
States  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  inde- 
pendent states.'  The  day  is  passed.  The  fourth  of 
July,  1776,  will  be  a  memorable  epoch  in  the  history 
of  America.  I  am  apt  to  believe  it  will  be  celebrated 
by  succeeding  generations,  as  the  great  anniversary 
festival.  It  ought  to  be  commemorated  as  the  day  of 
deliverance  by  solemn  acts  of  devotion  to  Almighty 
Ciod.     It  ought  to  be  solemnized  with  ]K>mp,  shows. 


24 


JOHN  ADAMS. 


games,  sports,  guns,  bells,  bonfires,  and  illuminations 
from  one  end  of  the  continent  to  the  other,  from  this 
time  forward  for  ever.  You  will  think  me  transported 
with  enthusiasm,  but  I  am  not.  1  am  well  aware  of 
the  toil,  and  blood  and  treasure,  that  it  will  cost  to 
maintain  this  declaration,  and  support  and  defend 
these  States;  yet,  through  all  the  gloom,  I  can  see  the 
rays  of  light  and  glory.  I  can  see  that  the  eud  is 
worth  more  than  all  the  means;  and  that  posterity 
will  triumph,  although  you  and  I  may  rue,  which  I 
hope  we  shall  not." 

In  November,  1777,  Mr.  Adams  was  appointed  a 
ddegate  to  France,  and  to  co-operate  with  Bemjamin 
Franklin  and  Arthur  Lee,  who  were  then  in  Paris,  in 
the  endeavor  to  obtain  assistance  in  arms  and  money 
from  the  French  Government.  This  was  a  severe  trial 
to  his  patriotism,  as  it  separated  him  from  his  home, 
compelled  him  to  cross  the  ocean  in  winter,  and  ex- 
posed him  to  great  peril  of  capture  by  the  British  cruis- 
ers, who  were  seeking  him.  He  left  France  June  17, 
1779.  In  September  of  the  same  year  he  was  again 
chosen  to  go  to  Paris,  and  there  hold  himself  in  readi- 
ness to  negotiate  a  treaty  of  peace  and  of  commerce 
with  Great  Britian,  as  soon  as  the  British  Cabinet 
might  be  found  willing  to  listen  to  such  pvoposels.  He 
sailed  for  France  in  November,  from  there  he  went  to 
Holland,  wliere  he  negotiated  important  loans  and 
formed  iuiportant  commercial  treaties. 

Finally  a  treaty  of  peace  with  England  was  signed 
Jan.  21,  1783.  The  re-action  from  the  excitement, 
toil  and  anxiety  through  which  Mr.  Adams  had  passed 
threw  him  into  a  fever.  After  suffering  from  a  con- 
tinued fever  and  becoming  feeble  and  emaciated  he 
was  advised  to  go  to  England  to  drink  the  waters  of 
Bath.  While  in  England,  still  drooping  anddesiwnd- 
ing,  he  received  dispatches  from  his  own  government 
urging  the  necessity  of  his  going  to  Amsterdam  to 
negotiate  another  loan.  It  was  winter,  his  health  was 
deUcate,  yet  he  immediately  set  out,  and  through 
storm,  on  sea,  on  horseback  and  foot,hemade  the  trip. 

February  24,  1785,  Congress  ap[X)inted  Mr.  Adams 
envoy  to  the  Court  of  St.  James.  Here  he  met  face 
to  face  the  King  of  England,  who  had  so  long  re- 
garded him  as  a  traitor.  As  England  did  not 
condescend  to  appoint  a  minister  to  the  United 
States,  and  as  Mr.  Adams  felt  that  he  was  accom- 
plishing but  little,  he  sought  jjermission  to  return  to 
nis  own  country,  where  he  arrived  in  June,  1788. 

When  Washington  was  first  chosen  President,  John 
.\danis,  rendered  illustiious  by  his  signal  services  at 
home  and  abroad,  was  chosen  Vice  President,  .\gain 
at  the  second  election  of  Washington  as  President, 
Adams  was  chosen  Vice  President.  In  1796,  Wash- 
ington retired  from  public  life,  and  Mr.  Adams  was 
elected  President, though  not  without  much  opposition. 
Serving  in  this  office  four  years,he  was  succeeded  by 
Air.  Jefferson,  his  opponent  in  politics. 

"JVhile   Mr.  Adams  was  Vice  President  the   great 


French  Revolution  shook  the  continent  of  Euroi>e, 
and  it  was  upon  this  point  which  he  was  at  issue  with 
the  majority  of  his  countrymen  led  by  Mr.  Jefferson. 
Mr.  Adams  felt  no  sympathy  with  the  French  people 
in  their  struggle,  for  he  had  no  confidence  in  their 
[X)wer  of  self-government,  and  he  utterly  abhored  the 
classof  atheist  philosophers  who  he  claimed  caused  it. 
On  the  other  hand  Jefferson's  sympathies  were  strongly 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  French  people.  Hence  or- 
iginated the  alienation  between  these  distinguished 
men,  and  two  powerful  parties  were  thus  soon  organ- 
ized, Adams  at  the  head  of  the  one  whose  sympathies 
were  with  England  and  Jefferson  led  the  other  in 
sympathy  with  France. 

The  world  has  seldom  seen  a  spectacle  of  more 
moral  beauty  and  grandeur,  than  was  presented  by  the 
old  age  of  Mr.  Adams.  The  violence  of  party  feeling 
had  died  away,  and  he  had  begun  to  receive  that  just 
appreciation  which,  to  most  men,  is  not  accorded  till 
after  death.  No  one  could  look  upon  his  venerable 
form,  and  think  of  what  he  had  done  and  suffered, 
and  how  he  had  given  up  all  the  prime  and  strength 
of  his  life  to  the  public  good,  without  the  deepest 
emotion  of  gratitude  and  respect.  It  was  his  peculiar 
good  fortime  to  witness  the  complete  success  of  the 
institution  which  he  had  been  so  active  in  creating  and 
supporting.  In  1824,  his  cup  of  happiness  was  filled 
to  the  brim,  by  seeing  his  son  elevated  to  the  highest 
station  in  the  gift  of  the  people. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  which  completed  the  half 
century  since  the  signing  of  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence, arrived,  and  there  were  but  three  of  the 
signers  of  •  that  immortal  instrument  left  upon  the 
earth  to  hail  its  morning  light.  And,  as  it  is 
well  known,  on  that  day  two  of  these  finished  theit 
earthly  pilgrimage,  a  coincidence  so  remarkable  as 
to  seem  miraculous.  For  a  few  days  before  Mr. 
Adams  had  been  rapidly  failing,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  fourth  he  found  himself  too  weak  to  rise  from 
his  bed.  On  being  requested  to  name  a  toast  for  the 
customary  celebration  of  the  day,  he  exclaimed  "  In- 
dependence FOREVER."  When  the  day  was  ushered 
in,  by  the  ringing  of  bells  and  the  firing  of  cannons, 
he  was  asked  by  one  of  his  attendants  if  he  knew 
what  day  it  was?  He  replied,  "O  yes;  it  is  the  glor- 
ious fourth  of  July — God  bless  it — God  bless  you  all." 
In  the  course  of  the  day  he  said,  "It  is  a  great  and 
glorious  day."  The  last  words  he  uttered  were, 
"Jefferson  survives."  But  he  had,  at  one  o'clock,  re- 
signed his  spiiit  into  the  hands  of  his  God. 

The  ]iersonal  appearance  and  manners  of  Mr. 
Adams  were  not  particularly  prepossessing.  His  face, 
as  his  portrait  manifests,was  intellectual  and  expres- 
sive, but  his  figure  was  low  and  ungraceful,  and  his 
manners  were  frequently  abrupt  and  uncourteous. 
He  had  neither  the  lofty  dignity  of  Washington,  nor 
the  engaging  elegance  and  gracefulness  which  marked 
the  manners  and  address  of  Jefferson 


iLLI^OiS 


/:. 


THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


»7 


'<;;^ 


"'•i&'^' 


HOMAS  JEFFERSON  was 

born  April  2,  1743.  ^t  Shad- 
i^^well,  Albermarle  county,  Va. 
His  parents  were    Peter  and 
Jane  (Randolph)    Jefferson, 
the  former  a  native  of  Wales, 
and  the  latter  born  in   Lon- 
don.    To  them  were  born  six 
daughters   and   two   sons,  of 
whom  Thomas  was  the  elder. 
When   14  years   of  age    his 
father  died.     He  received  a 
most  liberal  education,    hav- 
ing been  kept  diligently  at  school 
from  the  time  he  was  five  years  ol 
age.     In  1760  he  entered  William 
end  Mary  College.     Williamsburg  was  then  the  seat 
of  ;he  Colonial  Court,  and  it  was  the  obode  of  fashion 
a.,d   splendor.      Young  Jefferson,  who  was  then    17 
years  old,  lived   somewhat   expensively,  keeping  fine 
horses,  and  much  caressed  by   gay  society,    yet    lie 
was  earnestly  devoted  to  his  studies,  and  irreproacha- 
able  in  his  morals.     It   is   strange,   however,    under 
such  influences,that  he  was  not  ruined.     In  the   sec- 
ond year  of  his  college  course,  moved  by  some  un- 
exi)lained  inward  iminilse.  he  discarded    his   horses, 
society,  and  even  his  favorite  violin,  to  which  he  had 
previously  given  much  time.     He  often  devoted  fifteen 
nours  a  day  to  hard    study,  allowing  himself  for  ex- 
ercise only  a  run  in  the  evening  twilight  of  a  mile  out 
of  tlie  city  and  back  again.     He  thus  attained  very 
high  intellectual  culture,  alike  e.xcellence  in  philoso- 
piry  and  the  lannnages.  The  most  difficult  Latin  and 
Creek  autliors  he  re.ul  with  facility.     A  more  finished 
bcliolur  has  seldon.  gone  foril.  from  college  halls;  and 


there  was  not  to  be  found,  perhaps,  in  all  Virginia,  a 
more  pureminded,  upright,  gentlemanly  young  man. 

Immediately  upon  leaving  college  he  began  the 
study  of  law.  For  the  short  time  he  continued  in  the 
\>ractice  of  his  profession  he  rose  rapidly  and  distin- 
guished himself  by  his  energy  and  accuteness  as  a 
lawyer.  But  the  times  called  for  greater  action. 
The  policy  of  England  had  awakened  the  spirit  of 
resistance  of  the  American  Colonies,  and  the  enlarged 
views  which  Jefferson  had  ever  entertained,  soon  led 
him  into  active  political  life.  In  1769  he  was  choser 
a  member  of  the  Virginia  Hduse  of  Burgesses  In 
1772  he  married  Mrs.  Martha  Skelton,  a  very  oeauti- 
ful,  wealthy  and  highly  accomplished  young  widow 
Upon  Mr.  Jefferson's  large  estate  at  Shadwell,  th;re 
was  a  majestic  swell  of  land,  called  Monticello,  which 
commanded  a  prospect  of  wonderful  extent  and 
beauty.  This  spot  Mr.  Jefferson  selected  for  his  new 
home;  and  here  he  reared  a  mansion  of  modest  ye' 
elegant  architecture,  which,  next  to  Mount  Vernon 
liecame  the  most  distinguished  resort  in  our  land. 

In  1775  he  was  sent  to  the  Cdonial  Congress, 
where,  though  a  silent  member,  his  abilitfes  as  a 
writer  and  a  reasoner  soon  become  known,  and  he 
was  placed  uiwn  a  number  of  important  committees, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  one  appointed  for  the  draw- 
ing up  of  a  declaration  of  independence.  This  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  John  Adams, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Roger  Sherman  and  Robert  R. 
Livingston.  Jefferson,  as  chairman,  was  appointed 
to  draw  up  the  paper.  Franklin  and  Adams  suggested 
a  few  verbal  changes  before  it  was  submitted  to  Con- 
gress. On  June  2S,  a  few  slight  changes  were  made 
in  it  by  ("ongress,  and  it  was  passed  and  signed  July 
4,  177O       What  must  iiave  been   llic   feelir.gr,  ..I   tlial 


28 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON. 


man — what  the  emotions  that  swelled  his  breast — 
who  was  charged  with  Uie  preparation  of  that  Dec- 
laration, which,  while  it  made  known  the  wrongs  of 
America,  was  also  to  publish  her  to  the  world,  free, 
soverign  and  independent.  It  is  one  of  the  most  re- 
markable papers  ever  written  ;  and  did  no  other  effort 
of  the  mind  of  its  author  exist,  that  alone  \vould  be 
sufficient  to  stamp  his  name  with  immortality. 

In  1779  Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  successor  to 
Patrick  Henry,  :.s  Governor  of  Virginia.  At  one  time 
the  British  officer,  Tarleton,  sent  a  secret  expedition  to 
Moniicello,  to  capture  the  Governor.  Scarcely  five 
minutes  elapsed  after  tlie  hurried  escape  of  Mr.  Jef- 
ferson and  his  family,  ere  his  mansion  was  in  posses- 
sion of  the  British  troops.  His  wife's  health,  never 
very  good,  was  much  injured  by  this  excitement,  and 
in  the  summer  of  1782  she  died. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1783. 
Two  years  later  he  was  appointed  Minister  Plenipo- 
tenriary  to  France.  Returning  to  the  United  States 
in  September,  1789,  he  became  Secretary  of  State 
in  Washington's  cabinet.  This  position  he  resigned 
Jan.  r,  1794.  In  1797,  he  was  chosen  Vice  Presi- 
dent, and  four  years  later  was  elected  President  over 
Mr.  Adams,  with  Aaron  Burr  as  Vice  President.  In 
1804  he  was  re-elected  with  wonderful  unanimity, 
and  George  Clinton,  Vice  President. 

The  eariy  part  of  Mr.  Jefferson's  second  adminstra- 
tion  was  disturbed  by  an  event  which  threatened  the 
tranquility  and  peace  of  the  Union  ;  this  was  the  con- 
spiracy of  Aaron  Burr.  Defeated  in  the  late  election 
to  the  Vice  Presidency,  and  led  on  by  an  unprincipled 
ambition,  this  extraordinary  man  formed  the  plan  of  a 
military  expedition  into  the  Spanish  territories  on  our 
iouthwestern  frontier,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  there 
a  new  republic.  This  has  been  generally  supposed 
was  a  mere  pretext ;  and  although  it  has  not  been 
generally  known  what  his  real  plans  were,  there  is  no 
doubt  that  they  were  of  a  far  more  dangerous 
character. 

In  1809,  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  term  for 
which  Mr.  Jefferson  had  been  elected,  he  determined 
to  retire  from  political  life.  For  a  period  of  nearly 
forty  years,  he  had  been  continually  before  the  pub- 
,ic,  and  all  that  time  had  been  employed  in  offices  of 
the  greatest  trust  and  responsibility.  Having  thus  de- 
voted the  best  part  of  his  life  to  the  service  of  his 
country,  he  now  felt  desirous  of  that  rest  which  his 
declining  years  required,  and  upon  the  organization  of 
the  new  administration,  in  March,  1809,  he  bid  fare- 
well forever  to  public  life,  and  retired  to  Monticello. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  profuse  in  his  hospitality.  Whole 
families  came  in  their  coaches  with  their  horses, — 
fathers  and  mothers,  boys  and  giris,  babies  and 
nurses, — and  remained  three  and  even  six  months. 
Life  at  Monticello,  for  years,  resembled  that  at  a 
fashionable  watering-place. 

The  fourth  of  July,  1826,  being  the  fiftieth  anniver- 


sary of  the  Declaration  of  American  Independence, 
great  preparations  were  made  in  every  pait  of  thw- 
Union  for  its  celebration,  as  the  nation's  jubilee,  and 
the  citizens  of  Washington,  to  add  to  the  solemnity 
of  the  occasion,  invited  Mr.  Jefferson,  as  the  framer. 
and  one  of  the  few  surviving  signers  of  the  Declara- 
tion, to  participate  in  their  festivities.  But  an  ill- 
ness, which  had  been  of  several  weeks  duration,  and 
had  been  continually  increasing,  compelled  him  to 
decline  the  invitation. 

On  the  second  of  July,  the  disease  under  which 
he  was  laboring  left  him,  but  in  such  a  reduced 
state  that  his  medical  attendants,  entertained  ne 
hope  of  his  recovery.  From  this  time  he  was  perfectly 
sensible  that  his  last  hour  was  at  hand.  On  the  nex*. 
day,  which  was  Monday,  he  asked  of  those  around 
him,  the  day  of  the  month,  and  on  being  told  it  was 
the  third  of  July,  he  expressed  the  earnest  wish  tha', 
he  might  be  permitted  to  breathe  the  air  of  the  fiftieth 
anniversary.  His  prayer  was  heard — that  day,  whose 
dawn  was  hailed  with  such  rapture  through  our  land, 
burst  upon  his  eyes,  and  then  they  were  closed  for- 
ever. And  what  a  noble  consummation  of  a  noble 
life!  To  die  on  that  day,— the  birthday  of  a  nation,-  - 
the  day  which  his  own  name  and  his  own  act  had 
rendered  glorious;  to  die  amidst  the  rejoicings  and 
festivities  of  a  whole  nation,  who  looked  up  to  him, 
as  the  author,  under  God,  of  their  greatest  blessings, 
was  all  that  was  wanting  to  fill  up  the  record  his  life. 

Almost  at  the  same  hour  of  his  death,  the  kin- 
dred spirit  of  the  venerable  Adams,  as  if  to  bear 
him  company,  left  the  scene  of  his  earthly  honors. 
Hand  in  hand  they  had  stood  forth,  the  champions  of 
freedom;  hand  in  hand,  during  the  dark  and  desper- 
ate struggle  of  the  Revolution,  they  had  cheered  and 
animated  their  desponding  countrymen;  for  half  a 
century  they  had  labored  together  for  the  good  of 
the  country;  and  now  hand  in  hand  they  depart. 
In  their  lives  they  had  been  united  in  the  same  great 
cause  of  liberty,  and  in  their  deaths  they  were  not 
divided. 

In  person  Mr.  Jefferson  was  tall  and  thin,  rather 
above  six  feet  in  height,  but  well  formed;  his  eyes 
were  light,  his  hair  originally  red,  in  after  life  became 
white  and  silvery;  his  complexion  was  fair,  his  fore- 
head broad,  and  his  whole  courtenance  intelligent  and 
thoughtful.  He  possessed  great  fortitude  of  mind  as 
well  as  personal  courage ;  and  j.:s  command  of  tem- 
per was  such  that  his  oldest  and  most  intimate  friends 
never  recollected  to  have  seen  him  in  a  passion. 
His  manners,  though  dignified,  were  simple  and  un- 
affected, and  his  hospitality  was  so  unbounded  that 
all  found  at  his  house  a  ready  welcome.  In  conver- 
sation he  was  fluent,  eloquent  and  enthusiastic;  and 
his  language  was  remarkably  pure  and  correct.  He 
was  a  finished  classical  scholar,  and  in  his  wriringsis 
discernable  the  care  with  \vhi<  h  lie  formed  his  stylf 
upon  tlie  best  models  of  anliquity- 


M'JIVCn: 


II  I  fV'-.,'<3 


/  (ZA-<-  <-  '  •       x£/^ 


i*^i^-t^-t  c"^ 


FOURTH  PRKSIUENT. 


31 


PII]ES  npDisoi]. 


AMES    MADISON,    "Father 

%  of  the  Constitution,"  and  fourth 

'■"  President  of  the  United  States, 

was  born  March  16,  1757,  and 

died  at  his   home  in  Virginia, 

/^    jQne  28,   18^6.     The  name  of 

'.^»  >:  o    James  Madison  is  inseparably  con- 


nected with  most  of  the  imixirtant 
events  in  that  heroic  period  of  our 
^^    country  during  which  the  founda- 
tions of  this  great    repubUc  were 
laid.  He  was  the  last  of  the  founders 
of   the    Constitution    of   the    United 
States  to   be   called    to    his    eternal 
reward. 

The  Madison  family  were  among 
the  early  emigrants  to  the  New  World, 
landing  u[Mn  the  shores  of  the  Chesa- 
peake but  15  years  after  the  settle- 
ment of  Jamestown.  The  father  of 
James  Madison  was  an  opulent 
planter,  residing  uixjn  a  very  fine  es- 
tate called  "Montpelier,"  Orange  Co., 
Va.  The  mansion  was  situated  in 
tlie  midst  of  scenery  highly  pictur- 
esque and  romantic,  on  the  west  side 
of  South-west  Mountain,  at  the  foot  of 
filue  Ridge.  It  was  but  25  miles  from  the  home  of 
Jefferson  at  Monticello.  The  closest  personal  and 
political  attachment  e.xisted  between  these  illustrious 
men,  from  their  early  youth  until  death. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Madison  was  conducteil 
mostly  at  home  under  a  private  tutor.  .\t  the  age  of 
iS  lie  was  sent  to  I'rinceton  College,  in  New  Jersey. 
Here  lie  applied  himself  Id  study  with   tiie  most  im- 


prudent zeal;  allowing  himself,  for  months,  but  three 
hours'  sleep  out  of  the  24.  His  health  thus  became  so 
seriously  impaired  that  he  never  recovered  any  vigor 
of  constitution.  He  graduated  in  177  i,  with  a  feeble 
body,  with  a  character  of  utmost  purity,  and  with  a 
mind  highly  disciplined  and  richly  stored  with  learning 
which  embellished  and  gave  proficiency  to  hissubsf" 
quent  career. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  commenced  the  study  of 
law  and  a  course  of  extensive  and  systematic  reading. 
This  educational  course,  the  spirit  of  the  times  in 
which  he  lived,  and  the  society  with  whicli  he  asso- 
ciated, all  combined  to  inspire  him  with  a  strong 
love  of  liberty,  and  to  train  him  for  his  life-work  ot 
a  statesman.  Being  naturally  of  a  religious  turn  of 
mind,  and  his  frail  health  leading  him  to  think  that 
his  life  was  not  to  be  long,  he  directed  especial  atten- 
tion to  theological  studies.  Endowed  with  a  mind 
singularly  free  from  passion  and  prejudice,  and  with 
almost  unequalled  powers  of  reasoning,  he  weighed 
all  the  arguments  for  and  against  revealed  religion, 
until  his  faith  became  so  established  as  never  to 
lie  shaken. 

In  the  spring  of  1776,  when  26  years  of  age,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Virginia  Convention,  to 
frame  the  constitution  of  the  State.  The  next  year 
(■777)1  hs  was  a  candidate  for  the  General  Assembly. 
He  refused  to  treat  tlie  whisky-lovir.g  voters,  and 
consequently  lost  his  election  ;  but  those  who  had 
witnessed  tlie  talent,  energy  and  pui)lic  spirit  of  the 
modest  young  man,  enlisted  themselves  in  his  behalf, 
and  he  was  appointed  to  the    Executive  Council. 

Both  Patrick  Henry  and  Thomas  Jefferson  were 
I'.overnors  of  Virginia  while  .Mr.  M.idison  remained 
member  of  the  Council  ;    and  llieir  appreciation  ol  \\\^ 


32 


JAMES  MADISON. 


intellectual,  social  and  moral  worth,  contributed  not 
a  little  to  his  subsequent  eminence.  In  the  year 
1780,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress.  Here  he  met  the  most  illustrious  men  in 
our  land,  and  he  was  immediately  assigned  to  one  of 
the  most  conspicuous  positions  among  them. 

For  three  years  Mr.  Madison  continued  in  Con- 
gress, one  of  its  most  active  and  influential  members. 
In  the  year  1784,  his  term  having  expired,  he  was 
elected'  a  member  of  the  Virginia   Legislature. 

No  man  felt  more  deeply  than  Mr.  Madison  the 
utter  inefficiency  of  the  old  confederacy,  with  no  na- 
tional government,  with  no  jwwer  to  form  treaties 
which  would  be  binding,  or  to  enforce  law.  There 
was  not  any  State  more  prominent  than  Virginia  in 
the  declaration,  that  an  efficient  national  government 
must  be  formed.  In  January,  1786,  Mr.  Madison 
carried  a  resolution  through  the  General  Assemljly  of 
Virginia,  inviting  the  other  .States  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners to  meet  in  convention  at  Annapolis  to  discuss 
this  subject.  Five  States  only  were  represented.  The 
convention,  however,  issued  another  call,  drawn  up 
by  Mr.  Madison,  urging  all  the  States  to  send  their 
delegates  to  Philadelphia,  in  May,  1787,  to  draft 
a  Constitution  for  the  United  States,  to  take  the  place 
of  that  Confederate  League.  The  delegates  met  at 
the  time  appointed.  Every  State  but  Rhode  Island 
■vas  represented.  George  Washington  was  chosen 
president  of  the  convention;  and  the  present  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States  was  then  and  there  formed. 
There  was,  perhaps,  no  mind  and  no  pen  more  ac- 
tive in  framing  this  immortal  document  than  thfe  mind 
and  the  pen  of  James  Madison. 

The  Constitution,  adopted  by  a  vote  81  to  79,  was 
to  be  presented  to  the  several  States  for  acceptance. 
But  grave  solicitude  was  felt.  Should  it  be  rejected 
we  should  be  left  but  a  conglomeration  of  independent 
States,  with  but  little  power  at  home  and  little  lespect 
abroad.  Mr.  Madison  was  selected  by  the  conven- 
tion to  draw  up  an  address  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  expounding  the  principles  of  the  Constitution, 
and  urging  its  adoption.  There  was  great  opposition 
to  it  at  first,  but  it  at  length  triumphed  over  all,  and 
went  into  effect  in  1789. 

Mr.  Madison  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  the  first  Congress,  and  soon  became  the 
avowed  leader  of  the  Republican  party.  While  in 
New  York  attending  Congress,  he  met  Mrs.  Todd,  a 
young  widow  of  remarkable  jrawer  of  fascination, 
whom  he  married.  She  was  in  jierson  and  character 
queenly,  and  probably  no  lady  has  thus  far  occupied 
so  prominent  a  position  in  the  very  peculiar  society 
which  has  constituted  our  republican  court  as  Mrs. 
Madison. 

Mr.  Madison  served  as  Secretary  of  State  under 
Jefferson,  and  at  the  close  of  his  administration 
was  chosen  President.  At  this  time  the  encroach- 
ments of  England  had  brought  us  to  the  verge  of  war. 


British  orders  in  council  destioyed  our  commerce,  and 
our  flag  was  exposed  to  constant  insult.  Mr.  Madison 
was  a  man  of  peace.  Scholarly  in  his  taste,  retiiing 
in  his  disposition,  war  had  no  charms  for  him.  But  the 
meekest  spirit  can  be  roused.  It  makes  one's  blood 
boil,  even  now,  to  think  of  an  American  ship  brought 
to,  upon  the  ocean,  by  the  guns  of  an  English  cruiser. 
A  young  lieutenant  steps  on  board  and  orders  the 
crew  to  be  paraded  before  him.  With  great  nonchal- 
ance he  selects  any  number  whom  he  may  please  to 
designate  as  British  subjects  ;  orders  them  down  the 
ship's  side  into  his  boat;  and  places  them  on  the  gun- 
deck  of  his  man-of-war,  to  fight,  by  compulsion,  the 
battles  of  England.  This  right  of  search  and  im- 
pressment, no  efforts  of  our  Government  could  induce 
the  British  cabinet  to  relinquish. 

On  the  1 8th  of  June,  r8i2,  President  Madison  gave 
his  approval  to  an  act  of  Congress  declaring  war 
against  Great  Britain.  Notwithstanding  the  bitter 
hostility  of  the  Federal  party  to  the  war,  the  country 
in  general  approved;  and  Mr.  Madison,  on  the  4th 
of  March,  1S13,  was  re-elected  by  a  large  majority, 
and  entered  upon  his  second  term  of  office.  This  is 
not  the  place  to  describe  the  various  adventures  of 
this  war  on  the  land  and  on  the  water.  Our  infan 
navy  then  laid  the  foundations  of  its  renown  in  grap- 
pling with  the  most  formidable  power  which  ever 
swept  the  seas.  The  contest  commenced  in  earnest 
by  the  appearance  of  a  British  fleet,  early  in  February, 
1813,  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  declaring  nearly  the  whole 
coast  of  the  Lhiited  States  under  blockade. 

The  Emperor  of  Russia  offered  his  services  as  me 
ditator.  America  accepted ;  England  refused.  A  Brit- 
ish force  of  five  thousand  men  landed  on  the  banks 
of  the  Patuxet  River,  near  its  entrance  into  Chesa- 
peake Bay,  and  marched  rapidly,  by  way  of  Bladens- 
burg,  upon  Washington. 

The  straggling  little  city  of  Washington  was  thrown 
into  consternation.  The  cannon  of  the  brief  conflict 
at  Bladensburg  echoed  through  the  streets  of  the 
metropolis.  The  whole  population  fled  from  the  city. 
The  President,  leaving  Mrs.  Madison  in  the  White 
House,  with  her  carriage  drawn  up  at  the  doer  to 
await  his  S|)eedy  return,  hurried  to  meet  the  officers 
in  a  council  of  war.  He  met  our  troops  utterly  routed, 
and  he  could  not  go  back  without  danger  of  being 
captured.  But  few  hours  elapsed  ere  the  Presidential 
Mansion,  the  Capitol,  and  all  the  public  buildings  in 
Washington  were  in  flames. 

The  war  closed  after  two  years  of  fighting,  and  on 
Feb.  13,  i8i5,the  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  at  Ghent. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  his  second  term  of 
office  expired,  and  he  resigned  the  Presidential  chair 
to  his  friend,  James  Monroe.  He  retired  to  his  beau- 
tiful home  at  Montpelier,  and  there  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  On  June  28,  1836,  then  at  the 
age  of  85  years,  he  fell  asleep  in  death.  Mrs.  Madi 
son  died  July  12,  1849. 


\ 


7    /^/"^^  / 1 


^  c^ 


FIFTH  PRESIDENT. 


35 


"^ 


PiriES  ll]01]ItOE. 


""^^^s^E^^^ 


AMES  MONROE,  the  fifth 
I'residentof  The  United  States, 
was  Ijorn  in  Westmoreland  Co., 
Va.,  April  28,  1758.  His  early 
life  was  passed  at  the  place  of 
nativity.  Hi.5  ancestors  had  for 
many  years  resided  in  the  prov- 
ince in  which  he  was  born.  When, 
at  17  years  of  age,  in  the  process 
of  completing  his  education  at 
William  and  Mary  College,  the  Co- 
lonial Congress  assembled  at  Phila- 
delphia to  deliberate  upon  the  un- 
just and  manifold  oppressions  of 
Great  Britian,  declared  the  separa- 
tion of  the  Colonies,  and  promul- 
gated the  Declaration  of  Indepen- 
dence. Had  he  been  born  ten  years  before  it  is  highly 
probable  that  he  would  have  been  one  of  the  signers 
of  that  celebrated  instrument.  At  this  time  lie  left 
school  and  enlisted  among  the  patriots. 

He  joined  the  army  when  everything  looked  hope- 
less and  gloomy.  The  number  of  deserters  increased 
from  day  to  day.  The  invading  armies  came  pouring 
in  ;  and  the  tories  not  only  favored  the  cause  of  the 
mother  country,  but  disheartened  tlie  new  recruits, 
who  were  sufficiently  terrified  at  tiie  |)ros|)ect  of  con- 
i::nding  with  an  enemy  whom  tliey  had  been  taught 
to  deem  invincible.  'I'o  sncli  brave  spirits  as  James 
Monroe,  who  went  right  onward,  undismayed  through 
difficulty  and  danger,  the  United  States  owe  their 
|)olitical  emancipation.  The  young  cadet  joined  the 
ranks,  and  espoused  the  cause  of  his  injured  country, 
with  A  fiiiii  (Idtcnnln.ition  to  live  o.    lie  wilii  her  strife 


for  liberty.  Firmly  yet  sadly  he  shared  in  the  mel- 
ancholy retreat  from  Harleam  Heights  and  White 
Plains,  and  accompanied  the  dispirited  army  as  it  fled 
before  its  foes  through  New  Jersey.  In  four  months 
after  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  patriots 
had  Ijeen  beaten  in  seven  battles.  At  the  battle  of 
Trenton  he  led  the  vanguard,  and,  in  the  act  of  charg- 
ing upon  the  enemy  lie  received  a  wound  in  the  left 
shoulder. 

As  a  reward  tor  his  bravery,  Mr.  Monroe  was  \)xo- 
moted  a  captain  of  infantry-^, and,  having  recovered 
from  his  wound,  he  rejoined  the  army.  He,  however, 
receded  from  the  line  of  promotion,  by  becoming  an 
officer  in  the  staff  of  Lord  Sterling.  During  the  cam- 
paigns of  1777  and  1778,  in  the  actions  of  Brandy 
wine,  Germantown  and  Monmouth,  he  continued 
aid-de-cam  |) ;  but  becoming  desirous  to  regain  his 
position  in  the  army,  he  exerted  himself  to  collect  a 
regiment  for  the  Virginia  line.  This  scheme  failed 
owing  to  the  exhausted  condition  of  the  State.  Upon 
tliis  failure  he  entered  the  office  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  at 
that  period  Governor,  and  pursued,  with  considerable 
ardor,  the  study  of  common  law.  He  did  not,  however, 
entirely  lay  aside  tlie  knapsack  for  the  green  bag; 
but  on  the  invasions  of  the  eneiny,  served  as  a  volun 
teer,  during  the  two  years  of  his  legal  pursuits. 

In  17S2,  he  was  elected  from  King  George  county, 
a  member  of  tlie  Leglislature  of  Virginia,  and  by  that 
body  he  was  elevated  to  a  seat  in  the  Executive 
Council.  He  was  thus  honored  with  the  confidence 
of  his  fellow  citizens  at  23  years  of  age  ;  and  haviuj. 
at  this  early  period  displayed  some  of  that  ability 
and  aptitude  for  legislation,  whicli  were  afterwards 
employed  with  uiiremiltingenergy  for  the  pulilic  good, 


36 


JAMES  MONROE. 


he  was  in  the  succeeding  year  chosen  a  member  of 
die  Congress  of  the  United  States. 
De'eply  as  Mr.  Monroe  felt  the  imperfections  of  the  old 
confederacy,  he  was  opposed  to  the  new  Constitution, 
-.hinking,  with  many  others  of  the  Republican  party, 
diat  it  gave  too  much  power  to  the  Central  Government, 
and  not  enough  to  the  individual  States.  Still  he  re- 
tained the  esteem  of  his  friends  who  were  its  warm 
supporters,  and  who,  notwithstanding  his  opposition 
secured  its  adoption.  In  1789,  he  became  a  member 
of  the  United  States  Senate ;  which  office  he  held  for 
four  years.  Every  month  the  line  of  distinction  be- 
tween the  two  great  parties  which  divided  the  nation, 
the  Federal  and  the  Republican,  was  growing  more 
distinct.  The  two  prominent  ideas  which  now  sep- 
arated them  were,  that  the  Reiniblican  party  was  in 
sympathy  with  France,  and  also  in  favor  of  such  a 
strict  construction  of  tlie  Constitution  as  to  give  the 
Central  Government  as  little  power,  and  the  State 
Governments  as  much  power,  as  the  Constitution  would 
warrant.  The  Federalists  sympathized  with  England, 
and  were  in  favor  of  a  liberal  construction  of  the  Con- 
stitution, which  would  give  as  much  ]X)wer  to  the 
Central  Government  as  that  document  could  possibly 
authorize. 

The  leading  Federalists  and  Republicans  were 
alike  noble  men,  consecrating  all  their  energies  to  the 
good  of  the  nation.  Two  more  honest  men  or  more 
pure  patriots  than  John  Adams  the  Federalist,  and 
James  Monroe  the  Republican,  never  breathed.  In 
building  up  this  majestic  nation,  which  is  destined 
to  eclipse  all  Grecian  and  Assyrian  greatness,  the  com- 
l)ination  of  their  antagonism  was  needed  to  create  the 
light  equilibrium.  And  yet  each  in  his  day  was  de- 
nounced as  almost  a  demon. 

Washington  was  then  President.  England  had  es- 
poused the  cause  of  the  Boudwns  against  the  jjrinci- 
ples  of  the  French  Revolution.  All  Europe  was  drawn 
into  the  conflict.  We  were  feeble  and  far  away. 
Washington  issued  a  proclamation  of  neutrality  be- 
tween these  contending  powers.  France  had  helped 
us  in  the  struggle  for  our  liberties.  All  the  despotisms 
of  Europe  were  now  combined  to  prevent  the  French 
from  escai)ing  from  a  tyranny  a  thousand-fold  worse 
than  that  which  we  had  endured  Col.  Monroe,  more 
magnanimous  than  prudent,  was  anxious  that,  at 
whatever  hazard,  we  should  help  our  old  allies  in 
their  extremity.  It  was  the  impulse  of  a  generous 
and  noble  nature.  He  violently  opposed  the_  Pres- 
ident's proclamation  as  ungrateful  and  wanting  in 
magnanimity. 

Washington,  who  could  appreciate  such  a  character, 
developed  his  calm,  serene,  almost  divine  greatness, 
by  appointing  that  very  James  Monroe,  who  was  de- 
nouncing the  policy  of  the  Government,  as  the  minister 
.if  that  Government  to  the  Republic  of  France.  Mr. 
Monroe  was  welcomed  by  the  National  Cjnveirtion 
in  France  with  the  most  enthusiastic  demonstr/<tions. 


Shortly  after  his  return  to  this  country,  Mr.  Mon- 
roe was  elected  Governor  of  Virginia,  and  held  the 
office  for  three  yeais.  He  was  again  sent  to  France  to 
co-operate  vvith  Chancellor  Livingston  in  obtaining 
the  vast  territory  then  known  as  the  Province  of 
Louisiana,  which  France  had  but  shortly  before  ob- 
tained from  Spain.  Their  united  efforts  were  suc- 
cessful. For  the  comparatively  small  sum  of  fifteen 
millions  of  dollars,  the  entire  territory  of  Orleans  and 
district  of  Louisiana  were  added  to  the  United  States. 
This  was  probably  the  largest  transfer  of  real  estate 
which  was  ever  made  in  all  the  history  of  the  world. 

From  France  Mr.  Monroe  went  to  England  to  ob- 
tain from  that  country  some  recognition  of  ouv 
rights  as  neutrals,  and  to  remonstrate  against  those 
odious  impressments  of  our  seamen.  But  Eng- 
land was  unrelenting.  He  again  returned  to  Eng- 
land on  the  same  mission,  but  could  receive  no 
redress.  He  returned  to  his  home  and  was  again 
chosen  Governor  of  Virginia.  This  he  soon  resigned 
to  accept  the  position  of  Secretary  of  State  under 
Madison.  While  in  this  office  war  with  England  was 
declared,  the  Secretary  of  War  resigned,  and  during 
these  trying  times,  the  duties  of  the  War  Departmen! 
were  also  put  upon  him.  He  was  truly  the  armor- 
bearer  of  President  Madison,  and  the  most  efficient 
business  man  in  his  cabinet.  Upon  the  return  of 
peace  he  resigned  the  Department  of  War,  but  con- 
tinued in  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State  until  the  ex- 
piration of  Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  At  the  elec- 
tion held  tlie  previous  autumn  Mr.  Monroe  himself  had 
been  chosen  President  with  but  little  opposition,  and 
upon  March  4,  1817,  was  inaugurated.  Four  years 
later  he  was  elected  for  a  second  term. 

Among  the  important  measures  of  his  Presidency 
were  the  cession  of  Florida  to  the  United  States;  the 
^Missouri  Compromise,  and  the  "Monroe  doctrine.' 
"^xThis  famous  doctrine,  since  known  as  the  "Monroe 
doctrine,"  was  enunciated  by  him  in  1823.  At  that 
time  the  United  States  had  recognized  the  indepetid- 
ence  of  the  South  American  states,  and  did  not  wish 
to  have  European  powers  longer  attempting  to  sub- 
due portions  of  the  American  Continent.  The  doctrine 
is  as  follows  :  "  That  we  should  consider  any  attempt 
on  the  part  of  European  powers  to  extend  their  sys- 
tem to  any  portion  of  this  hemisphere  as  dangerous 
to  our  peace  and  safety,"  and  "that  we  could  not 
view  any  interposition  for  the  purpose  of  oppressing 
or  controlling  American  governments  or  provinces  in 
any  other  light  than  as  a  manifestation  by  European 
])owers  of  an  unfriendly  disposition  toward  the  United 
States."  This  doctrine  immediately  affected  the  course 
of  foreign  governments,  and  has  become  the  approved 
sentiment  of  the  United  States. 

At  the  end  of  his  second  term  Mr.  Monroe  retired 
to  his  home  in  Virginia,  where  he  lived  until  1830, 
wlicn  he  went  to  New  Vork  to  live  with  his  son-in- 
law.     In  that  city  he  died, on  the  4th  of  July,  1831 


/' 


j  ,         ^    ^      JLi  CUry^ 


SIXTH  PRESIDRNT. 


3V 


J0I}1]  QUI1]6Y  JiDm^- 


^\^/^^ 


rS^ 


(^.^ 


OHN  QUINCY  ADAMS,  the 
sixth  President  of  the  United 
^States,  was  born  in  the  rural 
iionie  of  his    honored    father, 
John  Adams,  in  Quincy,  Mass., 
on  the  I  ith  of  July,  1767-   His 
mother,  a  woman  of  exaUed 
worth,  watched  over  his  childhood 
during   the  almost   constant    ab- 
sence of  his  father.      When    but 
eight  years  of  age,  he  stood  with 
his  mother  on  an  eminence,  listen- 
ing to  the  booming  of  the  great  bat- 
tle on  Bunkers  Hill,  and  gazing  on 
upon  the  smoke  and  flames  billow- 
ing up  from    the    conflagration   of 
Charlestown. 

When  but  eleven  years  old  he 
took  a  tearful  adieu  of  his  mother, 
to  sail  with  his  father  for  Europe, 
through  a  fleet  ot  hostile  British  cruisers.  The  bright, 
.aiimated  boy  spent  a  year  and  a  half  in  Paris,  where 
his  father  was  associated  with  Franklin  and  Lee  as 
minister  plenipotentiary.  His  intelligence  attracted 
the  notice  of  these  distinguished  men,  and  he  received 
from  them  flattering  marks  of  attention. 

Mr.  John  Adams  had  scarcely  returned  to  this 
country,  in  1779,  ere  he  was  again  sent  abroad.  Again 
lOi.n  Quincy  accompanied  his  father.  At  Paris  he 
applied  himself  with  great  diligence,  for  six  months, 
to  :.tudy;  then  accompained  his  father  to  Holland, 
where  he  entered,  first  a  school  in  .\msterdam,  then 
the  University  at  Leyden.  About  a  year  from  this 
time,  in  1781,  when  the  manly  boy  was  but  fourteen 
yea's  of  age,  he  was  selected  l>y  Mr.  Dana,  our  min- 
ister to  the  Russian  court,  as  his   private  secretary. 

In  this  school  of  incessant  labor  and  of  enobling 
culture  he  siient  fourteen  months,  and  then  returned 
!o  Holland  through  Sweden,  Denmark,  Hamburg  and 
I'remen.  Tliis  long  journey  he  took  alone,  in  the 
wiiitiM.  ulien  in  his  sixteenth  year.  Again  he  resumed 
ais  bludirs,  \indei  a  prJ"-ile  tutor,  at  Hague.    Thence, 


Vi 


in  the  spring  of  1782,  he  accompanied  his  father  tf 
Paris,  traveling  leisurely,  and  forming  acquaintanct 
with  the  most  distinguished  men  on  the  Continent 
examining  architectural  remains,  galleries  of  paintings 
and  all  renowned  works  of  art.  At  Paris  he  again 
became  associated  with  the  most  illustrious  men  o( 
all  lands  in  the  contemplations  of  the  loftiest  temporal 
themes  which  can  engross  the  human  mind.  Afte" 
a  short  visit  to  England  he  returned  to  Paris,  and 
consecrated  all  his  energies  to  study  until  May,  1785, 
when  he  returned  to  America.  'i"o  a  brilliant  young 
man  of  eighteen,  who  had  seen  much  of  the  world, 
and  who  was  familiar  with  the  etiquette  of  courts,  a 
residence  with  his  father  in  London,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, must  have  been  extremely  attractive 
but  with  judgment  very  rare  in  one  of  his  age,  he  pre- 
ferred to  return  to  America  to  complete  his  education, 
in  an  American  college.  He  wished  then  to  study 
law,  that  with  an  honorable  profession,  he  might  be 
able  to  obtain  an  independent  support. 

Upon  leaving  Harvard  College,  at  the  age  of  twenty 
he  studied  law  for  three  years.  In  June,  1794,  be- 
ing then  but  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Washington,  resident  minister  at  the 
Netherlands.  Sailing  from  Boston  in  July,  he  reached 
London  in  October,  where  he  wasinnnsdiately  admit- 
ted to  the  deliberations  of  Messrs.  Jay  and  Pinckney, 
assisting  them  in  negotiating  a  commercial  treaty  with 
Great  Britian.  After  thus  spending  a  fortnight  h 
London,  he  proceeded  to  the  Hague. 

In  July,  1797,  he  left  the  Hague  to  go  to  Portugal  as 
minister  pleniix)tentiary.  On  his  way  to  Portugal, 
upon  arriving  in  Ixsndon,  he  met  with  despatches 
directing  him  to  the  court  of  Beilin,  but  requesting 
him  to  remain  in  London  until  he  sliould  receive  his 
instructions,  ^^■hile  waiting  he  was  niairied  to  ar 
American  lady  to  whom  he  had  been  previously  en- 
gaged,— Miss  Louisa  Catherine  Johnson,  danghtc! 
of  Mr.  Joshua  Johnson,  American  c()n:,ul  in  I  ondon 
a  lady  endownd  with  that  beauty  and  those  accom. 
plishmenl  which  emiiiciitly  futetl  her  to  move  in  tH 
elevated  sphere  for  which  she  was  tU«»*Bed 


40 


JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS. 


He  reached  Berlin  with  his  wife  in  November,  1797  ; 
where  he  remained  until  July,  1799,  when,  having  ful- 
filled all  the  pur[X)ses  of  his  mission,  he  solicited  his 
recall. 

Soon  after  his  return,  in  1S02,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  from  Boston,  and  then 
was  elected  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  six  years, 
from  the  4tli  of  March,  1804.  His  reputation,  his 
abihty  and  his  experience,  placed  him  immediately 
among  the  most  prominent  and  influential  members 
of  that  body.  Especially  did  he  sustain  the  Govern- 
ment in  its  measures  of  resistance  to  the  encroach- 
ments of  England,  destroying  our  commerce  and  in- 
sulting our  flag.  There  was  no  man  in  America  more 
familiar  with  the  arrogance  of  the  British  court  upon 
these  points,  and  no  one  more  resolved  to  present 
a  firm  resistance. 

In  1809,  Madison  succeeded  Jefferson  in  the  Pres- 
idential chair,  and  he  immediately  nominated  John 
Quincy  Adams  minister  to  St.  Petersburg.  Resign- 
ing his  professorship  in  Harvard  College,  he  embarked 
at  Boston,  in  August,  1809. 

While  in  Russia,  Mr.  Adams  was  an  intense  stu- 
dent. He  devoted  his  attention  to  the  language  and 
history  of  Russia;  to  the  Chinese  trade;  to  the 
European  system  of  weights,  measures,  and  coins  ;  to 
the  climate  and  astronomical  observations  ;  while  he 
Kept  up  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  Greek  and 
Latin  classics.  In  all  the  universities  of  Europe,  a 
more  accomplished  scholar  could  scarcely  be  found. 
All  through  life  the  Bible  constituted  an  important 
part  of  his  studies.  It  was  his  rule  to  read  five 
chapters  every  day. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  Mr.  Monroe  took  the 
Presidential  chair,  and  immediately  apjwinted  Mr. 
Adams  Secretary  of  State.  Taking  leave  of  his  num- 
erous friends  in  public  and  private  life  in  Europe,  he 
sailed  in  June,  1819,  forthe  United  States.  On  the 
1 8th  of  August,  he  again  crossed  the  threshold  of  his 
home  in  Quincy.  During  the  eight  years  of  Mr.  Mon- 
roe's administration,  Mr  Adams  continued  Secretary 
of  State. 

Some  time  before  '.he  close  of  Mr.  Monroe's  second 
term  of  office,  new  candidates  began  to  be  presented 
for  the  Presidency.  The  friends  of  Mr.  Adams  brought 
forward  his  name.  It  was  an  exciting  campaign. 
Party  spirit  was  never  more  bitter.  Two  hundred  and 
sixty  electoral  votes  were  cast.  Andrew  Jackson  re- 
ceived ninety-nine;  John  Quincy  Adams,  eighty-four; 
William  H.  Crawford,  forty-one;  Henry  Clay,  thirty- 
seven.  As  there  was  no  choice  by  the  people,  the 
question  wept  to  the  House  of  Representatives.  Mr. 
Clay  gave  tlie  vote  of  Kentucky  to  Mr.  Adams,  and 
be  was  elected. 

Tlie  friends  of  all  the  disappointed  candidates  now 
;ombined  in  a  venomous  and  persistent  assault  upnii 
Mr.  .'\dams.  'I'here  is  nothing  more  disgraceful  in 
*We  uast.  history  of  our  country  than  the  abuse  which 


was  poured  in  one  uninterrupted  stream,  upon  this 
high-minded,  upright,  patriotic  man.  There  never  was 
an  administration  more  pure  in  principles,  more  con- 
scientiously devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  the  coun- 
try, than  that  of  John  Quincy  Adams ;  and  never,  per- 
haps, was  there  an  administration  more  unscrupu- 
lously and  outrageously  assailed. 

Mr.  Adams  was,  to  a  very  remarkable  degree,  ab- 
stemious and  temperate  in  his  habits;  always  rising 
early,  and  taking  much  exercise.  When  at  his  home  in 
Quincy,  he  has  been  known  to  walk,  before  breakfast, 
seven  miles  to  Boston.  In  Washington,  it  was  said 
that  he  was  the  first  man  up  in  the  city,  lighting  his 
own  fire  and  applying  himself  to  work  in  his  library 
often  long  before  dawn. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1829,  Mr.  Adams  retired 
from  the  Presidency,  and  was  succeeded  by  Andrew 
Jackson.  John  C.  Calhoun  was  elected  Vice  Presi- 
dent. The  slavery  question  now  began  to  assurae 
portentous  magnitude.  Mr.  Adams  returned  to 
Quincy  and  to  his  studies,  which  he  pursued  with  un- 
abated zeal.  But  he  was  not  long  permitted  to  re- 
main in  retirement.  In  November,  1830,  he  was 
elected  representative  to  Congress.  For  seventeen 
years,  jntil  his  deatli,  he  occupied  the  post  as  repre- 
sentative, towering  above  all  his  peers,  ever  ready  to 
do  brave  battle' for  freedom,  and  winning  the  title  of 
"  the  old  man  eloquent."  Upon  taking  his  seat  in 
the  House,  he  announced  that  he  should  hold  him- 
self bound  to  no  party.  Probably  there  never  was  a 
member  more  devoted  to  his  duties.  He  was  usually 
the  first  in  his  place  in  the  inorning,  and  the  last  to 
leave  his  seat  in  the  evening.  Not  a  measure  could 
be  brought  forward  and  escape  his  scrutiny.  The 
battle  which  Mr.  Adams  fought,  almost  singly,  against 
the  proslavery  party  in  the  Government,  was  sublime 
in  Its  moral  daring  and  heroism.  For  persisting  in 
presenting  petitions  for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  he 
was  threatened  with  indictment  by  the  grand  jury, 
with  expulsion  from  the  House,  with  assassination  . 
but  no  threats  could  intimidate  him,  and  his  final 
triumph  was  complete. 

It  has  been  said  of  President  Adams,  that  when  his 
body  was  bent  and  his  hair  silvered  by  the  lapse  of 
fourscore  years,  yielding  to  the  simple  faith  of  a  little 
child,  he  was  accustomed  to  repeat  every  night,  before 
he  slept,  the  prayer  which  his  mother  tauglit  him  in 
his  infant  years. 

On  the  2istof  February,  1848,  he  rose  on  the  floor 
of  Congress,  with  a  paper  in  his  hand,  to  address  the 
speaker.  Suddenly  he  fell,  again  stricken  i)y  paraly- 
sis, and  was  caught  in  the  arms  of  those  around  him. 
For  a  time  he  was  senseless,  as  he  was  conveyed  to 
tlie  sofa  in  the  rotunda.  With  reviving  conscious- 
ness, he  opened  his  eyes,  looked  calmly  around  and 
said  "  This  is  the  end  of  earlh  ."then  after  a  moment's 
|>ause  he  added,  "  f  am  loii/frit"  These  Were  the 
last    words  of    the     grand     "t)ld     Man     Kloquent." 


SEVENTH  PRESIBENT. 


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NDREW     JACKSON,     the 
seventh    President    of     tlie 
,;.'■'  L'nited   States,  was  bor.i   in 
Waxhavv  settlement,  N.    C., 
■^x,^,,..^^     March  15,  1767,  a  few  days 
W^J^?^-f)       after  his  father's  death.    His 
parents  were  [xxjr  emigrants 
from    Ireland,   and  took  up 
their  abode  in  Waxhaw  set- 
tlement, where  they  lived  in 
deepest  poverty. 
Andrew,  or  Andy,  as  he  was 
universally  called,  grew  up  a  very 
rough,  rude,  turbulent  boy.      His 
features  were  coarse,  his  form  un- 
gainly;   and   there  was  but  very 
little  in  his  character,    made   visible,  which   was   at- 
tractive. 

Wlien  only  thirteen  years  old  he  joined  the  volun- 
teers of  Carolina  against  the  British  invasion.  In 
1781,  he  and  his  brother  Robert  were  captured  and 
imprisoned  for  a  time  at  Camden.  A  British  officer 
ordered  him  to  brush  his  mud-spattered  boots.  "  I  am 
a  prisoner  of  war,  not  your  servant,"  was  the  reply  of 
the  dauntless  boy. 

The  brute  drew  his  sword,  and  aimed  a  desperate 
Dlow  at  the  head  of  the  helpless  young  jjrisoner. 
Andrew  raised  his  hand,  and  thus  received  two  fear- 
ful gashes, — one  on  the  hand  and  the  other  u[X)n  the 
lieatl.  The  officer  then  turned  to  his  brother  Robert 
with  the  same  demand.  He  also  refused,  and  re- 
ceived a  blow  from  the  keen-edged  sabre,  which  quite 
disabled  him,  and  which  probably  soon  after  caused 
his  death.  They  suffered  much  other  ill-treatment,  and 
were  finally  stricken  with  the  small-pox.  Their 
mother  was  successful,  ir.    obtaining    their   exchange. 


and  took  her  sick  boys  home.  After  a  long  illnus^ 
Andrew  recovered,  and  the  death  of  his  mother  soon 
left  him  entirely  friendless. 

Andrew  supported  himself  in  various  ways,sjcha3 
working  at  the  saddler's  trade,  teaching  school  and 
clerking  in  a  general  store,  until  1784,  when  he 
entered  a  law  office  at  Salisbury,  N.  C.  He,  however, 
gave  more  attention  to  the  wild  amusements  of  the 
times  than  to  his  studies.  In  1788,  he  was  appointed 
solicitor  for  the  western  district  of  North  Carolina,  of 
which  Tennessee  was  then  a  part.  This  involved 
many  long  and  tedious  journeys  amid  dangers  of 
every  kind,  but  Andrew  Jack-spn  never  knew  fear 
and  the  Indians  had  no  desire  to  repeat  a  skirmish 
witn  the  Sharp  Knife. 

In  1791,  Mr.  Jackson  was  married  to  a  woman  who 
supposed  herself  divorced  from  her  former  husband. 
Great  was  the  surprise  of  both  parties,  two  years  later, 
to  find  that  the  conditions  of  the  divorce  had  just  been 
definitely  settled  by  the  first  husband.  The  marriage 
ceremony  was  performed  a  second  time,  but  the  occur- 
rence was  often  used  by  his  enemies  to  bring  Mr. 
Jackson  into  disfavor. 

During  these  years  he  worked  hard   at   his    profes 
sion,  and  frequently  had  one  or  more  duels  on  hand, 
one  of  which,  when  he   killed  Dickenson,  was  espec- 
ially disgraceful. 

In  January,  1796,  the  Territory  of  Tennessee  then 
containing  nearly  eighty  thousand  inhabitants,  the 
people  met  in  convention  at  Knoxville  to  frame  a  con- 
stitution. Five  were  sent  from  each  of  the  elevi^ 
counties.  Andrew  Jackson  was  one  of  the  delegate&f 
The  new  State  was  entitled  to  but  one  member  iu 
the  National  House  of  Representatives.  Andrew  Jack- 
son was  chosen  that  member.  Mounting  his  horse  he 
rode  to  Philadelphia,  where  Congress   then    held  its 


44 


ANDRliV  /ACKS02V. 


sessions, — a  distance  of  about  eight   hundred    miles. 

Jackson  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  Jefferson  was  his  idol.  He  admired 
Bonaparte,  loved  France  and  hated  England.  As  Mr. 
Jackson  took  his  seat.  Gen.  Washington,  whose 
second  term  of  office  was  then  expiring,  delivered  his 
last  speech  to  Congress.  A  committee  drew  up  a 
complimentary  address  in  reply.  Andrew  Jackson 
did  not  approve  of  the  address,  and  was  one  of  the 
twelve  who  voted  against  it.  He  was  not  willing  to 
say  that  Gen.  Washington's  adminstration  had  Ijeen 
"  wise,  firm  and  patriotic." 

Mr.  Jackson  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
Senate  in  1797,  but  soon  resigned  and  returned  home. 
Soon  after  he  was  chosen  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  his  State,  which  position  he  held  for  si.x  years. 

When  the  war  of  1812  with  Great  Britian  com- 
menced, Madison  occupied  the  Presidential  chair. 
Aaron  Burr  sent  word  to  the  President  that  there  was 
an  unknown  man  in  the  West,  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
would  do  credit  to  a  commission  if  one  were  con- 
ferred upon  him.  Just  at  that  time  Gen.  Jackson 
offered  his  services  and  those  of  twenty-five  hundred 
volunteers.  His  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  troojis 
were  assembled  at  Nashville. 

As  the  British  were  hourly  expected  to  make  an  at- 
tack upon  New  Orleans,  where  Gen.  \Vilkinson  was 
in  command,  he  was  ordered  to  descend  the  river 
with  fifteen  hundred  troops  to  aid  Wilkinson.  The 
expedition  reached  Natchez;  and  after  a  delay  of  sev- 
eral weeks  there,  without  accomplishing  anything, 
the  men  were  ordered  back  to  their  homes.  But  the 
energy  Gen.  Jackson  had  displayed,  and  his  entire 
devotion  to  the  comrfort  of  his  soldiers,  won  him 
golden  opinions;  and  he  became  the  most  popular 
man  in  the  State.  It  was  in  this  expedition  that  his 
toughness  gave  him  the  nickname  of  "  Old  Hickory." 

Soon  after  this,  while  attempting  to  horsewhip  Col. 
Thomas  H.  Benton,  for  a  remark  that  gentleman 
made  about  his  taking  a  part  as  second  in  a  duel,  in 
which  a  younger  brother  of  Benton's  was  engaged, 
he  received  two  severe  pistol  wounds.  While  he  was 
lingering  upon  a  bed  ot  suffering  news  came  that  the 
Indians,  who  had  combined  under  Tecumseh  from 
Florida  to  the  Lakes,  to  exterminate  the  white  set- 
tlers, were  committing  the  most  awful  ravages.  De- 
cisive action  became  necessary.  Gen.  Jackson,  with 
his  fractured  bone  just  beginning  to  heal,  his  arm  in 
a  sling,  and  unable  to  mount  his  horse  without  assis- 
tance, gave  his  amazing  energies  to  the  raising  of  an 
army  to  rendezvous  at  Fayettesville,  Alabama. 

The  Creek  Indians  had  established  a  strong  fort  on 
one  of  the  bends  of  the  Tallapoosa  River,  near  the  cen- 
ter of  Alabama,  about  fifty  miles  below  Fort  Strother. 
With  an  army  of  two  thousand  men.  Gen.  Jackson 
traversed  the  pathless  wilderness  in  a  march  of  eleven 
days.  He  reached  their  fort,  called  Tohopeka  or 
Horse-shoe,  on  the  27th  of  March.  1814.     The  bend 


of  the  river  enclosed  nearly  one  hundred  acres  of 
tangled  forest  and  wild  ravine.  Across  the  narrow 
neck  the  Indians  had  constructed  a  formidable  breast- 
work of  logs  and  brush.  Here  nine  hundred  warriors, 
with  an  ample  suply  of  arms  were  assembled. 

The  fort  was  stormed.  The  fight  was  utterly  des- 
perate. Not  an  Indian  would  accept  of  quarter.  When 
bleeding  and  dying,  they  would  fight  those  who  en- 
deavored to  spare  their  lives.  From  ten  in  the  morn- 
ing until  dark,  the  battle  raged.  The  carnage  was 
awful  and  revolting.  Some  threw  themselves  into  the 
river;  but  the  unerring  bullet  struck  their  heads  as 
they  swam.  Nearly  everyone  of  the  nine  liundred  war- 
rios  were  killed  A  few  probably,  in  the  night,  swam 
the  river  and  escaped.  This  ended  the  war.  The 
power  of  the  Creeks  was  broken  forever.  This  bold 
plunge  into  the  wilderness,  with  itsterriffic  slaughter, 
so  appalled  the  savages,  that  the  haggard  remnants 
of  the  bands  came  to  the  camp,  begging  for  peace. 

This  closing  of  the  Creek  war  enabled  us  to  con- 
centrate all  our  militia  upon  the  British,  who  were  the 
allies  of  the  Indians  No  man  of  less  resolute  will 
than  Gen.  Jackson  could  have  conducted  this  Indian 
campaign  to  so  successful  an  issue  Immediatelv  he 
was  appointed  major-general. 

Late  in  .\ugust,  with  an  army  of  two  thousand 
men,  on  a  rushing  march,  Gen.  Jackson  came  to 
Mobile.  A  British  fleet  came  from  Pensacola,  landed 
a  force  ui»n  the  beach,  anchored  near  the  little  fort, 
and  from  both  ship  and  shore  commenced  a  furious 
assault.  The  battle  was  long  and  doubtful.  At  length 
one  of  the  ships  was  blown  up    and  the  rest  retired. 

Garrisoning  Mobile,  where  he  had  taken  his  little 
army,  he  moved  his  troops  to  New  Orleans, 
And  the  battle  of  New  Orleans  which  soon  ensued, 
was  in  reality  a  very  arduous  campaign.  This  won 
for  Gen.  Jackson  an  imperishable  name.  Here  his 
troops,  which  numbered  about  four  thousand  men. 
won  a  signal  victory  over  the  British  army  of  about 
nine  thousand.  His  loss  was  but  thirteen,  while  the 
loss  of  the  British  was  two  thousand  six   hundred. 

The  name  of  Gen.  Jackson  soon  began  to  be  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  the  Presidency,  but,  in  1824, 
he  was  defeated  by  Mr.  Adams.  He  was,  however, 
successful  in  the  election  of  1828,  and  was  re-elected 
for  a  second  term  in  1832.  In  1829,  just  before  he 
assumed  the  reins  of  the  government,  he  met  with 
the  most  terrible  affliction  of  his  life  in  the  death  of 
his  wife,  whom  he  had  loved  with  a  devotion  which  has 
perhaps  never  been  surpassed.  From  the  shock  of 
her  death  he  never  recovered. 

His  administration  was  one  of  the  most  mcmcraliie 
in  the  annals  of  our  country;  applauded  oyone  partv. 
condemned  by  the  other.  No  man  had  more  bittei 
enemies  or  warmer  friends.  At  the  expiration  of  hi^ 
two  terms  of  office  he  retired  to  the  Hermitage,  where 
he  died  June  8,  1845.  The  last  years  of  Mr.  Jack- 
son's   life   were   that    of   a    devoted  Christian    man. 


7 


/  7  yU^^^  ^<^.J  U^L^e-^,^.^ 


EIGHTH  PRESIDENT. 


i!e^^!)0A®)§<®A2j€»^T 


WW^  W^  BUREI]. 


^M.^ 


ARTIN  VAN  BUREN,  the 
eighth      President     of     the 
United  States,  was  born  at 
Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  Dec.   5, 
1782.     He  died  at  the  same 
place,  July    24,    1862.       His 
body  rests  in   the  cemetery 
at  Kinderhook.     Above  it  is 
a  plain  granite   shaft  fifteen  feet 
high,  bearing  a  simple  inscription 
about  half  way  up   on   one    face. 
The  lot  is  unfenced,  unbordered 
or  unbounded  by  shrub  or  flower. 

There  '*  our  lUtle  in  the  life  of  Martin  \'an  Buren 
of  romanfc  interest.  He  fought  no  battles,  engaged 
in  no  wild  adventures.  Though  his  life  was  stormy  in 
political  and  intellectual  conflicts,  and  he  gained  many 
signal  victories,  his  days  passed  uneventful  in  those 
incidents  which  give  zest  to  biography.  His  an- 
cestors, as  his  name  indicates,  were  of  Dutch  origin, 
and  were  among  the  earliest  emigrants  from  Holland 
to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
residing  iu  the  old  town  of  Kinderhook.  His  mother, 
also  of  Dutch  lineage,  was  a  woman  of  superior  intel- 
ligence and  exemplary  piety. 

A<i  was  decidedly  a  precocious  boy,  developing  un- 
usual activity,  vigor  and  strength  of  mind.  At  the 
age  of  fourteen,  he  had  finished  his  academic  studies 
in  his  native  village,  and  commenced  the  study  of 
law.  As  he  h.ad  not  a  collegiate  education,  seven 
years  of  study  in  a  law-office  were  required  of  him 
!)efore  he  could  be  admitted  to  the  bar.  Inspired  with 
Ji  lofty  ambition,  and  conscious  of  his  powers,  he  pur- 
sued his  studies  with  indefatigable  industry.  .'Xfter 
S[)cnding  six  years  in  an  office  in  his    native  village. 


he  went  to  the  city  of  New  York,  and  prosecuted  his 
studies  for  the  seventh  year. 

In  1803,  Mr.  Van  Buren,  then  twenty-one  years  o) 
age,  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  his  native  vil- 
lage. The  great  conflict  between  the  Federal  and 
Republican  party  was  then  at  its  height.  Mr.  Van 
Buren  was  from  the  beginning  a  politician.  He  had, 
perhaps,  imbibed  that  spirit  while  listening  to  the 
many  discussions  which  had  been  carried  on  in  his 
father's  hotel.  He  was  in  cordial  sympathy  with 
Jefferson,  and  earnestly  and  eloquently  espoused  the 
cause  of  State  Rights ;  though  at  that  time  the  Fed- 
eral party  held  the  supremacy  both  in  his  town 
and  State. 

His  success  and  increasing  ruputation  led  him 
after  six  years  of  practice,  to  remove  to  Hudson,  th.' 
county  seat  of  his  county.  Here  he  spent  seven  years, 
constantly  gaining  strength  by  contending  in  th(v 
courts  with  some  of  the  ablest  men  who  have  adorned 
the  bar  of  his  State. 

Just  before  leaving  Kinderhook  for  Hudson,  Mt. 
Van  Buren  married  a  lady  alike  distinguished  for 
beauty  and  accomplishments.  After  twelve  short 
years  she  sank  into  tlie  grave,  the  victim  of  consun^p. 
tion,  leaving  her  husband  and  four  sons  to  weep  ovei 
her  loss.  For  twenty-five  years,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was 
an  earnest,  successful,  assiduous  lawyer.  The  record 
of  those  years  is  barren  in  items  of  public  interest. 
In  18 1 2,  when  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was  chosen  to 
the  State  Senate,  and  cave  his  strenuous  support  to. 
Mr.  Madison's  adminstration.  In  1815,  he  was  ap- 
jx)inted  Attorney-General,  and  the  next  year  moved 
to  Albany,  the  capital  of  the  State. 

While  he  was  ackno\<'ledged  as  one  of  the  most 
pcominent  leaders  of  th«    Deniocratic   party,   he   had 


48 


MARTIN  VAN  BUREN. 


the  moral  courage  to  avow  that  tnie  democracy  did 
not  require  that  "  universal  suffrage "  which  admits 
the  vile,  the  degraded,  the  ignorant,  to  the  right  of 
governing  the  State.  In  true  consistency  with  his 
democratic  principles,  he  contended  that,  while  the 
path  leading  to  the  privilege  of  voting  should  be  open 
to  every  man  without  distinction,  no  one  should  be 
invested  with  that  sacred  prerogative,  unless  he  were 
in  some  degree  qualified  for  it  by  intelligence,  virtue 
;ind  some  property  interests  in  the  welfare  of  the 
State. 

In  1821  he  was  elected  ;.  member  of  the  United 
States  Senate;  and  in' the  same  year,  he  took  a  seat 
in  the  convention  to  revise  the  constitution  of  his 
native  State.  His  course  in  this  convention  secured 
the  approval  of  men  of  all  parties.  No  one  could 
doubt  the  singleness  of  his  endeavors  to  promote  tlie 
interests  of  all  classes  in  the  comuiunity.  In  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States,  he  rose  at  once  to  a 
conspicuous  yjosition  as  an  active  and  useful  legislator. 

In  1827,  John  Quincy  Adams  being  tlien  in  the 
Presidential  chair,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  re-elected  to 
.he  Senate.  He  had  been  from  the  beginning  a  de- 
termined opposer  of  the  Administration,  adopting  the 
•'State  Rights "  view  in  opposition  to  what  was 
"deemed  the  Federal  i)rochvities  of  Mr.  Adams. 

Soon  after  this,  in  1828,  he  was  chosen  Governorof 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  accordingly  resigned  his 
^eat  in  the  .Senate.  Probably  no  one  in  the  United 
States  contributed  so  much  towards  ejecting  John  Q. 
\dams  from  the  Presidential  chair,  and  placing  in  it 
Andrew  Jackson,  as  did  Martin  Van  Buren.  Whether 
entitled  to  the  reputation  or  not,  he  certainly  was  re- 
garded througiiout  the  United  States  as  one  of  the 
most  skillful,  sagacious  and  cunning  of  politicians. 
It  was  supposed  that  no  one  knew  so  well  as  he  how 
lo  touch  the  secret  spiings  of  action;  how  to  pull  all 
the  wires  to  put  his  machinery  in  niotion  ;  and  how  to 
organize  a  political  army  which  would,  secretly  and 
ste.-'Uhily  accomplish  the  most  gigantic  results.  By 
these  powers  it  is  said  that  he  outv/itted  Mr.  Adams, 
Mr.  Clay,  Mr.  M^ebster,  and  secured  results  which 
few  thought  then  could  be  accomplished. 

When  Andrew  Jackson  was  elected  President  he 
appointed  Mr.  Van  Buren  Secretary  of  State.  This 
position  he  resigned  in  1831,  ajid  was  immediately 
appointed  Minister  to  England,  where  he  went  the 
same  autumn.  The  SenatCj  however,  when  it  met, 
refused    to    ratify  the   noniinationj    and   he  returned 


home,  apparently  untroubled ;  was  nominated  Vice 
President  in  the  place  of  Calhoun,  at  the  re-election 
of  President  Jackson;  and  with  smiles  for  all  and 
frowns  for  none,  he  took  his  place  at  the  head  of  that 
Senate  which  had  refused  to  confirm  his  nomination 
as  ambassador. 

His  rejection  by  the  Senate  roused  all  the  zeal  of 
President  Jackson  in  behalf  of  his  repudiated  favor- 
ite ;  and  this,  probably  more  than  any  other  cause, 
secured  his  elevation  to  the  chair  of  the  Chief  Execu 
tive.  On  the  20th  of  May,  1836,  Mr.  Van  Buren  re- 
ceived the  Democratic  nomination  to  succeed  Gen. 
Jackson  as  President  of  the  United  States.  He  was 
elected  by  a  handsome  majority,  to  the  delight  of  the 
retiring  President.  "  Leaving  New  York  out  of  the 
canvass,"  says  Mr.  Parton,  "the  election  of  Mr.  Van 
Buren  to  the  Presidency  was  as  much  the  act  of  Gen. 
Jackson  as  though  the  Constitution  had  conferred 
upon  him  the  power  to  appoint  a  successor." 

His  administration  was  filled  with  exciting  events. 
'Ihe  insurrection  in  Canada,  which  threatened  to  in 
volve  this  country  in  war  with  England,  the  agitation 
of  the  slavery  question,  and  finally  the  great  commer- 
cial panic  which  spread  over  the  country,  all  were 
trials  to  his  wisdom.  The  financial  distress  was  at- 
tributed to  the  management  of  the  Democratic  party, 
and  brought  the  President  into  such  disfavor  that  he 
failed  of  re-election. 

With  the  exception  of  being  nominated  for  the 
Presidency  by  the  "Free  Soil"  Democrats,  in  r848, 
Mr.  Van  Buren  lived  quietly  upon  his  estate  until 
his  death. 

He  had  ever  been  a  prudent  man,  of  frugal  habits, 
and  living  within  his  income,  had  now  fortunately  a 
competence  for  his  declining  years.  His  unblemished 
character,  his  commanding  abilities,  his  unquestioned 
patriotism,  and  the  distinguished  positions  which  he 
had  occupied  in  the  government  of  our  country,  se- 
cured to  him  not  only  the  homage  of  his  party,  but 
the  respect  ot  the  whole  community.  It  was  on  the 
4th  of  March,  1841,  that  Mr.  Van  Buren  retired  fion; 
the  presidency.  From  his  fine  estate  at  Linden wa  id, 
he  still  exerted  a  powerful  influence  upon  the  iwlitics 
of  the  country.  From  this  time  until  his  death,  on 
the  24th  of  July,  1862,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years,  he 
resided  at  Lindenwald,  a  gentleman  of  leisure,  ot 
culture  and  of  wealth;  enjoying  in  a  healthy  old 
age,  probably  far  more  happiness  than  he  had  before 
experienced  amid  the  stormy  scenes  of  his  active  life- 


^^  f/:  ^(^r^- 


-K^ 


NINTH  PRESIDENT. 


S' 


^-6-^- 


WMflE^MM  ^MI  m41]^i§il. 


IttIS 


H-SJ-E 


'.l^'r-'-'^n' 


ILLIAM  HENRY  HARRI- 
SON, the  ninth   President  of 
the   United  States,  was  born 
at  Berkeley,  Va.,  Feb.  9,  1773. 
His  father,   Benjamin   Harri- 
son, was  in  comparatively  op- 
'^        ulent  circumstances,  and  was 
one  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  of  his  day.      He  was  an 
intimate    friend    of     George 
Washington,  was  early  elected 
*         a  member  of  the  Continental 
Congress,    and   was     conspicuous 
among  the  patriots  of  Virginia  in 
resisting  the  encroachments  of  the 
British  crown.     In  the  celebrated 
Congress  of  1775,  Benjamin  Har- 
rison   and    John    Hancock    were 
both  candidates  for  the  office  of 
speaker. 

Mr  Harrison  was  subsequently 
cliosen  Governor  of  Virginia,  and 
was  twice  re-elected.  His  son, 
William  Henry,  of  course  enjoyed 
in  childhood  all  the  advantages  which  wealth  and 
intellectual  and  cultivated  society  could  give.  Hav- 
ing received  a  thorough  common-school  education,  he 
entered  Hampden  Sidney  College,  where  he  graduated 
with  honor  soon  r.fter  the  death  of  his  father.  He 
Chen  repaired  to  Philadelphia  to  study  medicine  under 
the  instructions  of  Dr.  Rush  and  the  guardianship  of 
Robert  Morris,  both  of  whom  were,  with  his  father, 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  troubles,  and  not- 
withstanding the  'emonstrances  of  his  friends,  he 
abandoned  his  medical  studies  and  entered  the  army, 
/laving  obtain-^  a  commisaion  of  Ensign  from  Presi- 


®i^- 


dent  Washington.  He  was  then  but  19  years  old 
From  that  time  he  passed  gradually  upward  in  rank 
until  he  became  aid  to  General  Wayne,  after  whose 
death  he  resigned  his  commission.  He  was  then  ap- 
pointed Secretary  of  the  North-western  Territory.  This 
Territory  was  then  entitled  to  but  one  member  in 
Congress  and  Capt.  Harrison  was  chosen  to  fill  that 
position. 

In  the  spring  of  1800  the  North-western  Territory 
was  divided  by  Congress  into  two  portions.  The 
eastern  portion,  comprising  the  region  now  embraced 
in  the  State  of  Ohio,  was  called  "  The  Territory 
north-west  of  the  Ohio."  The  western  portion,  which 
included  what  is  now  called  Indiana,  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin,  was  called  the  "Indiana  Territory."  Wil. 
liani  Henry  Harrison,  then  27  years  of  age,  was  ap 
pointed  by  John  Adams,  Governor  of  the  Indiana 
Territory,  and  immediately  after,  also  Governor  of 
Upper  Louisiana.  He  was  thus  ruler  over  almost  as 
extensive  a  realm  as  any  sovereign  upon  the  globe.  He 
was  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  and  was  in- 
vested with  powers  nearly  dictatorial  over  the  now 
rapidly  increasing  white  population.  The  ability  and 
fidelity  with  which  he  discharged  these  responsible 
duties  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  he  was  four 
times  apixsinted  to  this  office — first  by  John  Adams, 
twice  by  Thomas  Jefferson  and  afterwards  by  Presi- 
dent Madison. 

When  he  began  his  adminstration  there  were  but 
three  white  settlementsin  that  almost  boundless  region, 
now  crowded  with  cities  and  resounding  with  all  the 
tumult  of  wealth  and  traffic.  One  of  these  settlements 
was  on  the  Ohio,  nearly  opposite  I-ouisville;  one  at 
Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash,  and  the  third  a  French 
settlement. 

The  vast  wilderness  over  which  Gov.  Harrisoii 
reigned  was  filled  with  many  tribes  of  Indians.  Abou< 


5^ 


WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON. 


the  year  1806,  two  extraordinary  men,  twin  brothers, 
of  the  Shawnese  tribe,  rose  among  them.  One  of 
these  was  called  Tecumseh,  or  "  The  Crouching 
Panther;"  the  other,  OUiwacheca,  or  "The  Prophet." 
Tecumseh  was  not  only  an  Indian  warrior,  but  a  man 
of  great  sagacity,  far-reaching  foresight  and  indomit- 
able perseverance  in  any  enterprise  ni  which  he  might 
engage;  He  was  inspired  with  the  highest  enthusiasm, 
and  had  long  regarded  with  dread  and  with  hatred 
the  encroachment  of  the  whites  upon  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  his  fathers.  His  brother,  the  Prophet,  was 
anorator,  who  could  sway  the  feelings  of  the  untutored 
Indian  as  the  gale  tossed  the  tree-tops  beneath  which 
they  dwelt. 

But  the  Prophet  was  not  merely  an  orator :  he  was, 
in  the  superstitious  minds  of  the  Indians,  invested 
with  the  superhuman  dignity  of  a  medicine-man  or  a 
magician.  With  an  enthusiasm  unsurpassed  by  Peter 
the  Hermit  rousing  Europe  to  the  crusades,  he  went 
from  tribe  to  tribe,  assuming  that  he  was  specially  sent 
by  the  Great  .Spirit. 

Gov.  Harrison  made  many  attempts  to  conciliate 
the  Indians,  but  at  last  the  war  came,  and  at  Tippe- 
canoe the  Indians  were  routed  with  great  slaughter. 
October  28,  18 12,  his  army  began  its  inarch.  When 
near  the  Prophet's  town  three  Indians  of  rank  made 
their  appearance  and  inquired  why  Gov.  Harrison  was 
approaching  them  in  so  hostile  an  attitude.  After  a 
short  conference,  arrangements  were  made  for  a  meet- 
ing the  next  day,  to  agree  upon  terms  of  peace. 

But  Gov.  Harrison  was  too  well  acquainted  with 
the  Indian  character  to  be  deceived  by  such  protes- 
tations. Selecting  a  favorable  spot  for  his  night's  en- 
campment, he  took  every  precaution  against  surprise. 
His  troops  were  posted  in  a  hollow  square,  and  slept 
upon  their  arms. 

The  troops  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  for 
rest;  but  every  man  had  his  accourtrements  on,  his 
loaded  musket  by  his  side,and  his  bayonet  fixed.  The 
wakeful  Governor,  between  three  and  four  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  had  risen,  and  was  sitting  in  conversa- 
tion with  his  aids  by  the  embers  of  a  waning  fire.  It 
was  a  chill,  cloudy  morning  with  a  drizzling  rain.  In 
the  darkness,  the  Indians  had  crept  as  near  as  possi- 
ble, and  just  then,  with  a  savage  yell,  rushed,  with  all 
the  desperation  which  superstition  and  passion  most 
highly  inflamed  could  give,  upon  the  left  flank  of  the 
little  army.  The  savages  had  been  amply  provided 
with  guns  and  ammunition  by  the  English.  Their 
war-whoop  was  accompained  by  a  shower  of  bullets. 
The  camp-fires  were  instantly  extinguished,  as  the 
light  aided  the  Indians  in  their  aim.  With  hide- 
fus  yells,  the  Indian  bands  rushed  on,  not  doubting  a 
si)eedy  and  an  entire  victory.  But  Gen.  Harrison's 
troops  stood  as  immovable  as  the  rocks  around  them 
until  day  dawned  :  they  then  made  a  simultaneous 
charge  with  the  bayonet,  and  swept  every  thing  be- 
fore   them,    and    completely    routing    the    foe. 


Gov.  Harrison  now  had  all  his  energies  tasked 
to  the  utmost.  The  British  descending  from  the  Can- 
adas,  were  of  themselves  a  very  formidable  force  ;  but 
with  their  savage  allies,  rushing  like  wolves  I'rom  the 
forest,  sear-..hing  out  every  remote  farm-house,  burn- 
ing, plundering,  scalping,  torturing,  the  wide  frontier 
was  plunged  into  a  state  of  consternation  which  even 
the  most  vivid  imagination  can  but  faintly  conceive. 
The  war-whoop  was  resounding  everywhere  in  the 
forest.  The  horizon  was  illuminated  with  the  conflagra- 
tion of  the  cabins  of  the  settlers.  Gen  Hull  had  made 
the  ignominious  surrender  of  his  forces  at  Detroit. 
Under  these  despairing  circumstances.  Gov.  Harrison 
was  appointed  by  President  Madison  cominander-in- 
chiefof  the  North-western  army,  with  orders  to  retake 
Detroit,  and  to  protect  the  frontiers. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  place  a  man  in  a  situation 
demanding  more  energy,  sagacity  and  courage;  but 
General  Harrison  was  found  equal  to  the  position, 
and  nobly  and  triumphantly  did  he  meet  all  the  re 
sponsibilities. 

He  won  the  love  of  liis  soldiers  by  always  sharing 
with  them  their  fatigue.  His  whole  baggage,  >vhile 
pursuing  the  foe  up  the  Thames,  was  carried  in  a 
valise;  and  his  bedding  consisted  of  a  single  blanket 
lashed  over  his  saddle.  Thirty-five  British  officers, 
his  prisoners  of  war,  supped  with  him  after  the  batde. 
The  only  fare  he  could  give  them  was  beef  roasted 
before  the  fire,  without  bread  or  salt. 

In  18 16,  Gen.  Harrison  was  chosen  a  member  of 
the  National  House  of  Representatives,  to  represent 
the  District  of  Ohio.  In  Congress  he  proved  an 
active  member;  and  whenever  he  spoke,  it  was  with 
force  of  reason  and  power  of  eloquence,  which  arrested 
the  attention  of  all  the  members. 

In  1 81 9,  Harrison  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of 
Ohio;  and  in  1824,  as  one  of  the  presidential  electors 
of  that  State,  he  gave  his  vote  for  Henry  Clay.  The 
same  year  he  was  chosen  to  the  United  States  Senate. 
In  1836,  the  friends  of  Gen.  Harrison  brought  him 
forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  against 
Van  Buren,  but  he  was  defeated.  At  the  close  of 
Mr.  Van  Buren's  term,  he  was  re -nominated  by  his 
party,  and  Mr.  Harrison  was  unanimously  nominated 
by  the  Whigs,  with  John  Tyler  for  the  Vice  Presidency. 
The  contest  was  very  animated.  Gen.  Jackson  gave 
all  his  influence  to  prevent  Harrison's  election  ;  but 
his  triumph  was  signal. 

The  cabinet  which  he  formed,  with  Daniel  Webster 
at  its  head  as  Secretary  of  State,  was  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  with  which  any  President  had  ever  been 
surrounded.  Never  were  the  prospects  of  an  admin- 
istration more  flattering,  or  the  hopes  of  the  country 
more  sanguine.  In  the  midst  of  these  bright  and 
joyous  prospects.  Gen.  Harrison  was  seized  by  a 
pleurisy-fever  and  after  a  few  days  of  violent  sick- 
ness, died  on  the  4th  of  April ;  just  one  month  after 
his  inauguration  as  President  of  the  United  States. 


TENTH  PRESIDENT. 


S5 


OHN  TYLER,  the  tenth 
i  Presidentof  the  United  States. 
He  was  born  in  Charles-city 
Co.,  Va.,  March  29, 1790.  He 
was  the  favored  child  of  af- 
fluence and  high  social  po- 
sition. At  the  early  age  of 
twelve,  John  entered  WilUam 
and  Mary  College  and  grad- 
uated with  much  honor  when 
but  seventeen  years  old.  After 
graduating,  he  devoted  him- 
self with  great  assiduity  to  the 
study  of  law,  partly  with  his 
father  and  partly  with  Edmund 
Randolph,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished lawyers  of  Virginia. 
At  nineteen  years  of  age,  ne 
'n  commenced  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  was  rapid  and  aston- 
ishing. It  is  said  tliat  three 
months  had  not  elapsed  ere  there 
was  scarcely  a  case  on  the  dock- 
et of  the  court  in  which  he  was 
hOt  retained.  When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
was  almost  unanimously  e'ected  to  a  seat  in  the  State 
Legislature.  He  connected  himself  v/ith  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  warmly  advocated  the  measures  of 
Jefferson  and  Madison.  For  five  successive  years  he 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  receiving  nearly  the 
unanimous  vote  or  his  county. 

When  but  twenty-six  years  of  age,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Here  he  acted  earnestly  and 
ably  with  the  Democratic  party,  opposing  a  national 
bank,  internal  improvements  by  the  General  fk)vern- 


ment,  a  protective  tariff",  and  advocating  a  strict  con- 
struction of  the  Constitution,  and  the  most  careful 
vigilance  over  State  rights.  His  labors  in  Congress 
were  so  arduous  that  before  the  close  of  his  second 
term  he  found  it  necessary  to  resign  and  retire  to  his 
estate  in  Charles-city  Co.,  to  recruit  his  health.  He, 
however,  soon  after  consented  to  take  his  seat  in  the 
State  Legislature,  where  his  influence  was  powerful 
in  promoting  public  works  of  great  utility.  With  a 
reputation  thus  canstantly  increasing,  he  was  chosen 
by  a  very  large  majority  of  votes.  Governor  of  his 
native  State.  His  administration  was  signally  a  suc- 
cessful one.     His  popularity  secured  his  re-election. 

John  Randolph,  a  brilliant,  erratic,  half-crazed 
man,  then  represented  Virginia  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  A  portion  of  the  Democratic  party 
was  displeased  with  Mr.  Randolph's  wayward  course, 
and  brought  forward  John  Tyler  as  his  opponent, 
considering  him  the  only  man  in  Virginia  of  sufficient 
popularity  to  succeed  against  the  renowned  orator  of 
Roanoke.     Mr.  Tyler  was  the  victor. 

Li  accordance  with  his  professions,  upon  taking  his 
seat  in  the  Senate,  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  opposi- 
tion. He  opposed  the  tariff";  he  spoke  against  and 
voted  against  the  bank  as  unconstitutional ;  he  stren- 
uously opposed  all  restrictions  upon  slavery,  resist- 
ing all  projects  of  internal  improvements  by  tlie  Gen- 
era! Government,  and  avowed  his  sympathy  with  Mr. 
Calhoun's  view  of  nullification  ;  he  declared  that  Gen. 
Jackson,  by  his  opposition  to  the  nullifiers,  had 
abandoned  the  principles  of  the  Democratic  party. 
Such  was  Mr.  Tyler's  record  in  Congress, — a  record 
in  perfect  accordance  with  the  principles  which  be 
had  always  avowed. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  resumed  the  practice  of 
his  profession.     Ther?  was  a  split  in  the   Democratic 


56 


JOHN  TYLER. 


/arty.  His  friends  still  regarded  him  as  a  true  Jef- 
fersonian,  gave  him  a  dinner,  and  showered  compli- 
ments upon  him.  He  had  now  attained  the  age  of 
forty-six.  His  career  had  been  very  brilliant.  In  con- 
sequence of  his  devotion  to  public  business,  his  pri- 
vate affairs  had  fallen  into  some  disorder;  audit  was 
not  without  satisfaction  that  he  resumed  the  practice 
of  law,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  culture  of  his  plan- 
tation. Soon  after  this  he  removed  to  Williamsburg, 
for  the  better  education  of  his  children  ;  and  he  again 
took  his  seat  in  the  Legislature  of  Virginia. 

By  the  Southern  Whigs,  he  was  sent  to  the  national 
convention  at  Harrisburg  to  nominate  a  President  in 
7839.  The  majority  of  votes  were  given  to  Gen.  Har- 
rison, a  genuine  Whig,  much  to  the  disappointment  of 
the  South,  who  wished  for  Henry  Clay.  To  concili- 
ate the  Southern  Whigs  and  to  secure  their  vote,  the 
convention  then  nominated  John  Tyler  for  Vice  Pres- 
ident. It  was  well  known  that  he  was  not  in  sympa- 
thy with  the  Whig  party  in  the  North  :  but  the  Vice 
President  has  but  very  little  power  in  the  Govern- 
ment, his  main  and  almost  only  duty  being  to  pre- 
side over  the  meetings  of  the  Senate.  Thus  it  hap- 
pened that  a  Whig  President,  and,  in  reality,  a 
Democratic  Vice  President  were  chosen. 

In  1 84 1,  Mr.  Tyler  was  inaugurated  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  In  one  short  month  from 
that  time.  President  Harrison  died,  and  Mr.  Tyler 
thus  -cund  himself,  to  his  own  surprise  and  that  of 
the  whole  Nation,  an  occupant  of  the  Presidential 
chair.  This  was  a  new  test  of  the  stability  of  our 
institutions,  as  it  was  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our 
country  that  such  an  event  had  occured.  Mr.  Tyler 
was  at  home  in  Williamsburg  when  he  received  the 
unexpected  tidings  of  the  death  of  President  Harri- 
son. He  hastened  to  Washington,  and  on  the  6th  of 
April  was  inaugurated  to  the  high  and  responsible 
office.  He  was  placed  in  a  position  of  exceeding 
delicacy  and  difficulty.  All  his  long  life  he  had  been 
opposed  tc  the  main  principles  of  the  party  which  had 
brought  him  into  power.  He  had  ever  been  a  con- 
sistent, hontit  man,  with  an  unblemished  record. 
Gen.  Harrison  had  selected  a  Whig  cabinet.  Should 
he  retain  them,  and  thus  surround  himself  with  coun- 
sellors whose  views  were  antagonistic  to  his  own?  or, 
on  the  other  hand,  should  he  turn  against  the  party 
which  had  elected  him  and  select  a  cabinet  in  har- 
mony with  himself,  and  which  would  oppose  all  those 
views  which  the  Whigs  deemed  essential  to  the  pub- 
lic welfare?  This  was  his  fearful  dilemma.  He  in- 
vited the  cabinet  which  President  Hanrison  had 
selected  to  retain  their  seats.  He  reccommended  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  that  God  would  guide  and 
bless  us. 

The  Whigs  carried  through  Congress  a  bill  for  the 
incorporation  of  a  fiscal  bank  of  the  United  States. 
The  President,  after  ten  days'  delay,  returned  it  with 
his  veto.       He   »uegested.   however,  that  he  would 


approve  of  a  bill  drawn  up  upon  such  a  plan  as  he  1 
proposed.  Such  a  bill  was  accordingly  prepared,  and 
privately  submitted  to  him.  He  gave  it  his  approval. 
It  was  passed  without  alteration,  and  he  sent  it  back 
with  his  veto.  Here  commenced  the  open  rupture. 
It  is  said  that  Mr.  Tyler  was  provoked  to  this  meas- 
ure by  a  published  letter  from  the  Hon.  John  M. 
Botts,  a  distinguished  Virginia  Whig,  who  severely 
touched  the  pride  of  the  President. 

The  opposition  now  exultingly  received  the  Presi- 
dent into  their  arms.  The  party  which  elected  him 
denounced  him  bitterly.  AH  the  members  of  his 
cabinet,  e.xcepting  Mr.  Webster,  resigned.  The  Whigs 
of  Congress,  both  the  Senate  and  the  House,  held  a 
meeting  and  issued  an  address  to  the  people  of  the  J 
United  States,  proclaiming  that  all  political  alliance  \ 
between  the  Whigs  and  President  Tyler  were  at 
an  end. 

Still  the  President  attempted  to  conciliate.  He 
appointed  a  new  cabmet  of  distinguished  Whigs  and 
Conservatives,  carefully  leaving  out  all  strong  party 
men.  Mr.  Webster  soon  found  it  necessary  to  resign, 
forced  out  by  the  pressure  of  his  Whig  friends.  Thus 
the  four  years  of  Mr.  Xyler's  unfortunate  administra- 
tion passed  sadly  away.  No  one  was  satisfied.  The 
land  was  filled  with  murmurs  and  vituperation.  Whigs 
and  Democrats  alike  assailed  him.  More  and  more, 
however,  he  brought  himself  into  sympathy  with  his 
old  friends,  the  Democrats,  until  at  the  close  of  his  term, ' 
he  gave  his  whole  influence  to  the  support  of  Mr. 
Polk,  the  Democratie  candidate  for  his  successor. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  he  retired  from  the 
harassments  of  office,  to  the  regret  of  neither  party,  and 
probably  to  his  own  unspeakable  relief.  His  first  wife. 
Miss  Letitia  Christian,  died  in  Washington,  in  1842; 
and  in  June,  1844,  President  Tyler  was  again  married, 
at  New  York,  to  Miss  Julia  Gardiner,  a  young  lady  of 
many  personal  and  intellectual  accomplishments. 

The  remainder  of  his  days  Mr.  Tyler  passed  mainly  j 
in  retirement  at  his  beautiful  home, — Sherwood  For-  ' 
est,  Charles -city  Co.,  Va.  A  polished  gentleman  in 
his  manners,  richly  furnished  with  mformation  from 
books  and  experience  in  the  world',  and  possessing 
brilliant  powers  of  conversation,  his  family  circle  was 
the  scene  of  unasual  attractions.  With  sufficient 
means  for  the  exercise  of  a  generous  hospitality,  he 
might  have  enjoyed  a  serene  old  age  with  the  few 
friends  who  gathered  around  him,  were  it  not  for  the 
storms  of  civil  war  which  his  own  principles  and 
policy  had  helped  to  introduce. 

When  the  great  Rebellion  rose,  which  the  State, 
rights  and  nullifying  doctrines  of  Mr.  John  C.  Cal- 
houn had  inaugurated.  President  Tyler  renounced  his 
allegiance  to  the  United  States,  and  joined  the  Confed- 
erates. He  was  chosen  a  member  of  their  Congress; 
and  while  engaged  in  active  measures  to  destroy,  by 
force  of  arms,  the  Government  over  which  he  had 
once  presided,   he    was  taken   sick  and  soon  died. 


ILLINOIS 


J'o^^^     ^' 


oa-- 


pC 


"EtE  VEKmr-pRESTDRNTT 


Sf 


JAMES  K.  P 


AMES  K.  POLK,  the  eleventh 
?kPresident  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  in  Meckicnhiirg  Co., 
N.  C,  Nov.  2,  1795.     His  par- 
ents were    Samuel   and    Jane 
(Kno.x)  Polk,  the  former  a  son 
of  Col.  Thomas  Polk,  who  located 
at  the  above  place,  as  one  of  the 
first  pioneers,  in  1735. 

In  the  year  1S06,  with  liis  wife 
and  children,  and  soon  after  fol- 
lowed by  most  of  the  members  of 
the  Polk  famly,  Samuel  Polk  emi- 
grated some  two  or  three  hundred 
miles  farther  west,  to  the  rich  valley 
oftlie  Dnck  River.  Here  in  the 
midst  of  the  wilderness,  in  a  region 
which  was  subsequently  called  Mau- 
ry Co.,  they  reared  their  log  huls, 
and  established  their  homes.  In  tlie 
hard  toil  of  a  new  farm  in  the  wil- 
derness, James  K.  Polk  spent  the 
early  years  of  his  childliood  and 
youth.  His  father,  adding  the  pur- 
suit of  a  surveyor  to  that  of  a  farmer, 
gradually  increased  in  wealth  until 
he  became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  region.  His 
mother  was  a  superior  woman,  of  strong  common 
sense  and  earnest  piety. 

Very  early  in  life,  James  developed  a  taste  for 
reading  and  expressed  the  strongest  desire  to  obtain 
a  liberal  education.  His  mother's  training  had  made 
him  methodical  in  his  habits,  had  taught  him  punct- 
uality and  industry,  and  had  inspired  liim  witli  lofty 
priniipli-s  of  iiKiralitv.  His  health  was  frail  ;  and  his 
t.ilhcr,  fearing  tlial  hf  niiglit  ;)i)t  W  able  to  endure  a 


! 


sedentary  life,  got  a   situation   for   him   behind   the 
counter,  hoping  to  fit  him  for  commercial  pursuits. 

This  was  to  James  a  bitter  disappointment.  He 
had  no  taste  for  these  duties,  and  his  daily  tasks 
were  irksome  in  the  extreme.  He  remained  in  this 
uncongenial  occupation  but  a  few  weeks,  when  at  his 
earnest  solicitation  his  father  removed  hiai,  and  made 
arrangements  for  him  to  prosecute  his  studies.  Soon 
after  he  sent  him  to  Murfreesboro  Academy.  With 
ardor  which  could  scarcely  be  surpassed,  he  pressed 
forward  in  his  studies,  and  in  less  than  two  and  a  half 
years,  in  the  autumn  of  181 5,  entered  the  sophomore  1 
class  in  the  University  of  North  Carolina,  at  Chapel 
Hill.  Here  he  was  one  of  the  most  exemplary  of 
scholars,  punctual  in  every  exercise,  never  allowing 
himself  to  be  absent  from  a  recitation  or  a  religious 
service. 

He  graduated  in  18 18,  with  the  highest  honors,  be« 
ing  deemed  the  best  scholar  of  his  class,  both  in 
mathematics  and  the  classics.  He  was  then  twenty- 
three  years  of  age.  Mr.  Polk's  health  was  at  this 
time  much  impaired  by  the  assiduity  with  which  he 
liad  prosecuted  his  studies.  After  a  short  season  of 
relaxation  he  went  to  Nashville,  and  entered  the 
office  of  Felix  Grundy,  to  study  law.  Here  Mr.  Polk 
renewed  his  acquaintance  with  Andrew  Jackson,  who 
resided  on  his  plantation,  the  Hermitage,  but  a  few 
miles  from  Nashville.  They  had  probably  been 
slightly  acquainted  before. 

Mr.  Polk's  father  was  a  Jeffersonian  Republican, 
and  James  K.  Polk  ever  adliered  to  the  same  jwliti- 
cal  faith.  He  was  a  popular  i)ulilic  speaker,  and  was 
constantly  called  uixsn  to  address  the  meetings  of  his 
party  friends.  His  skill  as  a  s()eaker  was  such  that 
lie  was  jjopularly  called  the  NaiJulecni  of  the  slump. 
He  was  a   man   of  unblemished    morals,    geni.il    and 


6o 


JAMES  K.  POLK. 


Murterus  in  his  bearing,  and  with  that  sympathetic 
natui-e  in  the  joys  and  griefs  of  others  which  ever  gave 
him  troops  of  friends.  In  1823,  Mr.  Polk  was  elected 
to  the  Legislature  of  Tennessee.  Here  he  gave  his 
strong  influence  towards  the  election  of  his  friend, 
Mr.  Jackson,  to  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States. 

In  January,  1824,  Mr.  Polk  married  Miss  Sarah 
Childress,  of  Rutherford  Co.,  Tenn.  His  bride  was 
altogether  worthy  of  him, — a  lady  of  beauty  and  cul- 
ture. In  the  fall  of  1825,  Mr.  Polk  was  chosen  a 
member  of  Congress.  Tlie  satisfaction  which  he  gave 
to  his  constituents  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that 
for  fourteen  successive  years,  until  1839,  he  was  con- 
tinuec^  in  that  office.  He  then  voluntarily  withdrew, 
only  l^at  he  might  accept  the  Gubernatorial  chair 
of  Tennessee.  In  Congress  he  was  a  laborious 
member,  a  frequent  and  a  popular  speaker.  He  was 
always  in  his  seat,  always  courteous;  and  whenever 
he  spoke  it  was  always  to  the  point,  and  without  any 
ambitious  rhetorical  display. 

During  five  sessions  of  Congress,  Mr.  Polk  was 
Speaker  of  the  House.  Strong  passions  were  roused, 
and  stormy  scenes  were  witnessed  ;  but  Mr.  Polk  per- 
formed his  arduous  duties  to  a  very  general  satisfac- 
tion, and  a  unanimous  vote  of  thanks  to  him  was 
passed  by  the  House  as  he  withdrew  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1839. 

In  accordance  with  Southern  usage,  Mr.  Polk,  as  a 
candidate  for  Governor,  canvassed  the  State.  He  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority,  and  on  the  14th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1839,  took  the  oath  of  office  at  Nashville.  In  1841, 
his  term  of  office  expired,  and  he  was  again  the  can- 
didate of  the  Democratic  party,  but  was  defeated. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  r845,Mr.  Polk  was  inaugur- 
ated President  of  the  United  States.  The  verdict  of 
the  country  in  favor  of  the  annexation  of  Texas,  exerted 
its  influence  upon  Congress  ;  and  the  last  act  of  the 
administration  of  President  Tyler  was  to  affix  his  sig- 
nature to  a  joint  resolution  of  Congress,  passed  on  the 
3d  of  March,  approving  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  to 
the  American  Union.  As  Mexico  still  claimed  Texas 
as  one  of  her  provinces,  the  Mexican  minister, 
Almonte,  immediately  demanded  his  passports  and 
left  the  country,  declaring  the  act  of  the  annexation 
to  be  an  act  hostile  to  Mexico. 

In  his  first  message,  President  Polk  urged  that 
Texas  should  immediately,  by  act  of  Congress,  be  re- 
ceived into  the  Union  on  the  same  footing  with  the 
.Other  States.  In  the  njeantime,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent 


with  an  army  into  Texas  to  hold  the  country.  He  was 
sent  first  to  Nueces,  which  the  Mexicans  said  was  the 
western  boundary  of  Texas.  Then  he  was  sent  nearly 
two  hundred  miles  further  west,  to  the  Rio  Grande, 
where  he  erected  batteries  which  commanded  the 
Mexican  city  of  Matamoras,  which  was  situated  on 
the  western  banks. 

The  anticipated  collision  soon  took  place,  and  wai 
was  declared  against  Mexico  by  President  Polk.  The 
war  was  pushed  forward  by  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
with  great  vigor.  Gen.  Taylor,  whose  army  was  first 
called  one  of  "  observation,"'  then  of  "occupation," 
then  of  "  invasion,  "was  sent  forward  to  Monterey.  The 
feeble  Mexicans,  in  every  encounter,  were  hopelessly 
and  awfully  slaughtered.  The  day  of  judgement 
alone  can  reveal  the  misery  which  tliis  war  caused. 
It  v/as  by  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Polk's  administration 
that  the  war  was  brought  on. 

'To  the  victors  belong  the  spoils."    Mexico  was 
prostrate  before  us.     Her  capital  was  in  our  hands. 
We  now  consented  to  peace  upon  the  condition  that 
Mexico  should  surrender  to  us,  in  addition  to  Texas, 
all  of  New  Mexico,  and  all  of  Upper  and  Lower  Cal- 
ifornia.    This  new  demand  embraced,  exclusive  of 
Texas,  eight  hundred  thousand  square  miles.      This  ' 
was  an  extent  of  territory  equal  to  nine  States  of  the 
size  of  New  York.  Thus  slavery  was  securing  eighteen 
majestic  States  to  be  added  to  the  Union.   There  were      j 
some  Americans  who  thought  it  all  right :    there  were      ^ 
others  who  thought  it  all  wrong.     In  the  prosecution 
of  this  war,  we  expended  twenty  thousand  lives  and  -   J 
more  than   a  hundred  million   of  dollars.      Of  this      ' 
money  fifteen  millions  were  paid  to  Mexico. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1849,  Mr.  Polk  retired  from 
office,  having  served  one  term.  The  next  day  was 
Sunday.  On  the  5th,  Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated 
as  his  successor.  Mr.  Polk  rode  to  the  Capitol  in  the 
same  carriage  with  Gen.  Taylor;  and  the  same  even- 
ing, with  Mrs.  Polk,  he  commenced  his  return  to 
Tennessee.  He  was  then  but  fifty-four  years  of  age. 
He  had  ever  been  strictly  temperate  in  all  his  habits, 
and  his  health  was  good.  With  an  ample  fortune, 
a  choice  library,  a  cultivated  mind,  and  domestic  ties 
of  the  dearest  nature,  it  seemed  as  though  long  years 
of  tranquility  and  happiness  were  before  him.  But  the 
cholera — that  fearful  scourge— was  then  sweeping  up 
the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi.  This  he  contracted, 
and  died  on  the  15th  of  June,  1849,  in  the  fiftv-fuurth 
year  of  his  age,  greatly  mourned  by  his  countrymen. 


OP  u^t 

LLINOiS 


'y  (::x.'C:^A.<:p(.^y     y^^yt^  ^^^\ 


TWELFTH  PRESIDENT. 


arY^V^^V^V^^.  <■  \. W  V  ;>>V:T^Or:\Tx.,>-^.v:.^7^v:vTvrv7i,  A  ■•  AA\  A  ■■  \-  \.  V  vr^TTrr^ 


xAgMARY  '^^AyI^^(?J^^ 


^■%> 


^^' 


ACHARY  TAYLOR,  twelfth 
%  President  of  the  United  States, 
-^'^  was  born  on  the  24th  of  Nov., 
1784,  in  Orange  Co.,  Va.  His 
i)  father,  Colonel  Taylor,  was 
(@/5£^2j  *y  a-  Virginian  of  note,  and  a  dis- 
%'  V^'-a:-''^: '  j.j)  tinguished  patriot  and  soldier  of 
the  Revolution.  When  Zachary 
was  an  infant,  his  father  with  his 
wife  and  two  children,  emigrated 
to  Kentucky,  where  he  settled  in 
the  pathless  wilderness,  a  few 
miles  from  Louisville.  In  this  front- 
fdiw  ier  home,  away  from  civilization  and 
I  all  its  refineirrents,  young  Zachary 
could  enjoy  but  few  social  and  educational  advan- 
tages. When  six  years  of  age  he  attended  a  common 
school,  and  was  then  regarded  as  a  bright,  active  boy, 
rather  remarkable  for  bluntness  and  decision  of  char- 
acter He  was  strong,  fearless  and  self-reliant,  and 
manifested  a  strong  desire  to  enter  the  army  to  fight 
the  Lrdians  who  were  ravaging  the  frontiers.  .There 
is  little  to  be  recorded  of  the  uneventful  years  of  his 
childhood  on  his  father's  large  but  lonely  plantation. 
In  1808,  his  father  succeeded  in  obtaining  for  him 
the  commission  of  lieutenant  in  the  United  States 
army ;  and  he  joined  the  troops  which  were  stationed 
at  New  Orleans  under  Gen.  Wilkinson.  Soon  after 
this  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Smith,  a  young  lady 
from  one  of  the  first  families  of  Maryland. 

Immediately  after  the  declaration  of  war  with  Eng- 
land, in  18 1 2,  Capt.  Taylor  (for  he  had  then  been 
promoted  to  that  rank)  was  put  in  command  of  Fort 
Harrison,  on  the  Wabash,  about  fifty  miles  above 
Vincennes.  This  fort  had  been  built  in  the  wilder- 
ness by  Gen.  Harrison,on  his  march  to  Tippecanoe. 
It  was  one  of  the  first  points  of  attack  by  the  Indians, 
";ed  l)y  Tecumseh.     Its  garrison  consisted  of  a  broken 


company  of  infantry  numbering   fifty  men,   many  of 
whom  were  sick. 

Early  in  the  autumn  of  1812,  the  Indians,  stealthily, 
and  in  large  numbers,  moved  ufxin  the  fort.  Their 
approach  was  first  indicated  by  the  murder  of  two 
soldiers  just  outside  of  the  stockade.  Capt.  Taylor 
made  every  possible  preparation  to  meet  the  antici- 
pated assault.  On  the  4th  of  September,  a  band  of 
forty  painted  and  plumed  savages  came  to  the  fort, 
waving  a  white  flag,  and  informed  Capt.  Taylor  that 
in  the  morning  their  chief  would  come  to  have  a  talk 
with  him.  It  was  evident  that  their  object  was  merely 
to  ascertain  the  state  of  things  at  the  fort,  and  Capt. 
Taylor,  well  versed  in  the  wiles  of  the  savages,  kept 
them  at  a  distance. 

The  sun  went  down;  the  savages  disappeared,  the 
garrison  slept  upon  their  arms.  One  hour  before 
midnight  the  war  whoop  burst  from  a  thousand  lips 
in  the  forest  around,  followed  by  the  discharge  of 
musketry,  and  the  rush  of  the  foe.  Every  man,  sick 
and  well,  sprang  to  his  postr  Every  man  knew  that 
defeat  was  not  merely  death,  but  in  the  case  of  cap- 
ture, death  by  the  most  agonizing  and  prolonged  tor- 
ture. No  pen  can  describe,  no  immagination  can 
conceive  the  scenes  which  ensued.  The  savages  suc- 
ceeded in  setting  fire  to  one  of  the  block-houses- 
Until  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  this  awful  conflict 
continued.  The  savages  then,  baffled  at  every  ix)int, 
and  gnashing  their  teeth  with  rage,  retired.  Capt. 
Taylor,  for  this  gallant  defence,  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  major  by  brevet. 

Until  the  close  of  the  war,  MajorTaylor  was  placed 
in  such  situations  that  he  saw  but  little  more  of  .active 
service.  He  was  sent  far  away  into  the  depths  of  the 
wilderness,  to  Fort  Crawford,  on  Fox  River,  which 
empties  into  Green  Bay.  Here  there  was  but  little 
to  be  done  but  to  wear  away  the  tedious  hours  as  one 
best  could.     There  were  no  books,  no  society,  no  in- 


64 


ZACHARY  TAYLOR 


tellectual  stimulus.  Thus  with  him  the  uneventful 
years  rolled  on  Gradually  he  rose  to  the  rank  of 
colonel.  In  the  Black-Hawk  war,  which  resulted  in 
the  capture  of  that  renowned  chieftain,  Col  Taylor 
took  a  subordinate  but  a  brave  and  efficient  part. 

For  twenty-four  years  Col.  Taylor  was  engaged  \\\ 
the  defence  of  the  frontiers,  in  scenes  so  remote,  and  in 
Employments  so  obscure,  that  his  name  was  unknown 
't)eyond  the  limits  of  his  own  immediate  acquaintance, 
iln  the  year  1836,  he  was  sent  to  Florida  to  compel 
the  Seminole  Indians  to  vacate  that  region  and  re- 
tire beyond  the  Mississippi,  as  their  chiefs  by  treaty, 
liac*  promised  they  should  do.  The  services  rendered 
here  secured  for  Col.  Taylor  the  high  appreciation  of 
the  Government;  and  as  a  reward,  he  was  elevated 
(o  'die  rank  of  brigadier-general  by  brevet ;  and  soon 
Rfter,  in  May,  1838,  was  appointed  to  the  chief  com- 
Aiand  of  the  United  States  troops  in  Florida. 

After  two  years  of  such  wearisome  employment 
imidst  the  everglades  of  the  peninsula.  Gen.  Taylor 
obtained,  at  his  own  request,  a  change  of  command, 
ind  was  stationed  over  the  Department  of  the  South- 
-Acst.  This  field  embraced  Louisiana,  Mississippi, 
Alabama  and  Georgia.  Establishing  his  headquarters 
51I  Fort  Jessup,  in  Louisiana,  he  removed  his  family 
to  a  plantation  which  he  purchased,  near  Baton  Rogue. 
Hivre  he  remained  for  five  years,  buried,  as  it  were, 
from  the  world,  but  faithfully  discharging  every  duty 
jnyposed  upon  him. 

In  1846,  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent  to  guard  the  land 
between  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande,  the  latter  river 
being  the  boundary  of  Texas,  which  was  then  claimed 
by  the  United  States.  Soon  the  war  with  Mexico 
was  brought  ou,  and  at  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
P'aJma,  Gen.  Taylor  won  brilliant  victories  over  the 
^{l;xicans.  The  rank  of  major-general  l)y  brevet 
was  then  conferred  upon  Gen.  Taylor,  and  his  narrie 
was  received  with  enthusiasm  almost  everywhere  in 
tlic  Nation.  Then  came  the  battles  of  Monterey  and 
Euena  Vista  in  which  he  won  signal  victories  over 
fcyces  much  larger  than  he  commanded. 

His  careless  habits  of  dress  and  his  unaffected 
simplicity,  secured  for  Gen.  Taylor  among  his  troops, 
\\e.  sobriquet  of  "Old  Rough  and  Ready.' 

The  tidings  of  the  brilliant  victory  of  Buena  Vista 
fjiread  the  wildest  enthusiasm  over  the  country.  The 
n.ime  of  Gen.  Taylor  was  on  every  one's  lips.  The 
H  hig  party  decided  to  take  advantage  of  this  wonder- 
fu(  popularity  in  bringing  forward  the  unpolished, un- 

■tJred,  honest  soldier  as  their  candidate  for  the 
I'lesidency.  Gen.  Taylor  was  astonished  at  the  an- 
nt  ancement,  and  for  a  time  would  not  listen  to  it;  de- 
chiringthat  he  was  not  at  all  qualified  for  such  an 
oft  ice.  So  little  interest  had  he  taken  in  politics  that, 
foi  forty  years,  he  had  n«t  cast  a  vote.  It  was  not 
wnhout  chagrin  that  several  distinguished  statesmen 
vflio  had  been  long  years  in  the  public  service  found 
^i.jir  claims  set  aside  in  behalf  of  one  whose   name 


had  never  been  heard  of,  save  in  connection  with  Palo 
Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey  and  Buena 
Vista.  It  is  said  that  Daniel  Webster,  in  his  haste  re- 
marked, "  It  is  a  nomination  not  fit  to  be  made." 

Gen.  Taylor  was  not  an  eloquent  speaker  nor  a  fine 
writer  His  friends  took  possession  of  him,  and  pre- 
pared such  few  communications  as  it  was  needful 
should  be  presented  to  the  public.  The  popularity  of 
the  successful  warrior  swept  the  land.  He  was  tri- 
umphantly elected  over  two  opposing  candidates, — 
Gen.  Cass  and  Ex-President  Martin  Van  Buren. 
Though  he  selected  an  excellent  cabinet,  the  good 
old  man  found  himself  in  a  very  uncongenial  jwsition, 
and  was,  at  times,  sorely  perplexed  and  harassed. 
His  mental  sufferings  were  very  severe,  and  probably 
tended  to  hasten  his  death.  The  pro-slavery  party 
was  pushing  its  claims  with  tireless  energy ,  expedi- 
tions were  fitting  out  to  capture  Cuba  ;  California  was 
pleading  for  admission  to  the  Union,  while  slavery 
stood  at  the  door  to  bar  her  out.  Gen.  Taylor  found 
the  political  conflicts  in  Washington  .to  be  far  more 
trying  to  the  nerves  than  battles  with  Mexicans  or 
Indians 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  troubles,  Gen.  Taylor, 
after  he  had  occupied  the  Presidential  chair  but  little 
over  a  year,  took  cold,  and  after  a  brief  sickness  ot 
but  little  over  five  days,  died  on  the  9th  of  July,  1850. 
His  last  words  were,  "I  am  not  afraid  to  die.  I  am 
ready.  I  have  endeavored  to  do  my  duty."  He  died 
universally  respected  and  beloved.  An  honest,  un- 
pretending man,  he  had  been  steadily  growing  in  the 
affections  of  the  people;  and  the  Nation  bitterly  la- 
mented his  death. 

Gen.  Scott,  who  was  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
Gen.  Taylor,  gave  the  following  graphic  and  truthful 
description  of  his  character: — "  With  a  good  store  of 
common  sense,  Gen.  Taylor's  mind  had  not  been  en- 
larged and  refreshed  by  reading,  or  much  converse 
with  the  world.  Rigidity  of  ideas  was  the  conse- 
quence. The  frontiers  and  small  military  posts  had  < 
been  his  home.  Hence  he  was  quite  ignorant  for  his 
rank,  and  quite  bigoted  in  his  ignorance.  His  sim- 
plicity was  child-like,  and  with  innumerable  preju- 
dices, amusing  and  incorrigible,  well  suited  to  the  1 
tender  age.  Thus,  if  a  man,  however  respectable,  I 
chanced  to  wear  a  coat  of  an  unusual  color,  or  his  hal 
a  little  on  one  side  of  his  head;  or  an  officer  to  leave 
a  corner  of  his  handkerchief  dangling  from  an  out- 
side pocket, — in  any  such  case,  this  critic  held  the 
offender  to  Ije  a  coxcomb  (perhaps  something  worse), 
whom  he  would  not,  to  use  his  oft  repeated  phrase, 
'touch  with  a  pair  of  tongs.' 

"Any  allusion  to  literature  beyond  good  old  Dil- 
worth's  spelling-book,  on  the  part  of  one  wearing  a 
sword,  was  evidence,  with  the  same  judge,  of  utter 
unfitness  for  heavy  marchings  and  combats.  In  shori 
few  men  have  ever  had  a  more  comfoitanV^,  ^■>"-». 
saving  contempt    for  learnirg  of  every  kind." 


i '.,.., 


'-■'uli);    U   ILL 


*#'s^ 


£^j^t/      Jic^^j^-L^xru) 


THIRTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


67 


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^'ffllLLftHn  FILLMHRE.'^ 


**:;S*^;&*S!S^»$;!S-<«^;!S*s;&H^;:g^^;i,^*$;;C$*$x$*-si?^ 


II.LARD  FILLMORE,  thir- 
f^l  teeiith  President  of  the  United 
*'  States,  was  born  at  Summer 
Hill,  Cayuga  Co.,  N.  Y  .,  on 
the  7th  of  January,  1800.  His 
father  was  a  farmer,  and  ow- 
ing to  misfortune,  in  humble  cir- 
cumstances. Of  his  mother,  the 
daughter  of  Dr.  Abiathar  Millard, 
\  of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  it  has  been 
said  that  she  possessed  an  intellect 
of  very  high  order,  united  with  much 
personal  loveliness,  sweetness  of  dis- 
position, graceful  manners  and  ex- 
quisite sensibilities.  She  died  in 
1831 ;  having  lived  to  see  her  son  a 
young  man  of  distinguished  prom- 
ise, chough  she  was  not  permitted  to  witness  the  high 
dignity  which  he  finally  attained. 

In  consequence  of  the  secluded  home  and  limited 
means  of  his  father,  Millard  enjoyed  but  slender  ad- 
vantages for  education  in  his  early  years.  The  com- 
mon schools,  u'hich  he  occasionally  attended  were 
very  imperfect  uistitutions;  and  books  were  scarce 
:.nd  expensive.  There  was  nothing  then  in  his  char- 
acter to  indicate  the  brilliant  career  upon  which  he 
was  about  to  enter.  He  was  a  plain  farmer's  boy; 
intelligent,  good-looking,  kind-hearted.  The  sacred 
influences  of  home  had  taught  him  to  revere  the  Bible, 
and  had  laid  the  foundations  of  an  upright  character. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age,  his  father  sent  him 
some  hundred  miles  from  home,  to  the  then  wilds  of 
l.iviiigston  County,  lo  learn  the  trade  of  a  ilothier. 
Ncai  tln^  mill  there  was  a  small  villiage,  where  some 


enterprising  man  had  commenced  the  collection  of  a 
village  library.  This  proved  an  inestimable  blessing 
10  young  Fillmore.  His  evenings  were  spent  in  read- 
ing. Soon  every  leisure  moment  was  occupied  with 
books.  His  thirst  for  knowledge  became  insatiate 
and  the  selections  which  he  made  were  continually 
more  elevating  and  instructive.  He  read  history, 
biography,  oratory,  and  thus  gradually  there  was  en- 
kindled in  his  heart  a  desire  to  be  something  more 
than  a  mere  worker  with  his  hands;  and  he  was  be- 
coming, almost  unknown  to  himself,  a  well-informed, 
educated  man. 

The  young  clothier  had  now  attained  the  age  0/ 
nineteen  years,  and  was  of  fine  personal  appearance 
and  of  gentlemanly  demeanor.  It  so  hapi)ened  thaf 
there  was  a  gentleman  in  the  neighborhood  of  ample 
pecuniary  means  and  of  benevolence, — Judge  Walter 
W'ood, — who  was  struck  with  the  jjtepossessing  ap- 
pearance of  young  Fillmore.  He  made  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  was  so  much  impressed  with  his  ability  and 
attainments  that  he  advised  him  to  abandon  his 
trade  and  devote  himself  to  the  study  of  the  law.  The 
young  man  replied,  that  lie  had  no  means  of  his  own. 
no  friends  to  help  him  and  that  his  previous  educa- 
tion had  been  very  im[)erfect.  But  Judge  Wood  had 
so  much  confidence  in  liim  that  he  kindly  offered  to 
take  him  into  his  own  office,  and  to  loan  him  such 
money  as  he  needed.  Most  gratefully  the  generous 
offer  was  accepted. 

There  is  in  many  minds  a  strange  delusion  aboutl 
a  collegiate  education.  A  young  man  is  sup[X)sed  to 
be  liberally  educated  if  he  has  graduated  at  some  col- 
lege. Hul  many  a  boy  loiters  through  university  halb 
Hiid  then  enters  a  law  office,  who  is  by  no  meaus   as 


Oi 


MILLARD  FILLMORE. 


well  prepared  to  prosecute  his  legal  studies  as  was 
Millard  Fillmore  when  he  graduated  at  the  clothing- 
mill  at  the  end  of  four  years  of  manual  labor,  during 
which  every  leisure  moment  had  been  devoted  to  in- 
tense mental  culture. 

In  1823,  when  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  then 
went  to.  the  village  of  Aurora,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  law.  In  this  secluded,  peaceful  region, 
his  practice  of  course  was  limited,  and  there  was  no 
opportunity  for  a  sudden  rise  in  fortune  or.  in  fame. 
Here, in  the  year  1826,  he  married  a  lady  of  great 
moral  worth,  and  one  capable  of  adorning  any  station 
she  might  be  called  to  fill, — Miss  Abigail  Powers. 

His  elevation  of  character,  his  untiring  industry, 
his  legal  acquirements,  and  his  skill  as  an  advocate, 
gradually  attracted  attention  ,  and  he  was  invited  to 
enter  into  partnership  under  highly  advantageous 
circumstances,  with  an  elder  member  of  the  bar  in 
Buffalo.  Just  before  removing  to  Buffalo,  in  1829, 
he  took  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Assembly,  of  the 
State  of  New  York,  as  a  representative  from  Erie 
County.  Though  he  had  never  taken  a  very  active 
part  in  politics,  his  vote  and  his  sympathies  were  with 
the  Whig  party.  The  State  was  then  Democratic, 
and  he  found  himself  in  a  helpless  minority  in  the 
Legislature ,  still  the  testimony  comes  from  all  parties, 
Ihat  his  courtesy,  ability  and  integrity,  won,  to  a  very 
unusual  degrt  e  the  respect  of  his  associates. 

In  the  autumn  of  1832,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in 
the  United  States  Congress  He  entered  that  troubled 
arena  in  some  of  the  most  tumultuous  hours  of  our 
national  history.  The  great  conflict  respecting  the 
national  bank  and  the  removal  of  the  deposits,  was 
then  raging. 

His  term  of  two  years  closed  ;  and  he  returned  to 
his  profession,  which  he  pursued  with  increasing  rep- 
utation and  success.  After  a  lapse  of  two  years 
he  again  became  a  candidate  for  Congress ;  was  re- 
elected, and  took  his  seat  in  1837.  His  past  expe- 
rience as  a  representative  gave  hmi  stiength  and 
confidence.  The  first  term  of  service  in  Congress  to 
any  man  can  be  but  little  more  than  an  introduction. 
He  was  now  prepared  for  active  duty.  All  his  ener- 
gies were  brought  to  bear  upon  the  public  good.  Every 
measure  received  his  impress. 

Mr.  Fillmore  was  now  a  man  of  wide  repute,  and 
his  popularity  filled  the  State,  and  in  the  year  1847, 
he  was   elected  Comptroller  of    the   State. 


Mr.  Fillmore  had  attained  the  age  of  forty-seven 
years.  His  labors  at  the  bar,  in  the  Legislature,  in 
Congress  and  as.  Comptroller,  had  given  him  very  con- 
siderable fame.  The  Whigs  were  casting  about  to 
find  suitable  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent at  the  approaching  election.  Far  away,  on  the 
waters  of  the  Rio  Grande,  there  was  a  rough  old 
soldier,  who  had  fought  one  or  two  successful  battles 
with  the  Mexicans,  which  had  caused  his  name  to  be 
proclaimed  in  tiumpet-tones  all  over  the  land.  But 
it  was  necessary  to  associate  with  him  on  the  same 
ticket  some  man  of  reputation  as  a  statesman. 

Under  the  influence  of  these  considerations,  the 
namesofZachary  Taylor  and  Millard  Fillmore  became 
the  rallying-cry  of  the  Whigs,  as  their  candidates  for 
President  and  Vice-Peesident.  The  Whig  ticket  was 
signally  triumphant.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1849, 
Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated  President,  and  Millard 
Fillmore  Vice-President,  of  the  United  States. 

On  the  9th  of  July,  1850,  President  Taylor,  but 
about  one  year  and  four  months  after  his  inaugura- 
tion, was  suddenly  taken  sick  and  died.  By  the  Con- 
stitution, Vice-President  Fillmore  thus  became  Presi- 
dent. He  appointed  a  very  able  cabinet,  of  which 
the  illustrious  Daniel  Webster  was  Secretary  of  State. 
Mr.  Fillniore  had  very  serious  difficulties  to  contend 
with,  since  the  opposition  had  a  majority  in  both 
Houses.  He  did  everything  in  his  power  to  conciliate 
the  South ;  but  the  pro-slavery  party  in  the  South  felt 
the  inadequacy  of  all  measuresof  transient  conciliation. 
The  population  of  the  free  States  was  so  rapidly  in- 
creasing over  that  of  the  slave  States  that  it  was  in- 
evitable that  the  power  of  the  Government  should 
soon  pass  into  the  hands  of  the  free  States.  The 
famous  compromise  measures  were  adopted  under  Mr. 
Fillmcre's  adminstration,  and  the  Japan  Expedition 
was  sent  out.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1853,  Mr.  Fill- 
more, having  served  one  term,  retired. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Fillmore  was  nominated  for  the  Pres- 
idency by  the  "  Know  Nothing  "  party,  but  was  beaten 
by  Mr.  Buchanan.  After  that  Mr.  Fillmore  lived  in 
retirement.  During  the  terrible  conflict  of  civil  war, 
he  was  mostly  silent.  It  was  generally  supposed  that 
his  sympathies  were  rather  with  those  who  were  en- 
deavoring to  overthrow  our  institutions.  President 
Fillmore  kept  aloof  from  the  conflict,  without  any 
cordial  words  of  cheer  to  the  one  party  or  the  other. 
He  was  thus  forgotten  by  both.  He  lived  to  a  ripe 
old  age,  and  died  in  Buffalo.  N.  Y.,  March  8,    1874- 


mvEi, 


FOURTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


'M- 


^W\^jfj>^. 


•-.ferS 


.^^aa^tSi 


vvYY'YTT?'?-*'^^^;;^ 


ili^H    ^FHflNKLIN  PIERCE.^ 


RANKLIN     PIERCE,   the 
fourteenth    President  of  the 
'  United  States,  was  born  in 
Hillsborough,    N.    H.,    Nov. 
23,  1804.     His  father  was  a 
Revohitionary   soldier,   who, 
with   his   own    strong    arm, 
hewed   out  a    home   in    the 
wilderness.     He  was  a  man 
of    inflexible    integrity;     of 
strong,  though    uncultivated 
mind,  and  an  uncompromis- 
ing Democrat.      The   mother  of 
Franklin  Pierce  was  all  that  a  son 
could  desire, — an  intelligent,  pru- 
dent, affectionate.  Christian  wom- 
an.    Franklin  was  the  sixth  of  eight  children. 

Franklin  was  a  very  bright  and  handsome  boy,  gen- 
erous, warm-hearted  and  brave.  He  won  alike  the 
love  of  old  and  young.  The  boys  on  the  play  ground 
loved  him.  His  teachers  loved  him.  The  neighbors 
looked  upon  him  with  pride  and  affection.  He  was 
by  instinct  a  gentleman;  always  speaking  kind  words, 
doing  kind  deeds,  with  a  peculiar  unstudied  tact 
which  taught  him  what  was  agreeable.  Without  de- 
veloping any  precocity  of  genius,  or  any  unnatural 
devotion  to  books,  he  was  a  good  scholar;  in  body, 
in  mind,  in  affections,  a  finely-developed  boy. 

When  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  the  year  1820,  he 
entered  Bowdoin  College,  at  Brunswick,  Me.  He  was 
one  of  the  most  jxjpular  young  men  in  the  college. 
The  purity  cf  his  moral  character,  the  unvarying 
courtesy  of  his  demeanor,  his  rank  as  a  scholar,  and 


genial  nature,  rendered  him  a  universal  favorite. 
There  was  something  very  peculiarly  winning  in  his 
address,  and  it  was  evidently  not  in  the  slightest  de- 
gree studied :  it  was  the  simple  outgushing  of  his 
own  magnanimous  and  loving  nature. 

Upon  graduating,  in  the  year  1824,  Franklin  Pierce 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Judge 
Woodbury,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  of 
the  State,  and  a  man  of  great  private  worth.  The 
eminent  social  quahties  of  the.  young  lawyer,  his 
father's  prominence  as  a  public  man,  and  the  brilliant 
political  career  into  which  Judge  Woodbury  was  en' 
tering,  all  tended  to  entice  Mr.  Pierce  into  the  faci- 
nating  yet  perilous  path  of  political  life.  With  all 
the  ardor  of  his  nature  he  espoused  the  cause  of  Gen. 
Jackson  for  the  Presidency.  He  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  Hillsborough,  and  was  soon  elected 
to  represent  the  town  in  the  State  Legislature.  Here 
he  served  for  four  yeais.  The  last  two  years  he  was 
chosen  speaker  of  the  house  by  a  very  large  vote. 

In  1833,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  he  was  elected 
a  member  of  Congress.  Without  taking  an  active 
part  in  debates,  he  was  faithful  and  laborious  in  duty 
and  ever  rising  in  the  estimation  of  those  with  whom 
he  was  associatad. 

In  1837,  being  then  but  thirty-three  years  of  age, 
he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States; 
taking  his  seat  just  as  Mr.  Van  Buren  commenced 
his  administration.  He  was  the  youngest  member  in 
the  Senate.  In  the  year  1834,  he  married  Miss  Jane 
Means  Appleton,  a  lady  of  rare  beauty  and  accom- 
plishments, and  one  admirably  fitted  to  adorn  every 
station  with  which  her  husband  was  honoied,    Of  the 


72 


hRANKLIN  PIERCE. 


three  sons  who  were  bom  to  them,  all  now  sleep  with 
their  parents  in  the  grave. 

In  the  year  1838,  Mr.  Pierce,  with  growing  fame 
and  increasing  business  as  a  lawyer,  took  up  his 
residence  in  Concord,  the  capital  of  New  Hampshire. 
President  Polk,  upon  his  accession  to  office,  appointed 
Mr.  Pierce  attorney-general  of  the  United  States;  but 
the  offer  was  declined,  in  consequence  of  numerous 
professional  engagements  at  home,  and  the  precariuos 
state  of  Mrs.  Pierce's  health.  He  also,  about  the 
same  time  declined  the  nomination  for  governor  by  the 
Democratic  party.  The  war  with  Mexico  called  Mr. 
Pierce  in  the  army.  Receiving  the  appointment  of 
brigadier-general,  he  embarked,  with  a  portion  of  his 
troops,  at  Newport,  R.  I.,  on  the  27th  of  May,  1847. 
He  took  an  important  jjart  in  this  war,  proving  him- 
self a  brave  and  true  soldier. 

When  Gen.  Pierce  reached  his  home  in  his  native 
State,  he  was  received  enthusiastically  by  the  advo- 
cates of  the  Mexican  war,  and  coldly  by  his  oppo- 
nents. He  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
very  frequently  taking  an  active  part  in  poHtical  ques- 
tions, giving  his  cordial  support  to  the  pro-slavery 
wing  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  compromise 
measures  met  cordially  with  his  approval;  and  he 
(strenuously  advocated  the  enforcement  of  the  infa- 
mous fugitive-slave  law,  whicli  so  shocked  the  religious 
Wnsibilities  of  the  North.  He  thus  became  distin- 
guished as  a  "Northern  man  with  Southern  principles.'' 
The  strong  partisans  of  slavery  in  the  South  conse- 
quently regarded  him  as  a  man  whom  they  could 
safely  trust  in  office  to  carry  out  their  plans. 

On  the  i2th  of  June,  1852,  the  Democratic  conven- 
tion met  in  Baltimore  to  nominate  a  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  For  four  days  they  continued  in  session, 
:ind  in  thirty-five  ballotings  no  one  had  obtained  a 
two-thirds  vote.  Not  a  vote  thus  far  had  been  thrown 
for  Gen.  Pierce.  Then  the  Virginia  delegation 
brought  forward  his  name.  There  were  fourteen 
more  ballotings,  during  which  Gen.  Pierce  constantly 
gained  strength,  until,  at  the  forty-ninth  ballot,  he 
received  two  hundred  and  eighty-two  votes,  and  all 
other  candidates  eleven.  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  was 
t'ne  Whig  candidate.  Gen.  Pierce  was  chosen  with 
great  unanimity.  Only  four  States — Vermont,  Mas- 
sachusetts, Kentucky  and  Tennessee  —  cast  their 
electoral  votes  against  him  Gen.  Franklin  I'ieice 
was  therefore  inaugurated  President  (if  the  United 
States   on    the  4th  of  March,    1853. 


His  administration  proved  one  of  the  most  stormy  our 
country  had  ever  experienced.  The  controversy  be 
tween  slavery  and  freedom  was  then  approaching  its 
culminating  point.  Ii  became  evident  that  there  was 
an  "  irrepressible  conflict"  between  them,  and  that 
this  Nation  could  not  long  exist  "  half  slave  and  half 
free."  President  Pierce,  during  the  whole  of  his  ad- 
ministration, did  every  thing  he  could  to  conciliate 
the  South  ;  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  The  conflict  every 
year  grew  more  violent,  and  threats  of  the  dissolution 
of  the  Union  were  borne  to  the  North  on  every  South- 
ern breeze. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs   when    President 
Pierce  approached  the  close  of  his   four-years'  term 
of  office.     The  North  had  become   thoroughly  alien- 
ated from  him.     The  anti-slavery  sentiment,  goaded 
by  great  outrages,  had   been   rapidly  increasing;   all 
the  intellectual  ability  and  social  worth  of  President      , 
Pierce  were  forgotten  in  deep  reprehension  of  his  ad-     I 
ministiative  acts.  The  slaveholders  of  the  South,  also, 
unmindful  of  the  fidelity  with  which    he  had    advo-      , 
cated  those  measures  of  Government  which  they  ap-     I 
proved,    and    perhaps,    also,    feeling    that    he    had 
rendered  himself  so  unpopular  as  no  longer   to   be 
able  acceptably  to  serve  them,  ungratefully  dropped 
him,  and  nominated  James  Buchanan  to  succeed  him. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1857,  President  Pierce  re- 
tired to  his  home  in  Concord.  Of  three  children,  two 
had  died,  and  his  only  surviving  child  had  been 
killed  before  his  eyes  by  a  railroad  accident ;  and  his 
wife,  one  of  the  most  estimable  and  accomplished  of 
ladies,  was  rapidly  sinking  in  consumption.  The 
hour  of  dreadful  gloom  soon  came,  and  he  was  left 
alone  in  the  world,  without  wife  or  child. 

When  the  terrible  Rebellion  burst  forth,  which  di- 
vided our  country  into  two  parties,  and  two  only,  Mr. 
Pierce  remained  steadfast  in  the  principles  which  he 
had  always  cherished,  and  gave  his  sympathies  to 
that  pro-slavery  party  with  which  he  had  ever  been 
allied.  He  declined  to  do  anything,  either  by  voice 
or  pen,  to  strengthen  the  hand  of  the  National  Gov- 
ernment. He  continued  to  reside  in  Concord  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  October, 
i86g.  He  was  one  of  the  most  genial  and  social  of 
men,  an  honored  communicant  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  and  one  of  the  kindest  of  neighbors.  Gen- 
erous to  a  fault,  he  contributed  liberally  for  the  al- 
leviation of  suffering  and  want,  and  many  of  his  towns- 
people were  often  gladencd  by   his   material    bounty 


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AMES  BUCHANAN,  the  fif- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States,  was  born  in  a  small 
frontier  town,  at  the  foot  of  the 
eastern  ridge  of  the  Allegha- 
nies,  ill  Franklin  Co.,  Penn.,oii 
the  23d  of  April,  1791.  The  place 
where  the  humble  cabin  of  his 
father  stood  was  called  Stony 
Batter.  It  was  a  wild  and  ro- 
mantic six)t  in  a  gorge  of  the  moun- 
tains, with  towering  summits  rising 
grandly  all  around.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  the  north  of  Ireland ; 
a  poor  man,  who  had  emigrated  in 
783,  with  little  property  save  his 
own  strong  arms.  Five  years  afterwards  he  married 
Elizabeth  Spear,  the  daughter  of  a  respectable  farmer, 
and,  with  his  young  bride,  plunged  into  the  wilder- 
ness, staked  his  claim,  reared  his  log-hut,  opened  a 
clearing  with  his  axe,  and  settled  down  there  to  per- 
form his  obscure  part  in  the  dTama  of  life.  In  this  se- 
cluded home,  where  James  was  born,  he  remained 
for  eight  years,  enjoying  but  few  social  or  intellectual 
advantages.  When  James  was  eight  years  of  age,  his 
father  removed  to  the  village  of  Mercersburg,  where 
his  son  was  placed  at  school,  and  commenced  a 
course  of  study  in  English,  Latin  and  Greek.  His 
progress  was  rapid,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  he 
entered  Dickinson  College,  at  Carlisle.  Here  he  de- 
veloped remarkable  taient,  and  took  his  stand  among 
the  first  scholars  in  the  institution.  His  application 
(o  study  was  intense,  and  yet  his  native   powers    en- 


abled him  to  master  the  most  abstruse  subjects  wi  '• 
facility. 

In  the  year  1809,  he  graduated  with  tlie  highest 
honors  of  his  clas--.  He  was  then  eighteei;  years  o( 
age;  tall  and  graceful,  vigorous  in  liealth,  fond  of 
athletic  sport,  an  unerring  shot,  and  enlivened  with 
an  exuberant  flow  of  animal  spirits.  He  innnediately 
commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  city  of  Lancaster, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  181 2,  when  he  was 
but  twenty-one  years  nf  age.  Very  rajiidly  he  rose 
in  his  profession,  and  at  once  took  undisputed  stand 
witli  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  State.  When  but 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  unaided  by  counsel,  he  suc- 
cessfully defended  before  tlie  State  Senate  one  of  the 
judges  of  tlie  State,  who  was  tried  upon  articles  01 
impeachment.  .At  the  age  of  thirty  it  was  generally 
admitted  that  he  stood  a't  the  head  of  the  bar;  anc 
tliere  was  no  lawyer  in  the  State  who  had  a  more  lu- 
crative practice. 

In  1820,  he  reluctantly  consented  to  run  as  3 
candidate  for  Congress.  He  was  elected,  and  foi 
ten  years  he  remained  a  nieiliber  of  the  Lower  House 
During  the  vacations  of  Congress,  he  occasionally 
tried  some  important  case.  In  1831,  he  retired 
altogether  from  the  toils  of  his  profession,  having  ac- 
quired an  ample  fortune. 

Gen.  Jackson,  upon  his  elevation  to  the  Presidency, 
appointed  Mr.  Buchanan  minister  to  Russia.  The 
duties  of  his  mission  he  performed  witli  aliility,  which 
gave  satisfaction  to  all  parties.  Upon  his  return,  ii- 
1833,  he  was  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  United  States 
Senate.  He  there  met,  as  his  associates,  Webster. 
Clay,  Wright  and  Calhoun.  He  advocated  th.e  meas- 
ures ])roposedby  President  Jackson,  of  making  repn- 


76 


JAMES  BUCHANAN. 


sals  against  France,  to  enforce  the  payment  of  our 
claims  against  that  country;  and  defended  the 
course  of  the  President  in  his  unprecedented  and 
wholesale  removal  from  office  of  those  who  were 
not  the  supporters  of  his  administration.  Upon 
this  question  he  was  brought  into  direct  collision 
with  Henry  Cla\-.  Fie  also,  with  voice  and  vote,  ad- 
vocated expunging  from  the  journal  of  the  Senate 
the  vote  of  censure  against  Gen.  Jackson  for  remov- 
ing the  deposits.  Earnestly  he  opposed  the  aboli- 
tion of  slavery  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  and 
nrged  the  prohibition  of  the  circulation  of  anti- 
slavery  documents  by  the  United  States  mails. 

As  to  petitions  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  he  ad- 
vocated that  they  should  be  respectfully  received; 
and  that  the  reply  should  be  returned,  that  Con- 
gress had  no  power  to  legislate  upou  the  subject. 
"Congress,"  said  he,  "might  as  well  undertake  to 
interfere  with  slavery  under  a  foreign  government 
as  in  anj'  of  tlie  States  where  it  now  exists." 

Upon  Mr.  Polk's  accession  to  the  Presidency,  Mr. 
Buchanan  became  Secretary  of  State,  and  as  such, 
took  his  share  of  the  responsibility  in  the  conduct 
of  the  Jlexican  War.  Mr.  Polk  assumed  that  cross- 
ing the  Nueces  by  the  American  troops  into  the 
disputed  territory  was  not  wrong,  but  for  the  Mex- 
icans to  cross  the  Eio  Grande  into  that  territory 
was  a  declaration  of  war.  No  candid  man  can  read 
with  pleasure  the  account  of  the  course  our  Gov- 
ernment pursued  in  that  movement. 

Mr.  Buchanan  identified  himself  thoroughly  with 
the  party  devoted  to  the  perpetuation  and  extension 
of  slavery,  and  brought  all  the  energies  of  his  mind 
to  bear  against  the  Wilmot  Proviso.  He  gave  his 
cordial  approval  to  the  compromise  measures  of 
1850,  which  included  the  fugitive  slave  law.  Mr. 
Pierce,  upon  his  election  to  the  Presidencjs  hon- 
ored ]\Ir.  Buchan.an  with  the  mission  to  England. 

In  the  year  1856,  a  national  Democratic  conven- 
tion nominated  Mr.  Buchanan  for  the  Presidency. 
The  political  conflict  was  one  of  the  most  severe 
in  which  our  country  has  ever  engaged.  All  the 
friends  of  slavery  were  on  one  side;  all  the  advo- 
cates of  its  restriction  and  final  abolition  on  the 
other.  Mr.  Fremont,  the  candidate  of  the  enemies 
of  slaver^',  received  114  electoral  votes.  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan received  174,  and  was  elected.  The  popular 
vote  stood  1,340,618  for  Fremont,  1,224,750  for 
Buchanan.  On  March  4,  1857,  Mr.  Buchanan  was 
inaugurated. 

Mr.  Buchanan  was  far  advanced  in  life.  Only 
four  3'ears  were  wanting  to  fill  up  his  three-score 
years  and  ten.  His  own  friends,  those  with  whom 
he  had  been  allied  in  political  principles  and  action 
for  years,  were  seeking  the  destruction  of  the  Gov- 
ernment, that  they  might  rear  upon  the  ruins  of  our 
free  institutions  a  nation  whose  corner-stone  should 


be  human  slavery.  In  this  emergency,  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan was  hopelessly  bewildered.  He  could  not, 
with  his  long-avowed  principles,  consistentl}'  oi> 
])0se  the  State-rights  party  in  their  assumptions.  As 
President  of  the  United  States,  bound  by  his  oath 
faithfully  to  administer  the  laws,  he. could  not, 
without  perjury  of  the  grossest  kind,  unite  with 
those  endeavoring  to  overthrow  the  Republic.  He 
therefore  did  nothing. 

The  opponents  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  administration 
nominated  Abraham  Lincoln  as  their  standard- 
bearer  in  the  next  Presidential  canvass.  The  pro- 
slaverjr  party  declared  that  if  he  were  elected  and 
the  control  of  the  Government  were  thus  taken  from 
their  hands  thej^  would  secede  from  the  Union,  tak- 
ing with  them  as  they  retired  the  National  Capi- 
tol at  Washington  and  the  lion's  share  of  the  ter- 
ritory of  the  United  States. 

As  tlie  storm  increased  In  violence,  the  slave- 
holders, claiming  the  right  to  secede,  and  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan avowing  that  Congress  had  no  power  to 
prevent  it,  one  of  the  most  pitiable  exhibitions  of 
governmental  imbecility  was  exhibited  the  world 
has  ever  seen.  He  declared  that  Congress  had  no 
power  to  enforce  its  laws  in  any  State  which  had 
withdrawn,  or  which  was  atterayjting  to  withdraw, 
from  the  Union.  This  was  not  the  doctrine  of  An- 
drew Jackson,  when,  with  Ins  hand  upon  his  sword- 
hilt,  he  exclaimed.  "The  Union  must  and  shall  be 
preserved!" 

South  Carolina  seceded  in  December,  1860,  nearly 
three  months  before  the  inauguration  of  President 
Lincoln.  Mr.  Buchanan  looked  on  in  listless  de- 
spair. The  rebel  flag  was  raised  in  Charleston;  Ft. 
Sumter  was  besieged;  our  forts,  nav3'-}-ards  and 
arsenals  were  seized;  our  depots  of  military  stores 
were  plundered;  and  our  custom-houses  and  post- 
offices  were  appropriated  by  the  rebels. 

The  energy  of  the  rebels  and  the  imbecility  of 
our  P^xecutive  were  alike  marvelous.  The  nation 
looked  on  in  agon}^  waiting  for  the  slow  weeks  to 
glide  away  and  close  the  administration,  so  ter- 
rible in  its  weakness.  At  length  the  long-looked- 
for  hour  of  deliverance  came,  when  Abraham  Lin- 
coln was  to  receive  the  scepter. 

The  administration  of  President  Buchanan  was 
certainly  the  most  calamitous  our  country  has  ex- 
jierienced.  His  best  friends  cannot  recall  it  with 
pleasure.  And  still  more  deplorable  it  is  for  his 
fame,  that  in  that  dreadful  contlict  which  rolled  its 
billows  of  flame  and  blood  over  our  whole  land,  no 
word  came  from  his  lips  to  indicate  his  wish  that 
our  country's  banner  should  triumph  over  the  flag 
of  the  Rebellion.  He  died  at  his  Wheatland  re- 
treat, June  1,  1868. 


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Q^yX^^'-'^i^r-^ 


SIXTEENTH  PREi^/DENT. 


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<  ABRAHAM  > 


^IkA'.' 


^^WMi^^^^^^m^y^m^^^m:^ 


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the 

the 

in 

12, 


BRAHAM  LINCOLxV, 
sixteenth  President  of 
i--^United  States,  was  born 
Hardin  Co.,  Ky.,  Feb. 
1 809.  About  the  year  1 7  80,  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Abraham 
Lincohi  left  Virginia  with  his 
family  and  moved  into  the  tlien 
wilds  of  Kentucky.  Only  two  years 
after  this  emigration,  still  a  young 
man,  while  working  one  day  in  a 
field,  was  stealthily  approached  by 
an  Indian  and  shot  dead.  His  widow 
was  left  in  extreme  poverty  with  five 
little  children,  three  boys  and  two 
girls.  Thomas,  the  youngest  of  the 
)oys,  was  four  years  of  age  at  his 
father's  death.  This  Thomas  was 
the  father  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  the 
President  of  the  United  States 
whose  name  must  henceforth  ,fo'-ever  be  enrolled 
with  tiie  most  prominent  in  the  annals  of  our  world. 
Of  course  no  record  has  been  kept  of  tlie  life 
of  one  so  lowly  as  Thomas  Lincoln.  He  was  among 
the  poorest  of  the  poor.  His  home  was  a  wretched 
log-cabin;  his  food  the  coarsest  and  the  meanest. 
Education  he  had  none;  he  could  never  either  read 
or  write.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  do  anything  for 
himself,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  the  cabin  of  his 
starving  mother,  and  push  out  into  the  world,  a  friend- 
.ess.,  wandering  boy,  seeking  work.  He  hired  him- 
self out,  and  thus  spent  the  whole  of  his  youth  as  a 
?iborer  in  the  fields  of  others. 

When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  he  buill  a  log- 
•  abin  of  his  own,  and  married  Nancy  Hanks,  the 
daughter  of  another  family  of  poor  Kentucky  emi- 
grants, who  had  also  come  from  Virginia.  Their 
second  cliild  was  Abraham  iJncoln,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  mother  of  Abraham  was  a  noble 
woman,  gentle,  loving,  pensive,  created  to  adorn 
a  palace,  dooiued  to  toil  and  pine,  and  die  in  a  hovel. 
"Ail  that  I  am,  or  hope  to  be,"  exclaims  the  grate- 
ful son  "I  owe  to  my  angel-mother.  " 

When  he  was  eight  years  of  age,  his  father  sold  his 


cabin  and  small  farm,  and  moved  to  Indiana,,  Whero 
two  years  later  his  mother  died. 

Abraham  soon  became  the  scribe  of  the  uneducated 
community  around  him.  He  could  not  have  had  a 
better  school  than  this  to  teach  him  to  put  thoughts 
into  words.  He  also  became  an  eager  reader.  The 
books  he  could  obtain  were  few ;  but  these  he  "ead 
and  re-read  until  they  were  almost  committfH  to 
memory. 

As  the  years  rolled  on,  the  lot  of  this  lowly  family 
was  the  usual  lot  of  humanity.  There  were  joys  and 
griefs,  weddings  and  funerals.  Abraham's  sisto 
Sarah,  to  whom  he  was  tenderly  attached,  was  mai  ■ 
ried  when  a  child  of  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 
soon  died.  The  family  was  gradually  scattered.  Mr 
Thomas  Lincoln  sold  out  liis  squatter's  claim  'n  1830 
and  emigrated  to  Macon  Co.,  111. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  then  twenty-one  years  of  age. 
With  vigorous  hands  he  aided  his  father  in  rearing 
another  log-cabin.  Abraham  worked  diligently  at  this 
until  he  saw  the  family  comfortably  settled,  and  theii 
small  lot  of  enclosed  prairie  planted  with  corn,  when 
he  announced  to  his  father  his  intention  to  leave 
home,  and  to  go  out  into  the  world  and  seek  his  for- 
tune. Little  did  he  or  his  friends  imagine  how  bril- 
liant that  fortune  was  to  be.  He  saw  the  value  o( 
education  and  was  intensely  earnest  to  improve  his 
mind  to  the  utmost  of  his  power.  He  saw  the  ruin 
which  ardent  spirits  were  causing,  and  be(  ame 
strictly  temperate;  refusing  to  allow  a  drop  of  intoxi- 
cating liquor  to  pass  his  lips.  AikI  he  had  read  in 
God's  word,  "Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the 
Lord  thy  God  in  v.r,,;"  and  a  profane  expression  ha 
was  never  heard  to  utter.  Religion  he  revered.  Hii 
morals  were  pure,  and  he  was  uncontaminated  by  a 
single  vice. 

Young  Abraham  worked  for  a  time  as  a  hired  laborei 
among  the  farmers.  Then  he  went  to  Springfield 
where  he  was  employed  in  building  a  large  flat-boat 
In  this  he  took  a  herd  of  swine,  floated  them  dowi 
the  Sangamon  to  the  Illinois,  and  thence  by  the  Mia 
sissippi  to  New  Orleans.  Whatever  Abraham  Lin 
coin  undertook,  he  performed  so  faithfully  as  to  giv«. 
great  satisfacticn  to  his  employers.      In  this  adven 


go 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 


ture  his  employers  were  so   well  pleased,  that    uiwn 
his  return  they  placed  a  store  and  mill  under  his  care. 

In  1832,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  he 
enlisted  and  was  chosen  captain  of  a  company.  He 
returned  to  Sangamon  County,  and  although  only  23 
years  of  age,  was  a  candidate  for  the  Legislature,  but 
was  defeated.  He  soon  after  received  from  Andrew  j 
Jackson  the  appointment  of  Postmaster  of  New  .Salem, 
His  only  post-ofifice  was  his  hat.  \\\  the  letters  he 
received  he  carried  there  ready  to  deliver  to  those 
he  chanced  to  meet.  He  studied  surveying,  and  soon 
made  this  his  business.  In  1834  he  again  became  a 
candidate  for  the  Legislature,  and  was  elected  Mr. 
Stuart,  of  Springfield,  advised  him  to  study  law.  He 
walked  from  New  Salem  to  Springfield,  borrowed  of 
Mr.  Stuart  a  load  of  books,  carried  them  back  and 
began  his  legal  studies.  When  the  Legislature  as- 
sembled he  trudged  on  foot  with  his  pack  on  his  back 
one  hundred  miles  to  Vandalia,  then  the  capital.  In 
1836  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Legislature.  Here  it 
was  he  first  met  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  In  1839  he  re- 
moved to  Springfield  and  began  the  practice  of  law. 
His  success  with  the  jury  was  so  great  that  he  was 
soon  engaged  in  almost  every  noted  case  in  the  circuit. 

In  1854  the  great  discussion  began  between  Mr. 
Lincoln  and  Mr,  Douglas,  on  the  slavery  question. 
In  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois, 
in  1856,  he  took  an  active  part,  and  at  once  became 
one  of  the  leaders  in  that  party.  Mr.  Lincoln's 
speeches  in  opposition  to  Senator  Douglas  in  the  con- 
test in  1 85  8  for  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  form  a  most 
notable  part  of  his  history.  The  issue  was  on  the 
slavery  question,  and  he  took  the  broad  ground  of 
;he  Declaration  of  Independence,  that  all  men  are 
created  equal.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  defeated  in  this  con- 
test, but  won  a  far  higher  prize. 

The  great  Republican  Convention  met  at  Chicago 
on  the  i6th  of  June,  i860.  The  delegates  and 
strangers  who  crowded  the  city  amounted  to  twenty- 
five  thousand.  .An  immense  building  called  "The 
Wigwam,"  was  reared  to  accommodate  the  Conven- 
tion. There  were  eleven  candidates  for  whom  votes 
were  thrown.  William  H.  Seward,  a  man  whose  fame 
as  a  statesman  had  long  filled  the  land,  was  the  most 
prominent.  It  was  generally  supposed  he  would  be 
the  nominee.  Abraham  Lincoln,  however,  received 
the  nomination  on  the  third  ballot.  Little  did  he  then 
dream  of  the  weary  years  of  toil  and  care,  and  the 
bloody  death,  to  which  that  nomination  doomed  him: 
And  as  little  did  he  dream  that  he  was  to  render  services 
to  his  country,  which  would  fi.x  upon  him  the  eyes  of 
the  whole  civilized  world,  and  which  would  give  him 
a  place  in  the  affections  of  his  countrymen,  second 
only,  if  second,  to  that  of  Washington. 

Election  day  came  and  Mr.  Lincoln  received  180 
electoral  votes  out  of  203  cast,  and  was,  therefore, 
constitutionally  elected  President  of  the  United  States. 
The  tirade  of  abuse  that  was  poured  ujxan   this    good 


and  merciful  man,  especially  by  the  slaveholders,  was 
greater  than  upon  any  other  man  ever  elected  to  this 
high  position.  In  February,  1861,  Mr.  Lincoln  started 
for  Washington,  stopping  in  all  the  large  cities  on  his 
way  making  speeches.  The  vviiole  journey  was  frought 
with  much  danger.  Many  of  the  Southern  States  had 
already  seceded,  and  several  attempts  at  assassination 
were  afterwards  brought  to  light.  .\  gang  in  Balti- 
more had  arranged,  upon  his  arrival  to"  get  up  a  row," 
and  in  the  confusion  to  make  sure  of  his  death  with 
revolvers  and  hand-grenades.  A  detective  unravelled 
the  plot.  A  secret  and  special  train  was  provided  to 
take  him  from  HarrisLnug,  through  Baltimore,  at  ar 
unexpected  hour  of  the  night.  The  train  started  at 
half-past  ten  ;  and  to  prevent  any  possible  communi- 
cation on  the  part  ot  the  Secessionists  with  their  Con- 
federate gang  in  Baltimore,  as  soon  as  the  train  hac 
started  the  telegraph-wires  were  cut.  Mr.  Lincoln 
reached  Washington  in  safety  and  was  inaugurated, 
altliough  great  anxiety  was  felt  by  all  loyal  people 

In  the  selection  of  his  cabinet  Mr.  Lincoln  gave 
to  Mr  Seward  the  Department  of  State,  and  to  other 
prominent  opponents  before  the  convention  he  gave 
imjxirtant  positions. 

During  no  other  administration  have  the  duties 
devolving  upon  the  President  lieen  so  manifold,  and 
the  responsibilities  so  great,  as  those  which  fell  to 
the  lot  of  President  Lincoln.  Knowing  this,  and 
feeling  his  own  weakness  and  inability  to  meet,  and  in 
his  own  strength  to  cope  with,  the  difficulties,  he 
learned  early  to  seek  Divine  wisdom  and  giiidance  in 
determining  his  plans,  and  Divine  comfort  in  all  his 
trials,  both  personal  and  national.  Contrary  to  his 
own  estimate  of  himself,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  one  of  the 
most  courageous  of  men.  He  went  directly  into  the 
rebel  capital  just  as  the  retreating  foe  was  leaving, 
with  no  guard  but  a  few  sailors.  From  the  time  he 
had  left  Springfield,  in  1861,  however,  plans  had  been 
made  for  his  assassination, and  he  at  last  fell  a  victim 
tooneofthem.  April  14,  1865,  he,  with  Gen.  Grant, 
was  urgently  invited  to  attend  Fords'  Theater.  It 
was  announced  that  they  would  Le  present.  Gen. 
Grant,  however,  left  the  city.  President  Lincoln,  feel- 
ing, with  his  characteristic  kindliness  of  heart,  that 
it  would  be  a  disappointment  if  he  should  fail  them, 
very  reluctantly  consented  to  go.  While  listening  to 
the  play  an  actor  by  the  name  of  John  ^Vilkes  Booth 
entered  the  box  where  the  President  and  family  were 
seated,  and  fired  a  bullet  into  his  brains.  He  died  the 
next  morning  at  seven  o'clock. 

Never  before,  in  the  history  of  the  world  was  a  nation 
plunged  into  such  deep  grief  by  the  death  of  its  ruler. 
Strong  men  met  in  the  streets  and  wept  in  speechless 
anguish.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  a  nation  was 
in  tears.  His  was  a  life  which  will  fitly  become  a 
model.  His  name  as  the  savior  of  his  country  »':;i 
live  with  that  of  Washington's,  its  father;  hisco-^ntry- 
mer.  being  unable  to  decide    which  is   tb.e  greater. 


IV:  I. 


^^^dhui-i-^y 


SEVENTEENTH  FRESWEMT. 


8i 


NDREW  JOHNSON,  seven- 
teenth President  of  the  United 
States.  The  early  life  of 
Andrew  Johnson  contains  but 
the  record  of  poverty,  destitu- 
tion and  friendlessness.  He 
J/  was  born  December  29,  i8o<S, 
in  Raleigh,  N.  C.  His  parents, 
belonging  to  the  class  of  tjie 
"  poor  whites  "  of  the  South,  were 
in  such  circumstances,  that  they 
could  not  confer  ::7ei\  the  slight- 
est advantages  of  education  ujxsn 
their  child.  When  Andrew  was  five 
years  of  age,  his  father  accidentally 
lost  iiis  life  while  herorically  endeavoring  to  save  a 
friend  from  drowning.  Vndi  teri  ycArs,  of  age,  Andrew 
was  a  ragged  boy  about  the  streets,  supported  by  the 
labor  of  his  mother,  who  obtained  her  living  with 
her  own  hands. 

He  then,  having  never  attended  a  school  one  day, 
and  being  unable  either  to  read  or  write,  was  ap- 
prenticed to  a  tailor  in  his  native  town.  A  gentleman 
was  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the  tailor's  shop  occasion- 
ally, and  reading  to  the  boys  at  work  there.  He  often 
read  from  the  speeches  of  distinguished  British  slates- 
men.  Andrew,  who  was  endowed  with  a  mind  of  more 
than  ordinary  native  ability,  became  much  interested 
m  these  speeches ;  his  ambition  was  roused,  and  he 
was  inspired  with  a  strong  desire  to  learn  to  read. 

He  accordingly  applied  himself  to  the  alphabet,  and 
with  the  assistance  of  some  of  his  fellow-workmen, 
learned  his  letters.  He  then  called  upon  the  gentle- 
man to  borrow  the  book  of  speeches.      The  owner, 


pleased  with  his  zeal,  not  only  gave  him  the  booK, 
but  assisted  him  in  learning  to  combine  the  letters 
into  words.  Under  such  difficulties  he  pressed  01. 
ward  laboriously,  spending  usually  ten  or  twelve  hours 
at  work  in  the  shop,  and  then  robbing  himself  of  rest 
and  recreatio:^  to  devote  such  time  as  he  could  to 
reading. 

He  went  to  Tennessee  in  1826,  and  located  at 
Greenville,  where  he  married  a  young  lady  who  pos 
sessed  some  education.  Under  her  instructions  he 
learned  to  write  and  cipher.  He  became  prominent 
in  the  village  debating  society,  and  a  favorite  witli 
the  students  of  Greenville  College.  In  1828,  he  or- 
ganized a  working  man's  party,  which  elected  him 
alderman,  and  in  1830  elected  him  mayor,  which 
position  he  held  three  years. 

He  now  began  to  take  a  lively  interest  in  political 
affairs  ;  identifying  himself  with  the  working-classes, 
to  which  he  belonged.  In  1835,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Tennes- 
see. He  was  then  just  twenty-seven  years  of  age. 
He  became  a  very  active  member  of  the  legislature 
gave  his  adhesion  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  in 
1S40  "stumped  the  State,"  advocating  Martin  Van 
Buren's  claims  to  the  Presidency,  in  opposition  to  thos^ 
of  Gen.  Harrison.  In  this  campaign  he  acquired  much 
readiness  as  a  speaker,  and  extended  and  increased 
his  reputation. 

In  1841,  he  was  elected  State  Senator;  in  1843,  he 
wa.s  elected  a  member  of  Congress,  and  by  successiyt 
elections,  held  that  imj^rtant  post  for  ten  years.  In 
1853,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  Tennessee,  and' 
was  re-elected  in  1855.  In  all  these  resjionsible  jxiai- 
tions,  he  discharged  his  duties  with  distinguished  ab»v 


84 


ANDRE  W  JOHNSON. 


ity,  and  proved  himself  the  warm  friend  of  the  work- 
ing classes.  In  1857,  Mr.  Johnson  was  elected 
United  States  Senator. 

Years  before,  in  1S45,  he  had  warmly  advocated 
the  annexation  of  Texas,  stating  however,  as  his 
'reason,  that  he  thought  this  annexation  would  prob- 
ably prove  "  to  be  the  gateway  out  of  which  the  sable 
sons  of  Africa  are  to  pass  from  bondage  to  freedom, 
and  become  merged  in  a  population  congenial  to 
themselves."  In  1850,  he  also  supported  the  com'- 
promise  measures,  the  two  essential  features  of  which 
ivere,  that  the  white  people  of  the  Territories  should 
oe  permitted  to  decide  for  themselves  whether  they 
would  enslave  the  colored  people  or  not,  and  that 
the  ''ree  States  of  the  North  should  return  to  the 
South  persons  who  attempted  to  escape  from  slavery. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  never  ashamed  of  his  lowly  origin: 
on  the  contrary,  he  often  took  piide  in  avowing  that 
he  owed  his  distinction  to  his  own  exertions.  "Sir," 
said  he  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate,  "  I  do  not  forget 
that  I  am  a  mechanic ;  neither  do  I  forget  that  Adam 
was  a  tailor  and  sewed  fig-leaves,  and  that  our  Sav- 
ior was  the  son  of  a  carpenter." 

In  the  Charleston- Baltimore  convention  of  iSuo,  ne 
{Was  the  choice  of  the  Tennessee  Democrats  for  the 
Tr'residency.  In  1861,  when  the  purpose  of  the  South- 
2rn  Democracy  became  apparent,  he  took  a  decided 
stand  ill  favor  of  the  Union,  and  held  that  "  slavery 
must  be  held  subordinate  to  the  Union  at  whatever 
cost."  He  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  repeatedly 
imperiled  his  own  life  to  protect  the  Unionists  of 
Tennesee.  Tennessee  having  seceded  from  the 
Union,  President  Lincoln,  on  March  4th,  1862,  ap- 
pointed him  Military  Governor  of  the  State,  and  he 
established  the  most  stringent  military  rule.  His 
numerous  proclamations  attracted  wide  attention.    In 

1864,  he  was  elected  Vice-President  of  the  United 
States,  and  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  April   15, 

1865,  became  President.  In  a  speech  two  days  later 
he  said,  "  The  American  people  must  be  taught,  if 
?hey  do  not  already  feel,  that  treason  is  a  crime  and 
must  be  cinished;  that  the  Government  will  not 
always  bear  with  its  enemies ;  that  it  is  strong  not 
only  to  protect,  but  to  punish.  *  *  Tlie  people 
must  understand  that  it  (treason)  is  the  blackest  of 
crimes,  and  will  surely  be  punished."  Yet  his  whole 
administration,  the  history  of  which  is  so  well  known, 
was  in  utter  iaaonsistency  with,  and  the  most  violent 


opix)sltion  to,  the  principles  laid  down  in  that  speech. 

In  his  loose  policy  of  reconstruction  and  general 
amnesty,  he  was  opposed  by  Congress;  and  he  char- 
acterized Congress  as  a  new  rebellion,  and  lawlessly 
defied  it,  in  everything  possible,"^  to  the  utmost.  In 
the  beginning  of  1868,  on  account  of  "high  crimes 
and  misdemeanors,"  the  principal  of  which  was  the 
removal  of  Secretary  Stanton,  in  violation  of  the  Ten- 
ure of  Office  Act,  articles  of  impeachment  were  pre- 
ferred against  him,  and  the    trial   began    March   23. 

It  was  very  tedious,  continuing  for  nearly  three 
months.  A  test  article  of  the  impeachment  was  at 
length  submitted  to  the  court  for  its  action.  It  was 
certain  that  as  the  court  voted  upon  that  article  so 
would  it  vote  upon  all.  Thirty-four  voices  pronounced 
the  President  guilty.  As  a  two-thirds  vote  was  neces- 
sary to  his  condemnation,  he  was  pronounced  ac- 
quitted, notwithstanding  the  great  majority  against 
him.  The  change  of  one  vote  from  the  not  guilty 
side  would  have  sustained  the  impeachment. 

The  President,  for  the  remainder  of  his  term,  was 
but  little  regarded.  He  continued,  though  impotent!;', 
his  conflict  with  Congress.  His  own  party  did  not 
think  it  expedient  to  renominate  him  for  the  Presi- 
dency. The  Nation  rallied,  with  enthusiasm  unpar- 
alleled since  the  days  of  Washington,  around  the  name 
of  Gen.  Grant.  Andrew  Johnson  was  forgotten. 
The  bullet  of  the  assassin  introduced  him  to  the 
President's  chair.  Notwithstanding  this,  never  was 
there  presented  to  a  man  a  better  opportunity  to  im- 
mortalize his  name,  and  to  win  the  gratitude  of  a 
nation.  He  failed  utterly.  He  retired  to  his  home 
in  Greenville,  Tenn.,  taking  no  very  active  part  in 
politics  until  1875.  On  Jan.  26,  after  an  exciting 
struggle,  he  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  of  Ten- 
nessee, United  States  Senator  in  the  forty-fourth  Con- 
gress, and  took  his  seat  in  that  body,  at  the  special 
session  convened  by  President  Grant,  on  the  sth  of 
March.  On  the  27th  of  July,  1875,  the  ex-President 
made  a  visit  to  his  daughter's  home,  near  Carter 
Station,  Tenn.  When  he  started  on  his  journey,  he  was 
apparently  in  his  usual  vigorous  healtli,  but  on  reach- 
ing the  residence  of  his  child  the  following  day,  was 
stricken  with  paralysis,  rendering  him  unconscious. 
He  rallied  occasicnally,  but  finally  passed  away  at 
2  A.M.,  July  31,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  His  fun- 
eral was  attended  at  GeenviUe,  on  the  3d  of  August, 
with  every  demonstration  of  respect- 


7^^< 


ETGHTEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


LYSSES  S.  GRANT,  the 
eighteenth  President  of  the 
■  United  States,  was  born  on 
the  29th   of  April,    1822,   of 

_^__,    Christian  parents,  in  a  humble 

^^5Ji^^'@^?'  home,  at  Point  Pleasant,  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio.  Shortly  after 
his  father  moved  to  George- 
town, Brown  Co.,  O.  In  this  re- 
mote frontier  hamlet,  Ulysses 
received  a  common-school  edu- 
cation. At  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, in  the  year  1839,  he  entered 
the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point.  Here  he  was  regarded  as  a 
solid,  sensible  young  man  of  fair  abilities,  and  of 
sturdy,  honest  character.  He  took  respectable  rank 
as  a  scholar.  In  June,  1843,  he  graduated, about  the 
middle  in  his  class,  and  was  sent  as  lieutenant  of  in- 
fantry to  one  of  the  distant  military  posts  in  the  Mis- 
souri Territory.  Two  years  he  j)ast  in  these  dreary 
solitudes,  watching  the  vagabond  and  exasperating 
Indians. 

The  war  with  Mexico  came.  Lieut.  Grant  was 
sent  with  his  regiment  to  Corpus  Christi.  His  first 
battle  was  at  Palo  Alto.  There  was  no  chance  here 
for  the  exhibition  of  either  skill  or  heroism,  nor  at 
Resacade  la  Palnia,  his  second  battle.  At  the  battle 
nf  Monterey,  his  third  engagement,  it  is  said  that 
.10  performed  a  signal  service  of  daring  and  skillful 
horsemanship.  His  brigade  had  exhausted  its  am- 
munition. A  messenger  must  be  sent  for  more,  along 
•■X  route  exposed  to  the  bullets  of  the  foe.  Lieut. 
Grant,  adopting  an  expedient  learned  of  the  Indians, 
grasped  the  mane  of  his  horse,  and  hanging  ujxjn  one 
side  of  the  anii^d,  ran  the  gauntlet  in  entire  safety. 


From  Monterey  he  was  sent,  with  the  fourth  infantry, 
ro  aid  Gen.  Scott,  at  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz.  In 
preparation  for  the  march  to  the  city  of  Mexico,  he 
was  appointed  quartermaster  of  his  regiment.  At  the 
battle  of  Molino  del  Rey,  he  was  promoted  to  a 
first  lieutenancy,  and  was  brevetted  captain  at  Cha- 
pultepec. 

At  the  close  of  the  Mexican  War,  Capt.  Grant  re- 
turned with  his  regiment  to  New  York,  and  was  again 
sent  to  one  of  the  military  posts  on  the  frontier.  The 
discovery  of  gold  in  California  causing  an  immense 
tide  of  emigration  to  flow  to  the  Pacific  shores,  Capt. 
Grant  was  sent  with  a  battalion  to  Fort  Dallas,  in 
Oregon,  for  the  protection  of  the  interests  of  the  im- 
migrants. Life  was  wearisome  in  those  wilds.  Capt. 
Grant  resigned  his  commission  and  returned  to  the 
States;  and  having  married,  entered  upon  the  cultiva- 
tion of  a  small  farm  near  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He  had  but 
little  skill  as  a  farmer.  Finding  his  toil  not  re- 
munerative, he  turned  to  mercantile  Hfe,  entering  into 
the  leather  business,  with  a  younger  brother,  at  Ga- 
lena, III.  This  was  in  the  year  i860.  As  the  tidings 
of  the  rebels  firing  on  Fort  Sumpter  reached  the  ears 
of  Capt.  Grant  in  his  counting-room,  he  said, — 
"Uncle  Sam  has  educated  me  for  the  army;  though 
I  have  served  him  through  one  war,  I  do  not  fewithat 
I  have  yet  repaid  the  debt.  I  am  still  ready  todist^iiarge 
my  obligations.  I  shall  therefore  buckle  on  my  sword 
and  see  Uncle  Sam  through  this  war  too." 

He  went  into  the  streets,  raised  a  company  of  vol- 
unteers, and  led  them  as  their  captain  to  Springfield, 
the  capital  of  the  State,  where  their  services  were 
offered  to  Gov.  Yates.  The  Governor,  im])ressed  by 
the  zeal  and  straightforward  executive  ability  of  Capt. 
Grant,  gave  him  a  desk  in  his  office,  to  assist  in  the, 
volunteer  organization  that  was  being  formed  in  the 
State  in  behalf  of  the  Government.     On  the  i?*'^  of 


88 


UL  YSSES  S.  GRA  NT. 


June,  J 86 1,  Capt.  Grant  received  a  commission  as 
Colonel  of  the  Twenty-first  Regiment  of  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers. His  merits  as  a  West  Point  graduate,  who 
had  served  for  15  years  in  the  regular  array,  were  such 
that  he  was  soon  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
general  and  was  placed  in  command  at  Cairo.  The 
'rebels  raised  their  banner  at  Paducali,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Tennessee  River.  Scarcely  had  its  folds  ap- 
peared in  the  breeze  ere  Gen.  Grant  was  there.  The 
rebels  fled.  Their  banner  fell,  and  the  star  and 
stripes  were  unfurled  in  its  stead. 

He  entered  the  service  with  great  determination 
and  immediately  began  active  duty.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning, and  until  the  surrender  of  Lee  at  Richmond 
he  was  ever  pushing  the  enemy  with  great  vigor  and 
effectiveness.  At  Belmont,  a  few  days  later,  he  sur- 
prised and  routed  the  rebels,  then  at  Fort  Henry 
won  another  victory.  Then  came  the  brilliant  fight 
at  Fort  Donelson.  The  nation  was  electrified  by  the 
victory,  and  the  brave  leader  of  the  boys  in  blue  was 
immediately  made  a  Major-General,  and  the  military 
Jistrict  of  Tennessee  was  assigned  to  him. 

Like  all  great  captains.  Gen.  Grant  knew  well  how 
to  secure  the  results  of  victory.  He  immediately 
pushed  on  to  the  enemies'  lines.  Then  came  the 
terrible  battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  Corinth,  and  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  where  Gen.  Pemberton  made  an 
unconditional  surrender  of  the  city  with  over  thirty 
thousand  men  and  one-hundred  and  seventy-two  can- 
non. The  fall  of  Vicksburg  was  by  far  the  most 
severe  blow  which  the  rebels  had  thus  far  encountered, 
and  opened  up  the  Mississippi  from  Cairo  to  the  Gulf. 

Gen.  Grant  was  next  ordered  to  co-operate  with 
Gen.  Banks  in  a  movement  upon  Texas,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  New  Orleans,  where  he  was  thrown  from 
his  horse,  and  received  severe  injuries,  from  which  he 
was  laid  up  for  months.  He  then  rushed  to  the  aid 
*f  Gens.  Rosecrans  and  Thomas  at  Chattanooga,  and 
by  a  wonderful  series  of  strategic  and  technical  meas- 
ures put  the  Union  Army  in  fighring  condition.  Then 
followed  the  bloody  battles  at  Chattanooga,  Lookout 
Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge,  in  which  the  rebels 
were  routed  with  great  loss.  This  won  for  him  un- 
bounded praise  in  the  North.  On  the  4th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1864,  Congress  revived  the  grade  of  lieutenant- 
general,  and  the  rank  was  conferred  on  Gen.  Grant. 
He  repaired  to  Washington  to  receive  his  credentials 
and  enter  upon  th^  duties  of  his  new  office 


Gen.  Grant  decided  as  soon  as  he  took  charge  of 
the  army  to  concentrate  the  widely-dispersed  Narional 
troops  for  an  attack  upon  Richmond,  the  nominal 
capital  of  the  Rebellion,  and  endeavor  there  to  de- 
stroy the  rebel  armies  which  would  be  promptly  as- 
sembled from  all  quarters  for  its  defence.  The  whole 
continent  seemed  to  tremble  under  the  tramp  of  these 
majestic  armies,  rushing  to  the  decisive  battle  field. 
Steamers  were  crowded  with  troops.  Railway  trains 
were  burdened  with  closely  packed  thousands.  His 
plans  were  comprehensive  and  involved  a  series  of 
campaigns,  which  were  executed  with  remarkable  en- 
ergy and  ability,  and  were  consummated  at  the  sur- 
render of  Lee,  April  9,  1865. 

The  war  was  ended.  The  Union  was  saved.  The 
almost  unanimous  voice  of  the  Nation  declared  Gen. 
Grant  to  be  the  most  prominent  instrument  in  its  saU 
vation.  The  eminent  services  he  had  thus  rendered 
the  country  brought  him  conspicuously  forward  as  the 
Republican  candidate  for  the  Presidenrial  chair. 

At  the  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago. 
May  21,  1 868,  he  was  unanimously  nominated  for  the 
Presidency,  and  at  the  autumn  election  received  a 
majority  of  the  jxapular  vote,  and  214  out  of  294 
electoral  votes. 

The  National  Convention  of  the  Republican  party 
which  met  at  Philadelphia  on  the  5th  of  June,  1872, 
placed  Gen.  Grant  in  nomination  for  a  second  term 
by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  selection  was  emphati- 
cally indorsed  by  the  people  five  months  later,  292 
electoral  votes  being    cast    for  him. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  his  second  term.  Gen.  Grant 
started  upon  his  famous  trip  around  the  world.  He 
visited  almost  every  country  of  the  civilized  world, 
and  was  everywhere  received  with  such  ovations 
and  demonstrations  of  respect  and  honor,  private 
as  well  as  public  and  official,  as  were  never  before 
bestowed  upon  any  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

He  was  the  most  prominent  candidate  before  the 
Republican  National  Convention  in  1880  for  a  re- 
nomination  for  President.  He  went  to  New  York  and 
embarked  in  the  brokerage  business  under  the  firm 
nameof  Grant  &  Ward.  The  latter  proved  a  villain, 
wrecked  Grant's  fortune,  and  for  larceny  was  sent  to 
the  penitentiary.  The  General  was  attacked  with 
cancer  in  the  throat,  but  suffered  in  his  stoic-like 
manner,  never  complaining.  He  was  re-instated  as 
General  of  the  Army  and  retired  by  Congress.  The 
cancer  soon  finished  its  deadly  work,  and  July  23, 
1885,  the  nation  wenf  in  mourning  over  the  death  of 
the  illustrious  General. 


I 


iLLI.ilUi6 


0^--^^.£^-o-^ 


/■ 


-J 


NI.NETEENTH  PRESIDENT. 


9« 


UTHERFORD  B.  HAYES, 
the  nineteenth  President  of 
the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Delaware,  O.,  Oct.  4,  1822,  al- 
most three  months  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  Rutherford 
Hayes.  His  ancestry  on  both 
the  paternal  and  maternal  sides, 
was  of  the  most  honorable  char- 
acter. It  can  be  traced,  it  is  said, 
as  farbackas  1280,  when  Hayes  and 
Rutherford  were  two  Scottish  chief- 
tains, fighting  side  by  side  with 
Baliol,  William  Wallace  and  Robert 
Bruce.  Both  families  belonged  to  the 
nobility,  owned  extensive  estates, 
and  had  a  large  following.  Misfor- 
lane  ovtr<aking  the  family,  George  Hayes  left  Scot- 
~and  in  16H0,  and  settled  in  Windsor,  Conn.  His  son 
George  wa;;  born  in  Windsor,  and  remained  there 
during  his  life.  Daniel  Hayes,  son  of  the  latter,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Lee,  and  lived  from  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage until  his  death  in  Simsbury,  Conn.  Ezekiel, 
son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  1724,  and  was  a  manufac- 
turerof  scythes  at  Bradford,  Conn.  Rutherford  Hayes, 
son  of  Ezekiel  ai/d  grandfather  of  President  Hayes,  was 
born  in  New  Haven,  in  August,  1756.  He  was  a  farmer, 
blacksmith  and  tavern-keef)cr.  He  emigrated  to 
Vermont  at  an  unknown  date,  settling  in  Brattletoro, 
where  he  established  a  hotel.  Here  his  son  Ruth- 
erford   Hayes     the   father   of  President   Hayes,   was 


born.  He  was  married,  in  September,  1813,  to  Sophia 
Birchard,  of  Wilmington,  Vt.,  whose  ancestors  emi- 
grated thither  from  Connecticut,  they  having  been 
among  the  wealthiest  and  best  famlies  of  Norwich. 
Her  ancestry  on  the  male  side  are  traced  back  to 
1635,  to  John  Birchard,  one  of  the  principal  founders 
of  Norwich.  Both  of  her  grandfathers  were  soldiers 
in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  father  of  President  Hayes  was  an  industrious 
frugal  and  opened-hearted  man.  He  was  of  a  me- 
chanical turn,  and  could  mend  a  plow,  knit  a  slocks 
ing,  or  do  almost  anything  else  that  he  choose  to 
undertake.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Church,  active 
in  all  the  benevolent  enterprises  of  the  town,  and  con- 
ducted his  business  on  Christian  principles.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  of  181 2,  for  reasons  inexplicable 
to  his  neighbors,  he  resolved  to  emigrate  to   Ohio. 

The  journey  from  Vermont  to  Ohio  in  that  day 
when  there  were  no  canals,  steamers,  nor  railways, 
was  a  very  serious  affair.  A  tour  of  inspection  was 
first  made,  occupying  four  months.  Mr.  Hayes  deter 
mined  to  move  to  Delaware,  where  the  family  arrived 
in  1817.  He  died  July  22,  1822,  a  victim  of  malarial 
fever,  less  than  three  months  before  the  birth  of  the 
son,  of  whom  we  now  write.  Mrs.  Hayes,  in  her  sore  be- 
reavement, found  the  support  she  so  much  needed  in 
her  brother  Sardis,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the 
household  from  the  day  of  its  departure  from  Ver- 
mont, and  in  an  orphan  girl  whom  she  had  adopted 
some  time  before  as  an  act  of  charity. 

Mrs.  Hayes  at  this  period  was  very  weak,  and  the 


RUTHERFORD  B.  HAYES. 


s abject  of  this  sketch  was  so  feeble  at  birth  that  he 
was  not  expected  to  live  beyond  a  month  or  two  at 
most.  As  the  months  went  by  he  grew  weaker  and 
weaker,  so  that  the  neighbors  were  in  the  habit  of  in- 
quiring from  time  to  time  "  if  Mrs.  Hayes'  baby  died 
iast  night."  On  one  occasion  a  neighbor,  who  was  on 
iimiliar  terms  with  the  family,  after  alluding  to  the 
boy's  big  head,  and  the  mother's  assiduous  care  of 
niui,  said  in  a  bantering  way,  "  That's  right!  Stick  to 
iiim.  You  have  got  him  along  so  far,  and  I  shouldn't 
wonder  if  he  would  really  come  to  something  yet." 

"  You  need  not  laugh,"  said  Mrs.  Hayes.  "You 
vait  and  see.  You  can't  tell  but  I  shall  make  him 
President  of  the  United  States  yet."  The  boy  lived, 
in  spite  of  the  universal  predictions  of  his  speedy 
death;  and  when,  in  1825,  his  older  brother  was 
drowned,  he  became,  if  possible,  still  dearer  to  his 
mother. 

The  boy  was  seven  years  old  before  he  went  to 
school.  His  education,  however,  was  not  neglected. 
He  probably  learned  as  much  from  his  mother  and 
sister  as  he  would  have  done  at  school.  His  sports 
were  almost  wholly  within  doors,  his  playmates  being 
his  sister  and  her  associates.  These  circumstances 
tended,  no  doul)t,  to  foster  that  gentleness  of  dispo- 
sition, and  that  delicate  consideration  for  the  feelings 
of  others,  which  are  marked  traits  of  his  character. 

His  uncle  Sardis  Birchard  took  the  deepest  interest 
|in  his  education ;  and  as  the  boy's  health  had  im- 
proved, and  he  was  making  good  progress  in  his 
studies,  he  proposed  to  send  him  to  college.  His  pre- 
paration commenced  with  a  tutor  at  home;  but  he 
was  afterwards  sent  for  one  year  to  a  professor  in  the 
^Vesleyan  University,  in  Middletown,  Conn.  He  en- 
tered Kenyon  College  in  1838,  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
and  was  graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class  in    1842. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  began  the 
study  of  law  in  tiie  office  of  Thomas  Sparrow,  Esq., 
in  Columbus.  Finding  his  opportunities  for  study  in 
Columbus  somewhat  limited,  he  determined  to  enter 
the  Law  School  at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  he  re- 
mained two  years. 

In  1845,  after  graduatnig  at  the  Law  School,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  and  shortly 
afterward  went  into  practice  as  an  attorney-at-law 
with  Ralph  P.  Buckland,  of  Fremont.  Here  he  re- 
mained three  years,  acquiring  but  a  limited  practice, 
and  apparently  unambitious  of  distinction  in  his  pro- 
Cession. 

■^n  1849  he  moved  to  Cincnrnati,  where  his  ambi- 
tion found  a  new  stimulus.  For  several  years,  how- 
ever, his  progress  was  slow.  Two  events,  occurring  at 
this  period,  had  a  powerful  influence  upon  his  subse- 
quent 'ife.  One  of  these  was  his  marrage  with  Miss 
(jucy  Ware  Webb,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  Webb,  of 
Chilicotlie;  the  other  was  his  introduction  to  the  Cin- 
cinnati Literary  Club,  a  body  embracing  among  its 
nitmbers  suclv  men  as '^hief  Justice  Salmon_P.Chase^ 


Gen.  John  Pope,  Gov.  Edward  F.  Noyes,  and  many 
others  hardly  less  distinguished  in  after  life.  The 
marriage  was  a  fortunate  one  in  every  respect,  as 
everybody  knows.  Not  one  of  all  the  wives  of  our 
Presidents  was  more  universally  admired,  reverenced 
and  beloved  than  was  Mrs.  Hayes,  and  no  one  did 
more  than  she  to  reflect  honor  upon  American  woman 
hood.  The  Literary  Cluu  brought  Mr.  Hayes  into 
constant  association  with  young  men  of  high  char- 
acter and  noble  aims,  and  lured  him  to  display  f'.ie 
qualities  so  long  hidden  by  his  bashfulne^s  and 
modesty. 

In  1856  he  was  nominated  to  the  office  of  Judg;  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas;  but  he  declined  to  ac- 
cept the  nomination.  Two  years  later,  the  office  ol 
city  solicitor  becoming  vacant,  the  City  Co-jncil 
elected  him  for  the  unexpired  term. 

In  1 861,  when  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  he  was  a; 
tne  zenith  of  his  professional  lif..  His  rank  at  the 
bar  was  among  the  the  first.  But  the  news  of  the 
attack  on  Fort  Sumpter  found  him  eager  to  take  'in 
arms  for  the  defense  of  his  couniry. 

His  military  record  was  bright  and  illustrious.  In 
October,  1861,  he  was  made  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and 
in  August,  1862,  promoted  Colonel  of  the  79th  Ohio 
regiment,  but  he  refused  to  leave  his  old  comrades 
and  go  among  strangers.  Subsequently,  however,  lie 
was  made  Colonel  of  his  old  regiment.  At  the  battle 
of  South  Mountain  he  received  a  wound,  and  while 
faint  and  bleeding  displayed  courage  r.nd  fortitude 
that  won  admiration  from  all. 

Col.  Hayes  was  detached  from  his  regiment,  after 
his  recovery,  to  act  as  Brigadier-General,  and  placed 
in  command  of  the  celebrated  Kanawha  division, 
and  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  1  he  battles 
of  Winchester,  Fisher's  Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  he  was 
promoted  Brigadier-General.  He  was  also  brevet'ed 
Major-General, "for gallant  and  distinguishtd  s-trvites 
during  the  campaigns  of  1864,  in  West  Virginia."  In 
the  course  of  his  arduous  services,  four  horses  were 
shot  from  under  him,  and  he  was  wounded  four  times 

In  1864,  Gen.  Hayes  was  elected  to  Congress,  from 
the  Second  Ohio  District,  which  had  long  been  Dem- 
ocratic. He  was  not  present  during  the  campaign, 
and  after  his  election  was  importuned  to  resign  his 
commission  in  the  army;  but  he  finally  declared,  ''  I 
shall  never  come  to  Washington  until  I  can  come  by 
the  way  of  Richmond."  He  was  re-elected  in  1866. 

Ir.  1867,  Gen  Hayes  was  elected  Governor  of  Ohio, 
over  Hon.  Allen  G.  Thurman,  a  populai  Democrat. 
In  1869  was  re-elected  over  George  H.  Pendleton. 
He  was  elected  Governor  for  the  third  term  in   1875. 

\x\  1876  he  was  the  standard  beaier  of  the  Repub- 
lican Party  in  the  Presidential  contest,  and  after  a 
hard  long  contest  was  chosen  President,  and  wns  ir. 
augurated  Monday,  March  5,  1875.  He  served  his 
full  term,  not,  l^wever,  with  satisfaction  to  h!s  parlv, 
but  his  admiii'stration  was  an  average  o;^-' 


«  / 


TWEr^T'fETH  r RESIDENT. 


05 


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^ 


^m^/^/%p\>:^ 


I  lAAim  4,  (jAKFIELU,  iB^ 


'««^g<i>si&#gi&#^;is«>^":$'i»Si&««'^:;s-'S^;S-*T;:. 


^  TrTjivT^^U^flP^vT^y 


^'F 


AMES  A.  GARFIELD,  twen- 
tieth President  of  the  United 
States,    was    born    Nov.    19, 
1S31,  in  the  woods  of  Orange, 
Cuyahoga  Co.,  O      His    par- 
ents were  Abram  and    Eliza 
(Ballou)    Garfield,   both   of  New 
England  ancestry  and  from  fami- 
lies well  known  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  that  section  of  our  coun- 
try, but  had  moved  to  the  Western 
Reserve,  in  Ohio,  early  in  its  settle- 
ment. 

The  house  in  which  James  A.  was 
born  was    not  unlike  the  houses  of 
poor  Ohio  farmers  of  that  day.     It 
,.:£  about  20x30  feet,  built  of  logs,  with  the  spaces  be-^ 
'/3en   the  logs  filled  with  clay.     His  father  was  a 
lard  working  farmer,  and   he  soon    had    his   fields 
leared,  an   orchard  planted,  and  a  log  barn  built. 
I'lie  household  comprised  the  father  and  mother  and 
heir  four  children — Mehetabel,  Thomas,  Mary  and 
"ames.     In  May,  i823j  the  father,  from  a  cold  con- 
. .'acted  in  helping  to  put  out  a  forest   fire,  died.     At 
'his  time  James  was  about  eighteen  months  old,  and 
'"liomas  about  ten  years  old.     No  one,  perhaps,  can 
.ell  how  much  James  was  indebted   to  his  biother's 
tcil  and  self  sacrifice  during  the  twenty  years    suc- 
ceeding  his   father's   death,   but    undoubtedly   very 
much.     He  now  lives  in  Michigan,  and  the  two  sis- 
itis  live  in  -Solon,  O.,  near  their  birthplace. 

Tiie  early  educational  advantages  young  Garfield 
fiijoyed  were  very  limited,  yet  he  made  the  most  of 
;neni.  He  labored  at  farm  work  for  others,  did  car- 
penter work,  chopped  wood,  or  vlid  anything  that 
svuuld  bring  in  a  few  dollars  to  aid  his  widowed 
mother  in  lie'  -trmi^^les  to  keep  the  little    family  to- 


gether. Nor  was  Gen.  Garfield  ever  ashamed  of  his 
origin,  and  he  never  forgot  the  friends  of  his  strug- 
gling childhood,  youth  and  manhood,  neither  did  thty 
ever  forget  him.  When  in  the  highest  seats  of  honor 
the  humblest  fiiend  of  his  boyhood  was  as  kindly 
greeted  as  ever.  The  jworest  laborer  was  sure  of  the 
sympathy  of  one  who  had  known  all  the  bitterness 
of  want  and  the  sweetness  of  bread  earned  by  the 
sweat  of  the  brow.  He  was  ever  the  simple,  ulain, 
modest  gentleman. 

The  highest  ambition  of  young  Garfield  until  hi. 
was  about  sixteen  years  old'wastobe  a  captain  of 
a  vessel  on  Lake  Erie.  He  was  anxious  to  go  aboard 
a  vessel,  which  his  mother  strongly  opposed.  She 
finally  consented  to  his  going  to  Cleveland,  with  the 
understanding,  however,  that  he  should  try  to  obtair 
some  other  kind  of  employment.  He  walked  all  the 
way  to  Cleveland.  This  was  his  first  visit  to  the  city 
Afier  making  many  applications  for  work,  and  trying 
to  get  aboard  a  lake  vessel,  and  not  meeting  with 
success,  he  engaged  as  a  driver  for  his  cousin,  Amos 
Letcher,  on  the  Ohio  &  Pennsylvania  Canal.  He  re- 
mained at  this  work  but  a  short  time  when  he  wen': 
home,  and  attended  the  seminary  at  Chester  for 
about  three  years,  when  he  entered  Hiram  and  the 
Eclectic  Institute,  teaching  a  few  terms  of  school  in 
the  meantime,  and  doing  other  work.  This  school 
was  started  by  the  Disciples  of  Christ  in  1850,  of 
which  church  he  was  then  a  member.  He  became 
janitor  and  bell-ringer  in  order  to  hel|)  pay  his  way 
He  then  became  both  teacher  and  pupil.  He  soon 
"  exhausted  Hiram  "  and  needed  more  ;  hence,  in  the 
fall  of  1S54,  he  entered  Williams  College,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1856,  taking  one  of  the  highest  hi^,- 
ors  of  his  class.  He  afterwards  returned  to  Hiram 
College  as  its  President.  As  above  slated,  he  early 
united  with  the  Christian  or  Diciples  Church  at 
Hiram,  and  was  ever  after  a  devoted,  zealous  mem- 
ber, often  preaching  in  ils  i)ulpit  and  places  where 
he  happened  to  be.  Dr.  Noah  Porter,  President  of 
Vale  College,  says  of  him  in  reference  to  his  relicion : 


9« 


/AMES  A.  GARFIELD. 


"  President  Garfield  was  more  than  a  man  of 
strong  moral  and  religious  convictions.  His  whole 
history,  from  boyhood  to  the  last,  shows  that  duty  to 
man  and  to  God,  and  devotion  to  Christ  and  life  and 
faith  and  spiritual  commission  were  controlling  springs 
of  his  being,  and  to  a  more  than  usual  degree.  In 
my  judgment  there  is  no  more  interesting  feature  of 
his  character  than  his  loyal  allegiance  to  the  body  of 
Christians  in  which  he  was  trained,  and  the  fervent 
sympathy  which  he  ever  showed  in  their  Christian 
communion.  Not  many  of  the  few  'wise  and  mighty 
and  noble  who  are  called'  show  a  similar  loyalty  to 
the  less  stately  and  cultured  Christian  comnmnions 
in  which  they  have  been  reared.  Too  often  it  is  true 
that  as  they  step  upward  in  social  and  political  sig- 
nificance they  step  upward  from  one  degree  to 
another  in  some  of  the  many  types  of  fashionable 
Christianity.  President  Garfield  adhered  to  the 
church  of  his  mother,  the  church  in  which  he  was 
trained,  and  in  which  he  served  as  a  pillar  and  an 
evangelist,  and  yet  with  the  largest  and  most  unsec- 
larian  charity  for  all  'who  love  our  Lord  in  sincerity.'" 

Mr.  Garfield  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lucretia  Rudolph,  Nov.  1 1,  1858,  who  proved  herself 
worthy  as  the  wife  of  one  whom  all  the  world  loved  and 
mourned.  To  them  were  born  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  four  boys  and  one  girl. 

Mr.  Garfield  made  his  first  political  speeches  in  1856, 
in  Hiram  and  the  neighboring  villages,  and  three 
years  later  he  began  to  speak  at  county  mass-meet- 
ings, and  became  the  favorite  speaker  wherever  he 
was.  During  this  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio 
Senate.  He  also  began  to  study  law  at  Cleveland, 
and  in  i86r  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  The  great 
Rebellion  broke  out  in  the  early  part  of  this  year, 
and  Mr.  Garfield  at  once  resolved  to  fight  as  he  had 
talked,  and  enlisted  to  defend  the  old  flag.  He  re- 
ceived his  commission  as  Lieut. -Colonel  of  the  Forty- 
second  Regiment  of  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Aug. 
14,  1861.  He  was  immediately  put  into  active  ser- 
vice, and  before  he  had  ever  seen  a  gun  fired  in  action, 
was  placed  in  command  of  four  regiments  of  infantry 
and  eight  companies  of  cavalry,  charged  with  the 
work  of  driving  out  of  his  native  State  the  officer 
'(Humphrey  Marshall)  reputed  to  be  the  ablest  of 
those,  not  educated  to  war  whom  Kentucky  had  given 
to  the  Rebellion.  This  work  was  bravely  and  speed- 
ily accomplished,  although  against  great  odds.  Pres- 
ident Lincoln,  on  his  success  commissioned  him 
Brigadier-General,  Jan.  10,  1862;  and  as  "he  had 
been  the  youngest  man  in  the  Ohio  Senate  two  years 
before,  so  now  he  was  tlie  youngest  General  in  the 
army."  He  was  with  Gen.  Buell's  army  at  Shiloh, 
in  its  operations  around  Corinth  and  its  march  through 
Alabama.  He  was  then  detailed  as  a  memberof  the 
General  Court-Martial  for  the  trial  of  Gen.  Fitz-John 
Porter.  He  was  then  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  Rose- 
crans,  and  was  assigned  to  the  "Chief  of  Staff." 

The  military  l^story  of  Gen.  Garfield  closed  with 


his  brilliant  services  at  Chickamauga,  where  he  won 
the  stars  of  the  Major-General. 

Without  an  effort  on  his  part  Gei?  Garfield  way 
elected  to  Congress  in  the  fall  of  1862  from  the 
Nineteenth  District  of  Ohio.  This  section  of  Ohio 
had  been  represented  in  Congress  for  sixty  years 
mainly  by  two  men^Elisha  Whittlesey  and  Joshui. 
R.  Giddings.  It  was  not  without  a  struggle  that  he 
resigned  his  place  in  the  army.  At  the  time  he  en- 
tered Congress  he  was  the  youngest  member  in  that 
body.  There  he  remained  by  successive  re- 
elections  until  he  was  elected  President  in  1880. 
Of  his  labors  in  Congress  Senator  Hoar  says  :  "  Since 
the  year  1864  you  cannot  think  of  a  question  whici. 
has  been  debated  in  Congress,  or  discussed  before  a 
tribunel  of  the  American  people,  in  regard  to  whict* 
you  will  not  find,  if  you  wish  mstruction,  the  argu. 
raent  on  one  side  stated,  in  almost  every  instance 
better  than  by  anybody  else,  in  some  speech  made  in 
the  House  of  Representatives  or  on  the  hustings  by 
Mr.  Garfield." 

Upon  Jan.  14,  1880,  Gen.  Garfield  was  elected  to 
the  U.  S.  Senate,  and  on  the  eighth  of  June,  of  the 
same  year,  was  nominated  as  the  candidate  of  his 
party  for  President  at  the  great  Chicago  Convention. 
He  was  elected  in  the  following  November,  and  on 
March  4,  18S1,  was  inaugurated.  Probably  no  ad- 
ministration ever  opened  its  existence  under  brighter 
auspices  than  that  of  President  Garfield,  and  every 
day  it  grew  in  favor  with  the  people,  and  by  the  first 
of  July  he  had  completed  all  the  initiatory  and  pre- 
liminary work  of  his  administration  and  was  prepar- 
ing to  leave  the  city  to  meet  his  friends  at  Williams 
College.  While  on  his  way  and  at  the  depot,  in  com- 
pany with  Secretary  Blaine,  a  man  stepped  behind 
him,  drew  a  revolver,  and  fired  directly  at  his  back. 
The  President  tottered  and  fell,  and  as  he  did  so  the 
assassin  fired  a  second  shot,  the  bullet  cutting  the 
left  coat  sleeve  of  his  victim,  but  inflicting  no  further 
injury.  It  has  been  very  truthfully  said  that  this  was 
"  the  shot  that  was  heard  round  the  world  "  Never 
before  in  the  history  of  the  Nation  had  anything  oc- 
curred which  so  nearly  froze  the  blood  of  the  peopJe 
for  the  moment,  as  this  awful  deed.  He  was  smit- 
ten on  the  brightest,  gladdest  day  of  all  his  life,  and 
was  at  the  summit  of  his  povi'er  and  hope.  For  eighty 
days,  all  during  the  hot  months  of  July  and  August, 
he  lingered  and  suffered.  He,  however,  remained 
master  of  himself  till  the  last,  and  by  his  magnificent 
bearing  was  teaching  the  country  and  the  world  the 
noblest  of  human  lessons — how  to  live  grandly  in  the 
very  clutch  of  death.  Great  in  life,  he  was  surpass- 
ingly great  in  death.  He  passed  serenely  away  Sept. 
19,  1883,  at  Elberon,  N.  J.,  on  the  very  bank  of  the 
ocean,  where  he  had  been  taken  shortly  ]jrevious.  The 
world  wept  at  his  death,  as  it  never  had  done  on  the 
death  of  any  other  man  who  had  ever  lived  upon  it. 
The  murderer  was  duly  tried,  found  guilty  and  exe- 
cuted, in  one  year  after  he  committed  tlie  foul  deed. 


.r  ILLl^^i 


^-z^Vv) 


T  WENT  Y-FIRS  T  PRESIDENT. 


99 


■rti^'' 


','\,     A  ',<'\i'\  ili  Hj 


HESTER      A.      ARTHUR, 

twenty -first    Presi'^^m   of  the 

'United   States    was    born    in 

1"  ranklin  Cour  ty,  Vermont,  on 

thefifthof  Oc'ober,  1830,  and  is 

the  oldest   of  a    family    of  two 

sons  and    five   daughters.     His 

father  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  William 

Arthur,  aBaptistd',rgyman,who 

emigrated  to  tb.s  countr)'  from 

the  county  Antam,   Ireland,   in 

his  ;8th  year,  and  died  in  1875,  in 

Newtonville,   neai    Albany,   after  a 

long  and  successful  ministry. 

Young  Arthur  was  educated  at 
Union  College,  S(  henectady,  where 
he  excelled  in  all  his  studies.  Af- 
ter his  graduation  he  taught  school 
in  Vermont  for  two  years,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  that  time  came  to 
New  York,  with  $500  in  his  pocket, 
and  entered  the  office  of  ex-Judge 
E.  D.  Culver  as  student.  After 
being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  intimate  friend  and  room-mate, 
Henry  D.  Gardiner,  with  the  intention  of  practicing 
in  the  West,  and  for  three  months  they  roamed  about 
in  the  Western  States  in  search  of  an  eligible  site, 
but  in  the  end  returned  to  New  York,  where  they 
hung  out  their  shingle,  and  entered  upon  a  success^ 
ful  career  almost  frou\  the  start.  General  .Artliur 
soon  afterward  uiaji'-d   the   daughter    of  Lieutenant 


Herndon,  of  the  United  States  Navy,  who  was  lost  at 
sea.  Congress  voted  a  gold  medal  to  his  widow  in 
recognition  of  the  bravery  he  displayed  on  that  occa- 
sion. Mrs.  Arthur  died  shortly  before  Mr.  Arthur's 
nommation  to  the  Vice  Presidency,  leaving  two 
children. 

Gen.  Arthur  obtained  considerable  legal  celebrity 
in  his  first  great  case,  the  famous  Lemmon  suit, 
brought  to  recover  possession  of  eight  slaves  who  had 
been  declared  free  by  Judge  Paine,  of  the  Superior 
Court  of  New  York  City.'  It  was  in  1852  that  Jon. 
athan  Lemmon,  of  Virginia,  went  to  New  York  with 
his  slaves,  intending  to  ship  them  to  Texas,  when 
they  were  discovered  and  freed.  The  Judge  decided 
that  they  could  not  be  held  by  the  owner  under  the 
Fugitive  Slave  Law.  A  howl  of  rage  went  up  from 
the  South,  and  the  Virginia  Legislature  authorized  the 
Attorney  General  of  that  State  to  assist  in  an  appeal. 
Wm.  M.  Evarts  and  Chester  A.  Arthur  were  employed 
to  represent  the  People,  and  they  won  their  case, 
which  then  went  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States.  Charles  O'Conor  here  es{X)used  the  cause 
of  the  slave-holders,  but  he  too  was  beaten  by  Messrs 
Evarts  and  Arthur,  and  a  long  step  was  taken  toward 
the  emancipation  of  the  black  race. 

Another  great  service  was  rendered  by  General 
Arthur  in  the  same  cause  in  1856.  Lizzie  Jennings, 
a  respectable  colored  woman,  was  put  off  a  Fourth 
Avenue  car  with  violence  after  she  had  paid  her  fare. 
General  Arthur  sued  on  her  behalf,  and  secured  a 
verdict  of  $500  damages.  The  next  day  the  compa- 
ny issued  an  order  to  admit  colored  persons  to  ride 
on  their  cars,  and   the   other  car  couipaiiieii   quickly 


CHESTER  ~A.  ARTHUR. 


followed  their  example.  Before  that  the  Sixth  Ave- 
nue Company  ran  a  few  special  cars  for  colored  per- 
sons and  the  other  lines  refused  to  let  them  ride  at  all. 

General  Arthur  was  a  delegate  to  the  Convention 
at  Saratoga  that  founded  the  Republican  party. 
Previous  to  the  war  he  was  Judge-Advocate  of  the 
Second  Brigade  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  Gov- 
ernor Morgan,  of  that  State,  appointed  him  Engineer- 
in-Chief  of  his  staff.  In  1861,  he  was  made  Inspec- 
tor General,  and  soon  afterward  became  Quartermas- 
ter-General. In  each  of  these  offices  he  rendered 
great  service  to  the  Government  during  the  war.  At 
the  end  of  Governor  Morgan's  term  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  the  law,  forming  a  partnership  with  Mr. 
Ransom,  and  then  Mr.  Phelps,  the  District  Attorney 
of  New  Yoik,  was  added  to  the  finn.  The  legal  prac- 
tice of  this  well-known  firm  was  very  large  and  lucra- 
tive, each  of  the  gentlemen  composing  it  were  able 
lavvyers,  and  possessed  a  splendid  local  reputation,  if 
not  indeed  one  of  national  extent. 

He  always  took  a  leading  part  in  State  and  city 
politics.  He  was  appointed  Collector  of  the  Port  of 
New  York  by  President  Grant,  Nov.  21  1872,  to  suc- 
ceed Thomas  Murphy,  and  held  the  office  until  July, 
20,  1 87  8,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Collector  Merritt. 

Mr.  Arthur  was  nominated  on  the  Presidential 
ticket,  with  Gen.  James  A.  Garfield,  at  the  famous 
National  Republican  Convention  held  at  Chicago  in 
June,  1880.  This  was  perhaps  the  greatest  political 
convention  that  ever  assembled  on  thecontinent.  It 
was  composed  of  the  'sading  politicians  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  all  able  men,  and  each  stood  firm  and 
fought  vigorously  and  with  signal  tenacity  for  their 
respective  candidates  that  were  before  the  conven- 
tion for  the  nomination.  Finally  Gen.  Garfield  re- 
ceived the  nomination  for  President  and  Gen.  Arthur 
for  Vice-President.  The  campaign  which  followed 
was  one  of  the  most  animated  known  in  the  history  of 
our  country.  Gen.  Hancock,  the  standard-bearer  of 
the  Democratic  party,  was  a  popular  man,  and  his 
party  made  a  valiant  fight  for  his  election. 

Finally  the  election  came  and  the  country's  choice 
.vas  Garfield  and  Arthur.  They  were  inaugurated 
vvlavch  4,  1 88 1,  as  President  and  Vice-President. 
A.  few  months  only  had  passed  ere  the  newly  chosen 
President  was  the  victim  of  the  assassin's  bullet.  Then 
came  terrible  weeks  of  suffering,-— tUost  moments  of 
anxious  suspense,  when  the  hearts  of  all  civilized  na-   / 


tions  were  throbbing  in  unison,  longing  for  the  re 
covery  of  the  noble,  the  good  President.  The  remark- 
able patience  that  he  manifested  during  those  hours 
and  weeks,  and  even  montlis,  of  the  most  terrible  suf- 
fering man  has  often  been  called  upon  to  endure,  was 
seemingly  more  than  human.  It  was  certainly  God- 
like. During  all  this  period  of  deepest  anxiety  Mr. 
Arthur's  every  move  was  watched,  and  be  it  said  to  his* 
credit  that  his  every  action  displayed  only  an  earnest 
desire  that  the  suffering  Garfield  might  recover,  to 
serve  the  remainder  of  the  term  he  had  so  auspi- 
ciously begun.  Not  a  selfish  feeling  was  manifested 
in  deed  or  look  of  this  man,  even  though  the  most 
honored  ]X)sition  in  the  world  was  at  any  moment 
likely  to  fall  to  him. 

At  last  God  in  his  mercy  relieved  President  Gar- 
field from  further  suffering,  and  the  world,  as  nevei 
before  in  its  history  over  the  death  of  any  othei 
man,  wept  at  his  bier.  Then  it  became  the  duty  0/ 
the  Vice  President  to  Lssume  the  responsibilities  o( 
the  high  office,  and  he  took  the  oath  in  New  York, 
Sept.  20,  1881.  The  position  was  an  embarrassing 
one  to  him,  made  doubly  so  from  the  facts  that  all 
eyes  were,  on  him,  anxious  to  know  what  he  would  do, 
what  policy  he  would  pursue,  and  who  he  would  se- 
lect as  advisers.  The  duties  of  the  office  had  been 
greatly  neglected  during  the  President's  long  illness, 
and  many  important  measures  were  to  be  immediately 
decided  by  him;  and  still  farther  to  embarrass  him  he 
did  not  fail  to  realize  under  what  circumstances  he 
becauie  President,  and  knew  the  feelings  of  many  ^w 
this  point.  Under  these  trying  circumstances  President 
Arthur  took  the  reins  of  the  Government  in  Ms  ow,. 
har.ds;  and,  as  embarrassing  as  were  the  condition  of 
affair,;  he  happily  surprised  the  nation,  acting  s-. 
wisclv  hat  but  few  criticisea  Viis  administration. 
He  Served  the  nation  well  and  fa'thfully,  until  the 
close  of  his  administration,  March  4,  1885,  and  was 
a  popular  candidate  before  his  party  for  a  second 
term.  His  name  was  ably  presented  before  the  con- 
vention at  Chicago,  and  was  received  with  great 
favor,  and  doubtless  but  for  the  personal  popularity 
of  one  of  the  opposing  candidates,  he  would  have 
been  selected  as  the  standard-bearer  of  his  party 
for  another  campaign.  He  retired  to  private  life  car- 
rying with  him  the  best  wishes  of  the  American  peo- 
ple, whom  he  had  served  in  a  manner  satisfactory^ 
to  thcni  and  with  credit  to  himself. 


ILLINOIS 


Xl^^rt£/r 


TWENTY-SECOND  PRESIDF.NT. 


i°3 


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>'?::;T'«'-S;S*Ti;:s#^;:S«^;g*^;i3««»s:g  <i> 


li.>  C5 voider  ffJe\)eteii:i, 


-    or/^ 


TEPHEN  GROVER  CLEVE- 
LAND, tlie  twenty- second  Pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  1837,  in  the  obscure 
town  of  Caldwell,  Essex  Co., 
N.  J.,  and  in  a  little  two-and-a- 
half-story  white  house  which  is  still 
standing,  characteristically  to  mark 
the  humble  birth-place  of  one  of 
America's  great  men  in  striking  con 
trast  with  the  Old  World,  where  all 
men  high  in  office  must  be  high  in 
origin  and  born  in  the  cradle  of 
wealth.  When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  three  years  of  age,  his 
father,  who  was  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, with  a  large  family  and  a  small  salary,  moved, 
by  way  of  the  Hudson  River  and  Erie  Canal,  to 
Fayetteville,  in  search  of  an  increased  income  and  a 
'arger  field  of  work.  Fayetteville  was  then  the  most 
straggling  of  country  villages,  about  five  miles  from 
Pompey  Hill,  where  Governor  Seymour  was  born. 

At  the  last  mentioned  place  young  Grover  com- 
menced going  to  school  in  the  "good,  old-fashioned 
way."  and  presumably  distinguished  himself  after  the 
manner  of  all  village  boys,  in  doing  the  things  he 
ought  not  to  do.  Such  is  the  distinguishing  trait  of 
all  geniuses  and  independent  thinkers.  When  he 
arrived  at  the  age  of  14  years,  he  had  outgrort'n   the 


emphatic  desire  to  be  sent  to  an   academy.     To  this 
his  father  decidedly  objected.     Academies  in  those 
days  cost  money;  besides,  his  father  wanted  him  to 
become    self-supporting    by    the    quickest   possible 
means,  and  this  at  that  time  in    Fayette/ille  seemed 
to  be  a  position  in  a  country  store,  where  his  father 
and  the  large  family  on  his  hands  had  considerable 
inlijence.    Grover  was  to  he  paid  $50  for  his  services 
the  first  year,  and  if  lie  proved  trustworthy  he  was  to 
receive  $100  the  second  year.     Here  the  lad  com- 
menced his  career  as  salesman,  and  in  two  years  he 
had  earned  so  good  a  reputation  for  trustworthiness 
that  his  employers  desired  to  retain   him  for  an  in- 
definite length  of  time.     Otherwise   he  did  not  ex- 
hibit as  yet  any  particular  "  flashes  of    genius  "  or 
eccentricities  of  talent.     He  was  simply  a  good  boy. 
But  instead  of  remaining  with  this  firm  in  Fayette- 
ville, he  went  with  the  family  in  their  removal  to 
Clinton,  where  he  had  an  opportunity  of  attending  a 
high    school.     Here    he    industriously  pursued    his 
studies  until  the  family  removed  with  him  to  a  point 
on  Black  River  known  as   the  "  Holland  Patent,"  a 
village  of  500  or  600  people,  15  miles  north  of  Utica, 
N.  Y.     At  this  place  his  father  died,  after  preaching 
but  three  Sundays.     This  event  broke  up  the  family, 
and  Grover  set  out  for  New  York  City  to  accept,  at  a 
small  salary,  the  position  of  "  under-teacher  "  in  an 
asylum  for  the  blind.     He  taught  faithfully  for  two 
years,  and  although  he  obtained  a  good  reputation  in 


capacity  of  the  village  school  and  expressed  a  most   I   this  capacity,  he  coiiclud-'d  that  teaching  was  not  hi 


104 


S.   GROVE R   CLEVELAND. 


Milling  for  life,  and,  reversing  the  traditionsd  order, 
he  left  the  city  to  seek  his  fortune,  instead  of  going 
to  a  city.  He  first  thought  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  as 
thi^rc  was  some  charm  in  that  name  for  him;  but 
before  proceeding  to  that  place  he  went  to  Buffalo  to 
tsk  the  advice  of  his  uncle,  Lewis  F.  Allan,  a  noted 
stock-breeder  of  that  place.  The  latter  did  not 
speak  enthusiastically.  "What  is  it  you  want  to  do, 
my  boy?  "he  asked.  "Well,  sir,  I  want  to  study 
law,"  was  the  reply,  "  Good  gracious !  "  remarked 
ih«  old  gentleman ;  "  do  you,  indeed  1  What  ever  put 
that  into  your  head?  How  much  money  have  you 
got?"  "Well,  sir,  to  tell  the  trath,  I  haven't  got 
aay." 

After  a  long  consultation,  his  uncle  offered  him  a 
place  temporarily  as  assistant  herd-keeper,  at  $50  a 
year,  while  he  could  "look  around."  One  day  soon 
afterward  he  boldly  walked  into  the  office  of  Rogers, 
Bowen  &  Rogers,  of  Buffalo,  and  told  Ihem  what  he 
wanted.  A  number  of  young  men  were  already  en- 
gaged in  the  office,  but  Grover's  persistency  won,  and 
he  was  finally  permitted  to  come  as  an  office  boy  and 
tiave  the  use  of  the  lavv  library,  for  the  nominal  sum 
of  $3  or  $4  a  week.  Out  of  this  he  had  to  pay  for 
his  board  and  washing.  The  walk  to  and  from  his 
juncle's  was  a  long  and  rugged  one;  and,  although 
the  first  winter  was  a  memorably  severe  one,  his 
shoes  were  out  of  repair  and  his  overcoat — he  had 
noiie — yet  he  was  nevertheless  prompt  and  regular. 
On  the  first  day  of  his  service  here,  his  senior  em- 
ployer threw  down  a  copy  of  Blackstone  before  him 
with  a  bang  that  made  the  dust  fly,  saying  "That's 
where  they  all  begin."  A  titter  ran  around  the  little 
circle  of  clerks  and  students,  as  they  thought  that 
was  enough  to  scare  young  Grover  out  of  his  plans  ; 
Dut  in  due  time  he  mastered  that  cumbersome  volume. 
Then,  as  ever  afterward,  however,  Mr.  Cleveland 
exhibited  a  talent  for  executiveness  rather  than  for 
chasing  principles  through  all  their  metaphysical 
possibilities,  "  Let  us  quit  talking  and  go  and  do 
it,"  was  practically  his  motto. 

The  first  public  office  to  which  Mr.  Cleveland  was 
elected  was  that  of  Sheriff  of  Erie  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in 
which  Buffalo  is  situated;  and  in  such  capacity  it  fell 
to  his  duty  to  inflict  capital  pi'r.ishment  upon  two 
cjiminals.  Li  1S81  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the 
City  of  Buffalo,  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  with  es- 
pecial reference  to  the  bringing  about  certain  reforms 


in  the  administration  of  the  municipal  affairs  of  that 
city.  In  this  office,  as  well  as  that  of  Sheriff,  his 
performance  of  duty  has  generally  been  considered 
fair,  with  possibly  a  few  exceptions  which  were  fer- 
reted out  and  magnified  during  the  last  Presidential 
campaign.  As  a  specimen  of  his  plain  language  in 
a  veto  message,  we  quote  from  one  vetoing  an  iniqui 
tous  street-cleaning  contract:  "This  is  a  time  fov 
plain  speech,  and  my  objection  to  your  action  shall 
be  plainly  stated.  I  regard  it  as  the  culmination  of 
a  mos  bare-faced,  impudent  and  shameless  scheme 
to  betray  the  interests  of  the  people  and  to  worse 
than  squander  the  people's  money."  The  New  York 
Sun  afterward  very  highly  commended  Mr.  Cleve- 
land's administration  as  Mayor  of  Buffalo,  and  there- 
upon recommended  him  for  Governor  of  the  Empire 
State.  To  the  latter  office  he  was  elected  in  1882, 
and  his  administration  of  the  affairs  of  State  was 
generally  satisfactory.  The  mistakes  he  made,  if 
any,  were  made  very  public  throughout  the  nation 
after  he  was  nominated  for  President  of  the  United 
States.  For  this  high  office  he  was  nominated  July 
II,  1884,  by  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at 
Chicago,  when  other  competitors  were  Thomas  F. 
Bayard,  Roswell  P.  Flower,  Thomas  A.  Hendricks, 
Benjamin  F.  Butler,  Allen  G.  Thurman,  etc.;  and  he 
was  elected  by  the  people,  by  a  majority  of  about  a 
thousand,  over  the  brilliant  and  long-tried  Repub- 
lican statesman,  James  G.  Blaine.  President  Cleve- 
land resigned  his  office  as  Governor  of  New  York  in 
January,  1885,  in  order  to  prepare  for  his  duties  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  United  States,  in  which 
caijacity  his  term  commenced  at  noon  on  the  4th  ot 
March,  1885. 

The  silver  question  precipitated  a  controversy 
between  those  who  were  in  favor  of  the  continu- 
ance of  silver  coinage  and  those  who  were  opposed, 
Mr.  Cleveland  answering  for  the  latter,  even  before 
his  inauguration. 

On  June  2,  1886,  President  Cleveland  married 
Frances,  daughter  of  his  deceased  friend  and 
partner,  Oscar  Folsom,  of  the  Buffalo  Bar.  Their 
union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  one  daugh- 
ter, Ruth.  In  the  campaign  of  1888,  President 
Cleveland  was  renominated  by  his  party,  but  the 
Republican  candidate.  Gen.  Benjamin  Harrison, 
was  victorious.  In  the  nominations  of  1892  these 
two  candidates  for  the  highest  position  in  the  gift 
of  the  people  were  again  pitted  against  each  other 
and  President  Cleveland  was  victorious  by  an 
overwhelming  majority. 


,•   l-LLIiVUlCj 


WjZt 


TWENTY-THIRD  PRESIDENT. 


Ui 


"v^r 


■to^o-^^-V^-ofc." 


-«.* 


iENJAMIN  HARRISON,  the 
twenty-third  I'resident,  is 
the  descendant  of  one  of  the 
historical  families  of  this 
country.  The  head  of  the 
family  was  a  Major  General 
Harrison,  one  of  Oliver 
Cromwell's  truated  follow- 
ers and  fighters.  In  the  aenith  of  Crom- 
well's power  it  became  the  duty  of  this 
Harrison  to  participate  in  tlie  tri.il  of 
Charles  I,  and  afterward  tc  sign  the 
death  warrant  of  the  king.  He  subse- 
quent;}^ paid  for  this  with  his  life,  being 
i£r^  hung  Oct.  13,  1G60.  His  descendants 
V'ftT)  came  to  America,  and  the  next  of  the 
V^'-  family  that  appears  in  history  is  Benja- 

S  r::in  '^larrison,  of  Virginia, great-grand- 

father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
after  whom  he  was  named.  Benjamin  Harrison 
■yas  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  during 
the  years  i  774-5-6,  and  was  one  of  the  original 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  lie 
wa  three  times  elected  Governor  of  Virginia, 
Gen    Wiiiiam  Henry  Harrison,  the  son  of  the 


distinguished  patriot  of  the  Revolution,  after  a  suo. 
cessful  career  as  a  soldier  during  the  War  of  1812, 
and  with -a  clean  record  as  Governor  of  the  North- 
western Territor}'^,  was  elected  President  of  the 
United  States  in  1840.  His  sar^er  was  cut  short 
by  death  within  one  month  -f'ier  jis  inauguration. 
President  Harrison  vk  born  at  Noftl',  Bend, 
Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  Aug.  '^O,  1883  His  life  up  to 
the  time  of  his  graduation  by  the  Miami  University, 
at  Oxford,  Ohio,  was  the  uneventful  one  of  a  coun- 
try lad  of  a  family  of  small  nie.ans.  His  father  was 
able  to  give  him  a  good  education,  and  nothing 
more.  He  became  engaged  while  at  college  to  tha 
daughter  of  Dr.  Scott,  Principal  of  a  female  schoo' 
at  Oxford.  After  graduating  he  determined  to  en- 
ter upon  the  study  of  the  law.  He  went  to  Cin 
cinnati  and  then  read  law  for  two  years.  At  the 
expiration  of  that  time  young  Harrison  receivcvil  tb-'; 
only  inheritance  of  his  life;  his  av^nt  dying  left  him 
a  lot  valued  at  $800,  lie  regarded  this  legacy  as  & 
fortune,  and  decided  to  get  married  at  once,  'alta 
this  money  and  go  to  some  Eastern  town  an ".  oe- 
gin  the  practice  of  law.  He  sold  his  lot,  and  with 
tlie  money  in  his  pocket,  he  started  out  witn  his 
joung  wife  to  fight  for  a  place  iu  the  world-     K« 


108 


BENJAMIN  IIARRISOl^ 


decided  to  go  to  Indianapolis,  which  was  even  at 
that  time  a  town  of  promise.  He  met  witli  slight 
encouragement  at  first,  malting  scarcely  anything 
the  first  year.  He  worked  diligently,  applj-ing  him- 
self closely  to  his  calling,  built  up  an  extensive 
practice  and  took  a  leading  rank  in  the  legal  pro- 
lession.     He  is  the  father  of  two  children. 

In  1860  Mr.  Harrison  was  nominated  for  tlie 
position  of  Supreme  Court  Reporter,  and  tlien  be- 
gan his  experience  as  a  stump  speakei  He  can- 
vassed the  State  thoroughly,  and  was  elected  by  a 
handsome  majority.  In  1802  he  raised  the  17th 
Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  chosen  its  Colonel.  His 
regiment  was  composed  of  the  rawest  of  material, 
out  Col.  Harrison  employed  all  his  time  at  first 
mastering  military  tactics  and  drilling  his  men, 
when  he  therefore  came  to  move  toward  the  East 
tvith  Sherman  his  regiment  was  one  of  the  best 
'drilled  and  organized  in  the  army.  At  Resaca  he 
especially  distinguished  himself,  and  for  his  bravery 
at  Peachtree  Creek  he  was  made  a  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral, Gen.  Hooker  speaking  of  him  in  the  most 
complimentary  terras. 

During  the  absence  of  Gen.  Harrison  in  the  field 
lie  Supreme  Court  declared  the  ollice  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  Reporter  vacant,  and  another  person 
was  elected  to  the  position.  From  the  time  of  leav- 
ing Indiana  with  his  regiment  until  the  fall  oi  18C4 
he  liad  taken  no  leave  of  absence,  but  having  been 
nominated  that  year  for  the  same  office,  he  got  a 
thirty -day  leave  of  absence,  and  during  that  time 
made  a  brilliant  canvass  of  the  State,  and  was  elected 
for  another  terra.  He  then  started  to  rejoin  Sher- 
man, but  on  the  way  was  stricken  down  with  scarlet 
iever,  and  after  a  most  trying  siege  made  his  way 
to  the  front  in  tijne  to  participate  in  the  closing 
incidents  of  the  war 

In  1868  Gen.  Harrison  declined  re-election  as 
Importer,  and  resumed  the  practice  of  law  In  1876 
lie  was  a  candidate  for  Governor.  Although  de- 
bated, the  brilliant  campaign  ht-  made  won  lor  him 
a  National  reputation,  and  he  was  much  sought,  es- 
peciaLy  in  the  East,  to  make  speeches.  In  1880, 
as  usua".,  he  took  an  active  part  in  i,lie  campaign, 
snd  wa-:  elected  to  the  ''Jnited  States  Senate.  Here 
tic  sei-ved  six  years,  anc'  Tas  known  as  one  c  the 
iblest  men,  best  lawyer'  ^nd  strongest  debaters  in 


that  body.  With  the  expiration  of  his  Senatoriiii 
term  he  returned  to  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
becoming  the  head  of  one  of  the  strongest  firms  in 
the  State. 

The  political  campaign  of  1888  was  one  of  the 
most  memorable  in  the  history  of  our  country.  The 
convention  which  assembled  in  Chicago  in  June  anu 
named  Mr.  Harrison  as  the  chief  Standard  bearer 
of  the  Republican  party,  was  great  in  every  partic- 
ular, and  on  this  account,  and  the  attitude  it  .as- 
sumed u^on  the  vital  questions  of  the  day,  chief 
among  which  was  the  tariff,  awoke  a  deep  interest 
in  the  campaign  throughout  the  Nation.  Shortly 
after  the  nomination  delegations  began  to  visit  Mr. 
Harrison  at  Indianapolis,  his  home.  This  move- 
ment became  popular,  and  from  all  sections  of  the 
country  societies,  clubs  and  delegations  journeyed 
thither  to  paj^  their  respects  to  the  distinguished 
statesman.  The  popularity  of  these  was  greatly 
increased  on  account  of  the  remarkable  speeches 
made  by  Mr.  Harrison.  He  spoke  dailj'  all  through 
the  summer  and  autumn  to  these  visiting  delega- 
tions, and  so  varied,  masterly  and  eloquent  were 
his  speeches  that  they  at  once  placed  him  in  the 
foremost  rank  of  American  orators  and  statesmcji. 

On  acc(junt  of  his  eloquence  as  a  speaker  and  hie 
power  as  a  debater,  he  was  called  upon  at  an  un- 
con^nioul}-  early  age  to  take  part  in  the  discussion 
of  the  great  questions  that  then  began  to  agitate 
the   countiy.     He  was   an   nncompromising  anti 
slavery  man,  and  was  matched  against  some  oi  ilie 
most  eminent  Democratic  speakers  of   his  State 
No  man  wlio  felt  the  touch  of  his  blade  derred  i. 
be  pitted  with  him  again.     With  all  his  eloq--ence 
as  an  orator  lie  never  spoke  for  oratorica'i.  effect, 
but  his  words  always  went  like  bullets  to  the  mark 
He  is  purely  American  in  his  ideas  and  is  a  spier 
did  type  of  the  American  statesman.     Gifted  witli 
quick  perception,  a  logical  mind  and  a  ready  tongue, 
he   is  one  of   th«  most  distinguished  impromptu 
speakers  in  the  Nation.     Many  of  these  speeches 
sparkled  with  the  rarest  of  eloquence  and  contained 
arguments  of  greatest  weight.     Many  of  his  terse 
statements  have  already  become  aphorisms.     Origi- 
nal in  tliought  precise  in  logic,  terse  in  statement, 
yet  withal  faultless  in  elo^iuence,  he  is  recog-nized  as 
the  sound  statesman  and  bn.''.an   orator  c    t.u  day 


..^^^f 


M.  '^2£\\i//'^'il\\^)( 


iLLINOiS 


-Oi 


oC^t-cocy^ 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


^xSI?-<«IiHS><^ — -o^ 


HADRACH  BOND,  ihe  first 
Governor  of  Illinois  after  its 
organization  r.s  a  State,  serving 
from  1818  to  1822,  was  born  in 
Frederick  County,  Maryland, 
in  the  year  1773,  and  was 
raised  a  farmer  on  his  father's 
plantation,  receiving  only  a  plain 
English  education.  He  emigrated 
to  this  State  in  1794,  when  it  was  a 
part  of  the  "Northwest  Territory," 
continuing  in  the  vocation  in  which 
he  had  been  brought  up  in  his  native 
State,  in  the  "  New  Design,"  near 
Eagle  Creek,  in  what  is  now  Monroe 
County.  He  served  several  terms  as 
a  member  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  Indiana  Territory,  after  it  was  organized  as  such, 
and  in  1812-14  he  was  a  Delegate  to  the  Twelfth 
and  Thirteenth  Congresses,  taking  his  seat  Dec.  3, 
18  r  2,  and  serving  until  Oct.  3,  1814.  These  were 
the  times,  the  reader  will  recollect,  when  this  Gov- 
ernment had  its  last  struggle  with  Great  Britain. 
The  year  i8r2  is  also  noted  in  the  iiistory  of  this 
State  as  that  in  which  the  first  Territorial  Legislature 
was  held.  It  convened  at  Kaskaskia,  Nov.  25,  and 
adjourned  Dec.  26,  following. 

While  serving  as  Delegate  to  Congress,  Mr.  Bond 
was  instrumental  in  procuring  the  right  of  pre-emp- 
tion on  the  public  domain.  On  the  expiration  of  his 
term  at  Washington  he  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
Public  Moneys  at  Kaskaskia,  then  the  capital  of  the 
Territory.       In    company    with   John    G.    Comyges, 


Thomas  H.  Harris,  Charles  Slade,  Michael  Jonas, 
Warren  Brown.  Edward  Humphries  and  Charles  W 
Hunter,  he  became  a  proprietor  of  the  site  of  the 
initial  city  of  Cairo,  whicii  they  hoped,  from  its  favor- 
able location  at  the  junction  of  the  two  great 
rivers  near  the  center  of  the  Great  West,  would 
rapidly  develop  into  a  metropolis.  To  aid  the  enter- 
prise, they  obtained  a  special  charter  from  tlie  Legis- 
lature, incorporating  both  the  City  and  the  Bank  of 
Cairo. 

In  rSrS  Mr.  Bond  was. elected  the  first  Governor 
of  the  State  of  Illinois,  being  inaugurated  Oct.  6 
that  year,  which  was  several  weeks  befot-e  Illinois 
was  actually  admitted.  The  facts  are  these:  In 
January,  1818,  the  Territorial  Legislature  sent  a  peti- 
tion to  Congress  for  the  admission  of  Illinois  as  a 
State,  Nathaniel  Pope  being  then  Delegate.  The 
petition  was  granted,  fi.xing  the  northern  line  of  the 
State  on  the  latitude  of  the  southern  extremity  of 
Lake  Michigan;  but  the  bill  was  afterward  so  amend- 
ed as  to  extend  this  line  to  its  present  latitude.  In 
July  a  convention  was  called  at  Kaskaskia  to  draft  a 
constitution,  which,  however,  was  not  submitted  to 
the  people.  By  its  provisions,  supreme  judges,  pros 
ecuting  attorneys,  coun.ty  and  circuit  judges,  record- 
ers and  justices  of  the  peace  were  all  to  beapiwinled 
by  the  Governor  or  elected  by  the  Legislature.  This 
constitution  was  accepted  by  Congress  Dec.  30.  At 
that  time  Illinois  comiirised  but  eleven  counties, 
namely,  Randolph,  Madison,  Gallatin,  Johnson, 
Pope,  Jackson,  Crawford,  Bond,  Union,  Washington 
and  Franklin,  the  northern  portion  of  the  State  be- 
ing mainly  in  Madison  County.  Thus  it  appears 
that  Mr.  Bond  was    honored  by   the.  naming  of  a 


SHADRACH  BOND. 


county  before  he  was  elected  Governor.  The  present 
county  of  Bond  is  of  small  limitations,  about  60  to  80 
miles  south  of  Springfield.  For  Lieutenant  Governor 
the  people  chose  Pierre  Menard,  a  prominent  and 
worthy  Frenchman,  after  whom  a  county  in  this  State 
is  named.  In  this  election  there  were  no  opposition 
candidates,  as  the  popularity  of  these  men  had  made 
their  promotion  to  the  chief  offices  of  the  S^ate,  even 
oefore  the  constitution  was  drafted,  a  foregone  con- 
clusion. 

The  principal  points  that  excited  the  people  in 
reference  to  political  issues  at  this  period  were  local 
or  "internal  improvements,"  as  they  were  called. 
State  banks,  location  of  the  capital,  slavery  and  the 
personal  characteristics  of  the  proposed  candidates. 
Mr.  Bond  represented  the  "Convention  party,"  for 
introducing  slavery  into  the  State,  supported  by  Elias 
Kent  Kane,  his  Secretary  of  State,  and  John  Mc- 
Lean, while  Nathaniel  Pope  and  John  P.  Cook  led 
the  anti-slavery  element.  The  people,  however,  did 
not  become  very  much  excited  over  this  issue  until 
1820,  when  tlie  famous  Missouri  Compromise  was 
adopted  by  Congress,  limiting  slavery  to  the  south 
of  the  parallel  of  36''  30'  except  in  Missouri.  While 
this  measure  settled  the  great  slavery  controversy, 
so  far  as  the  average  public  sentiment  was  tempor- 
arily concerned,  until  1854,  when  it  was  repealed 
■under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  the  issue 
as  considered  locally  in  this  State  was  not  decided 
until  '824,  after  a  most  furious  campaign.  (See 
sketch  of  Gov.  Coles.)  The  ticket  of  18 18  was  a 
compromise  one,  Bond  representing  (moderately)  the 
pro-slavery  sentiment  and  Menard  the  anti-slavery. 

An  awkward  element  in  the  State  government 
under  Gov.  Bond's  administration,  was  the  imperfec- 
tion of  the  State  constitution.  The  Convention 
wished  to  have  Elijah  C.  Berry  for  the  fiist  .\uditor 
of  Public  Accounts,  but,  as  it  was  believed  tiiat  the 
new  Governor  would  not  appoint  him  to  the  office, 
the  Convention  declared  in  a  schedule  that  "  an 
auditor  of  public  accounts,  an  attorney  general  and 
such  other  officers  of  the  State  as  may  be  necessary, 
may  be  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly."  The 
Constitution,  as  it  stood,  vested  a  very  large  appoint- 
ing power  in  the  Governor;  but  for  the  purpose  of 
getting  one  man  into  office,  a  total  change  was  made, 
and  the  power  vested  in  the  Legislature.  Of  this 
provision  the  Legislature  took  advantage,  and   de- 


clared that  State's  attorneys,  canal  commissioners, 
bank  directors,  etc.,  were  all  "  officers  of  the  State ' 
and  must  therefore  be  appointed  by  itself  independ- 
ently of  the  Governor. 

During  Gov.  Bond's  administration  a  general  law 
was  passed  for  the  incorporation  of  academies  and 
towns,  and  one  authorizing  lotteries.  Tiie  session  of 
1822  authorized  the  Governor  to  appoint  commis- 
sioners, to  act  in  conjunction  with  like  commissioners 
appointed  by  the  State  of  Indiana,  to  report  on  the 
practicability  and  expediency  of  improving  the  navi-  | 
gation  of  the  Wabash  River;  also  inland  navigation  ' 
generally.  Many  improvements  were  recommended, 
some  of  which  have  been  feebly  worked  at  even  till 
the  present  day,  those  along  the  Wabash  being  of  no 
value.  Also,  during  Gov.  Bond's  term  of  office,  the 
capital  of  the  State  was  removed  from  Kaskaskia  to 
Vandalia.  In  1820  a  law  was  passed  by  Congress 
authorizing  this  State  to  open  a  canal  through  the 
public  lands.  The  State  appointed  commissioners 
lo  explore  the  route  and  prepare  the  necessary  sur- 
veys and  estimates,  preparatory  to  its  execution; 
but,  being  unable  out  of  its  own  resources  to  defray 
the  expenses  of  the  undertaking,  it  was  abandoned 
imtil  some  time  after  Congress  made  the  grant  of 
land  for  the  purpose  of  its  construction. 

On  the  whole.  Gov.  Bond's  administration  was 
fairly  good,  not  being  open  to  severe  criticism  from 
any  party.  In  1824,  two  years  after  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  office,  he  was  brought  out  as  a  candi- 
date for  Congress  against  the  formidable  John  P.' 
Cook,  but  received  only  4,374  votes  to  7,460  for  the 
latter.  Gov.  Bond  was  no  orator,  but  had  made 
many  fast  friends  by  a  judicious  t-e::-jwment  of  his  ' 
gubernatorial  patronage,  and  these  worked  zealously 
for  him  in  the  campaign. 

In  1827  ex-Gov.  Bond  was  appointed  by  the  Leg-j 
islaiure,  with  \Vm.  P.  McKee  and  Dr.  Gershora 
Jayne,  as  Commissioners  lo  locate  a  site  for  a  peni- 
tentiary on  the  Mississippi  at  or  near  Alton. 

Mr.  Bond  was  of  a  benevolent  and  convivial  dis- 
position, a  man  of  shrewd  observation  and  clear  ap-i 
preciation  of  events.  His  person  was  erect,  stand-j 
ing  six  feet  in  height,  and  after  middle  life  became 
portly,  weighing  200  pounds.  His  features  were 
strongly  masculine,  complejrion  dark,  hair  jet  and! 
eyes  hazel ;  was  a  favorite  with  the  ladies.  He  died 
April  1 1,  1830,  in  peace  and  contentment. 


>  ».•  1LL1:^0!S 


I 


\ 


Idv^rtc^  CcrU^ 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


i>5d5a&! 


^  ^^  a7'':A/ '^/'^  -  jjj  ~v  ^' 


'^,'i-*.r'?,...^5>' 


Et)war5  Coles* 


.'^"<(«ii))>-$S><^^ 


DWARD    COLES,    second 

'•■-V  Governor  of  Illinois,  1823- 
1^  6,  was  born  Dec.  15,  1786, 
1/  in  Albemarle  Co.,  Va.,  on 
the  old  family  estate  called 
^^,j;-^  "  Enniscorthy,"  on  the 
"w'  Green  Mountain.  His  fath- 
er, John  Coles,  was  a  Colonel  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  Having  been  fit- 
ted for  college  by  private  tutors,  he 
was  sent  to  Hampden  Sidney,  where 
he  remained  until  the  autumn  of  1805, 
when  he  was  .emoved  to  William  and 
Mary  College,  at  Williamsburg,  Va. 
This  college  he  left  in  the  summer  of 
1S07,  a  short  time  before  the  final  and  graduating 
examination.  Among  his  classinates  were  Lieut. 
Gen.  Scott,  President  John  Tyler,  Wni.  S.  Archer, 
United  States  Senator  from  Virginia,  and  Justice 
Baldwin,  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  The 
President  of  the  latter  college,  Bishop  ALidison,  was 
a  cousin  of  President  James  Madison,  and  that  cir- 
cumstance was  the  occasion  of  Mr.  Coles  becoming 
personally  acquainted  with  the  President  and  re- 
ceiving a  position  as  his  private  secretary,  1809-15. 
The  family  of  Coles  was  a  prominent  one  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  their  mansion  was  the  seat  of  the  old- 
fashioned  Virginian  hospitality.  It  was  visited  by 
such  notables  as  Patrick  Henry,  Jefferson,  Madison, 
Monroe,  the  Randolphs,'! azewell,  Wirt,  etc.  At  the 
age  of  23,  young  Coles  founa  himself  heir  to  a  plant- 
ation and  a  considerable  number  of  slaves.  Ever 
since  his  earlier  college  days  his  attention  had  been 
drawn  to  the  question  of  slavery.     He    read    every- 


thing on  the  subject  that  came  in  his  way,  and 
listened  to  lectures  on  the  rights  of  man.  The  more 
he  reflected  upon  the  subject,  the  more  impossible 
was  it  for  him  to  reconcile  the  immortal  declaration 
"that  all  men  are  born  free  and  equal  "  with  the 
practice  of  slave-holding.  He  resolved,  therefore,  to 
free  his  slaves  the  first  opportunity,  and  even  remove 
his  residence  to  a  free  State.  One  reason  which  de- 
termined him  to  accept  the  appointment  as  private 
secretary  to  Mr.  Madison  was  because  he  believed 
that  through  the  acquaintances  he  could  make  at 
Washington  he  could  better  determine  in  what  par', 
of  tl-ic  non-slaveho!ding  portion  of  the  Union  he  woulc 
prefer   to  settle. 

The  relations  between  Mr.  Coles  and  President 
Madison,  as  well  as  Jefferson  and  other  distinguished 
men,  were  of  a  very  friendly  character,  arising  from 
the  similarity  of  their  views  on  the  question  of  slavery 
and  their  sympathy  for  each  other  in  holding  doc- 
trines so  much  at  variance  with  the  prevailing  senti- 
ment in  their  own  State. 

In  1857,  he  resigned  his  secretaryship  and  spent  a 
portion  of  the  following  autumn  in  exploring  the 
Northwest  Territory,  for  the  purpose  of  finding  a  lo- 
cation and  purchasing  lands  on  which  to  settle  his 
negroes.  He  traveled  with  a  horse  and  buggy,  with 
an  extra  man  and  horse  for  emergencies,  through 
many  parts  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Missouri, 
determining  finally  to  settle  in  Illinois.  At  this  time, 
however,  a  misunderstanding  arose  between  our 
Government  and  Russia,  and  Mr.  Coles  was  selected 
to  repair  to  St.  Petersburg  on  a  special  mission,  bear- 
ing important  papers  concerning  the  matter  at  issue 
The  result  was  a  conviction  of  the   Emperor   (Alex- 


ii6 


EDWARD  COLES. 


ander)  of  the  error  committed  by  his  minister  at 
Washington,  and  the  consequent  withdrawal  of  the 
the  latter  from  tlie  post.  On  his  return,  Mr.  Coles 
visited  other  parts  of  Europe,  especially  Paris,  where 
he  was  introduced  to  Gen.  Lafayette. 

In  the  spring  of  i8ig,  he  removed  with  all  his 
negroes  from  Virginia  to  Edwardsville,  111.,  with  the 
intention  of  giving  tliem  their  liberty.  He  did  not 
make  known  to  them  his  intention  until  one  beautiful 
morning  in  April,  as  they  were  descending  the  Ohio 
River.  He  lashed  all  tlie  boats  together  and  called 
all  the  negroes  on  deck  and  made  them  a  short  ad- 
dress, concluding  his  remarks  by  so  expressing  him- 
self that  by  a  turn  of  a  sentence  he  proclaimed  in 
the  shortest  and  fullest  manner  that  they  were  no 
longer  slaves,  but  free  as  he  was  and  were  at  liberty 
to  proceed  with  him  or  go  ashore  at  their  pleas- 
ure. A  description  of  the  effect  upon  the  negroes  is 
best  desciibed  in  his  own  language  : 

"The  effect  upon  them  was  electrical.  They  stared 
at  me  and  then  at  each  other,  as  if  doubting  the  ac- 
curacy or  reality  of  what  they  heard.  In  breatliless 
silence  they  stood  before  me,  unable  to  utter  a  word, 
but  with  countenances  beaming  with  e.xpression  which 
no  words  could  convey,  and  which  no  language 
can  describe.  As  they  began  to  see  the  truth  of 
what  they  had  heard,  and  realize  their  situation,  there 
came  on  a  kind  of  hysterical,  giggling  laugh.  After 
a  pause  of  intense  and  unutterable  emotion,  batlied 
in  tears,  and  with  tremulous  voices,  they  gave  vent  to 
their  gratitude  and  implored  the  blessing  of  God 
on  me." 

Before  landing  he  gave  them  a  general  certificate 
of  freedom,  and  afterward  conformed  more  particu- 
larly with  tlie  law  of  this  State  requiring  that  each 
individual  should  have  a  certificate.  This  act  of 
Mr.  Coles,  all  the  more  noble  and  heroic  considering 
the  overwhelming  pro-slavery  influences  surrounding 
him,  has  challenged  the  admiration  of  every  philan- 
thropist of  modern  times. 

March  5,  1819,  President  Monroe  apix)inted  Mr. 
Coles  Registrar  of  the  Land  Office  at  Edwardsvil.s, 
at  that  time  one  of  the  principal  land  offices  in  the 
State.  While  acting  in  this  capacity  and  gaining 
many  friends  by  his  politeness  and  general  intelli- 
gence, the  greatest  struggle  that  ever  occurred  in 
Illinois  on  the  slavery  ques  ion  culminated  in  the 
furious  contest  characterizing  the  campaigns  and 
elections  of  1822-4.  In  the  summer  of  1823,  when  a 
new  Governor  was  to  be  elected  to  succeed  Mr. 
Bond,  the  pro-slavery  element  divided  into  factions, 
putting  forward  for  the  executive  office  Joseph 
Phillips,  Chief  Justice  of  the  State,  Thomas  C. 
Browne  and  Gen.  James  B,  Moore,  of  the  State  Mil- 
itia. The  anti-slavery  element  united  upon  Mr. 
Coles,  and,  after  one  of  the  most  bitter  campaigns, 
succeeded  in  electing  him  as  Governor.  His  plural- 
ity over  Judge  Phillips  was  only  59  in  a  total  vote  of 


over  8,000.  The  Lieutenant  Governor  was  elected 
by  the  slavery  men.  Mr.  Coles' inauguration  speech 
was  marked  by  calmness,  deliberation  and  such  a 
wise  expression  of  appropriate  suggestions  as  to 
elicit  the  sanction  of  all  judicious  politicians.  But 
he  compromised  not  with  evil.  In  his  message  to 
the  Legislature,  the  seat  of  Government  being  then 
at  Vandalia,  he  strongly  urged  the  abrogation  of  the 
modified  form  of  slavery  whir.h  then  existed  in  this 
State,  contrary  to  the  Ordinance  of  1787.  His  posi- 
tion on  this  subject  seems  the  more  remarkable,  when 
it  is  considered  that  he  was  a  minority  Governor,  the 
population  of  Illinois  being  at  that  time  almost  ex- 
clusively from  slave-holding  States  and  by  a  large 
majority  in  favor  of  the  perpetuation  of  that  old  relic 
of  barbarism.  The  Legislature  itself  was,  of  course, 
a  reflex  of  the  popular  sentiment,  and  a  majority  of 
them  were  led  on  by  fiery  men  in  denunciations  of 
the  conscientious  Governor,  and  in  curses  loud  and 
deep  upon  him  and  all  his  friends.  Some  of  the 
public  men,  indeed,  went  so  far  as  to  head  a  sort  of 
mob,  or  "shiveree"  party,  who  visited  the  residence 
of  the  Governor  and  others  at  Vandalia  and  yelled 
and  groaned  and  spat  fire. 

The  Constitution,  not  establishing  or  permitting 
slavery  in  this  State,  was  thought  therefore  to  be 
defective  by  the  slavery  jxiliticians,  and  they  desired 
a  State  Convention  to  be  elected,  to  devise  and  sub- 
mit a  new  Constitution;  and  the  dominant  politics 
of  the  day  was  "Convention"  and  "anti-Conven- 
tion." Both  parties  issued  addresses  to  the  people. 
Gov.  Coles  himself  being  the  author  of  the  address 
published  by  the  latter  party.  This  address  rev2aled 
the  schemes  of  the  conspirators  in  a  masterly  :Tian- 
ner.  It  is  difficult  for  us  at  this  distant  day  to  esti- 
mate the  critical  and  extremely  delicate  situation  in 
which  the  Governor  was  placed  at  that  time. 

Our  hero  maintained  himself  honorably  and  with 
supreme  dignity  throughout  his  administration,  and 
in  his  honor  a  county  in  this  State  is  named.  He 
was  truly  a  great  man,  and  those  who  lived  in 
this  State  during  his  sojourn  here,  like  those  who 
live  at  the  base  of  the  mountain,  were  too  near  to  see 
and  recognize  the  greatness  that  overshadowed  them. 

Mr.  Coles  was  married  Nov.  28,  1833,  by  Bishop 
De  Lancey,  to  Miss  Sally  Logan  Roberts,  a  daughter 
of  Hugh  Roberts,  a  descendant  of  Welsh  ancestry, 
who  caniJ  to  this  country  with  Wm.    Penn  in    1682. 

After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  Gov. 
Coles  continued  his  residence  in  Edwardsville,  sup- 
erintending his  farm  in  the  vicinity.  He  was  fond 
of  agriculture,  and  was  the  founder  of  the  first  agri- 
cultural society  in  the  State.  On  account  of  ill 
health,  however,  and  having  no  family  to  tie  him 
down,  he  spent  much  of  his  time  in  Eastern  cities. 
About  1832  he  changed  his  residence  to  Philadel- 
phia, where  he  died  July  7,  1868,  and  is  buried  at 
Woodland,  near  that  city. 


'  O  c:^-0[yi^-^'^ 


GO  VERxVORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


iiiian  Edwards 


INIAN  EDWARDS,  Governor 
from  1827  to  1S30,  was  a  son 
of  Benjamin    Edwards,   and 
was     born     in     Montgomery 
o  County,  Maryland,  in  March, 
1775.     His  domestic  train- 
ing was  well  fitted  to  give 
his    mind    strength,  firmness  and 
lie:  orable    priiicii)les,    and   a  good 
foundation  was  laid  for  the  elevated 
character   to   which    he  afterwards 
attained.     His    parents   were  Bap- 
tists, and  very  strict  in  their  moral 
piinciples.     His  education  in  early 
youth  was   in   company    with    and 
partly  under  the  tuition  of  Hon.  Wm. 
Wirt,  whom  his   father  patronized 
and  who  was  more  than  two  years 
older.      An     intimacy    was     thus 
formed  between  them  which  was  lasting  for  life.     He 
was  further  educated  at   Dickinson  College,  at  Car- 
lisle, Pa.     He  ne.xt  cammenced  the  study  of  law,  but 
before   completing  his  course  he  moved  to  Nelson 
County,  Ky.,  to  open  a  farm   for  his  father  and  to 
purchase  homes  and  locate  lands  for  his  brothers  and 
sisters.     Here  he  fell  in  the  conii)any  of  dissolute 
companions,  and  for  several  years  led  the  life  of  a 
s;)e;idtlirift.     He  was,  however,  elected  to  the  Legis- 
lature of  Kentucky  as  the  Representative  of  Nelson 
'  ounly  before  he  was   zr   years  of  age,  ami   was  re- 


Irclc.; 


Iiy  :in  almost  unanimous  vote. 


In  1798  he  was  licensed  to  practice  law,  and  the 
following  year  was  admitted  to  the  Courts  of  Tennes- 
see. About  tliis  time  he  left  Nelson  County  for 
Russellville,  in  Logan  County,  broke  away  from  his 
dissolute  companions,  commenced  a  reformation  and 
devoted  himself  to  severe  and  laborious  study.  He 
then  began  to  rise  rapidly  in  his  profession,  and  soon 
became  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  inside  of  four  years 
he  filled  in  succession  the  ofifices  of  Presiding  Judge 
of  the  General  Court,  Circuit  Judge,  fourth  Judge  of 
the  Court  of  Appeals  and  Chief  Justice  of  the  State, 
— all  before  he  was  32  years  of  age  !  In  addition,  in 
1S02,  he  received  a  commission  as  Major  of  a  battal- 
ion of  Kentucky  militia,  and  in  1804  was  chosen  a 
Presidential  Elector,  on  the  Jefferson  and  Clinton 
ticket.  In  1S06  he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress, 
but  withdrew  on  being  promoted  to  the  Court  of 
Appeals. 

Illinois  was  organized  as  a  separate  Territory  in 
the  spring  of  i8og,  when  Mr.  Edwards,  then  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  in  Kentucky,  received 
from  President  Madison  the  apix)intiTient  as  Gover- 
nor of  the  new  Territory,  his  commission  bearing  date 
April  24,  1809.  Edwards  arrived  at  Kaskaskia  in 
June,  and  on  the  i  ith  of  that  month  took  the  oath  of 
office.  At  the  same  time  he  was  appointed  Su|)erin- 
tendent  of  the  United  States  Saline,  this  Government 
interest  then  developingintoconsiderable  pro|)oriioni 
in  -Southern  Illinois.  Although  during  the  first  three 
years  of  his  administralion  he  had  the  power  to  make 
new  counties  and  apiK)iiit  all  iheoHicLTS,  yet  he  always 
allowed  the   people  of  each   county,  by  an    informal 


NINIAN  ED  WARDS. 


vote,  to  select  their  own  officers,  both  civil  and  mili- 
tary. The  noted  John  J.  Crittenden,  afterward 
United  States  Senator  from  Kentucky,  was  appointed 
by  Gev.  Edwards  to  the  office  of  Attorney  General  of 
the  Territory,  which  office  was  accepted  for  a  short 
time  only. 

The  Indians  in  tSio  committing  sundry  depreda- 
tions in  the  Territory,  crossing  the  Mississippi  from 
the  Territory  of  Louisiana,  a  long  correspondence  fol- 
lowed between  the  respective  Governors  concerning 
the  remedies,  which  ended  in  a  council  with  the  sav- 
ages at  Peoria  in  1812,  and  a  fresh  interpretation  of 
the  treaties.  Peoria  was  depopulated  by  these  de- 
predations, and  was  not  re-settled  for  many  years 
afterward. 

As  Gov.  Edwards'  term  of  office  expired  by  law  in 
1S12,  he  was  re-appointed  for  another  term  of  three 
years,  and  again  in  1815  for  a  third  term,  serving 
until  the  organization  of  the  State  in  the  fall  of  1818 
and  the  inauguration  of  Gov.  Bond.  At  this  time 
ex-Gov.  Edwards  was  sent  to  the  United  States 
Senate,  his  colleague  being  Jesse  B.  Thomas.  As 
Senator,  Mr.  Edwards  took  a  conspicuous  part,  and 
acquitted  himself  honorably  in  all  the  measures  that 
came  up  in  that  body,  being  well  posted,  an  able  de- 
bater and  a  conscientious  statesman.  He  thought 
.  eriously  of  resigning  this  situation  in  182 1,  but  was 
persuaded  by  his  old  friend,  Wm.  Wirt,  and  others  to 
(ontinue  in  office,  which  he  did  to  the  end  of  the 
term. 

He  was  then  appointed  Minister  to  Mexico  by 
[^resident  Monroe.  About  this  time,  it  appears  that 
-Mr.  Edwards  saw  suspicious  signs  in  the  conduct  of 
AVm.  H.  Crawford,  Secretary  of  the  United  States 
Treasury,  a.id  an  ambitious  candidate  for  the  Presi- 
dency, and  being  implicated  by  the  latter  in  some  of 
his  statements,  he  resigned  his  Mexican  mission  in 
".rder  fully  to  investigate  the  charges.  The  result 
was  the  exculpation  of  Mr.  Edwards. 

Pro-slavery  regulations,  often  termed  "Black  Laws," 
cisgraced  the  statute  books  of  both  the  Territory  and 
he  State  of  Illinois  during  the  whole  of  his  career  in 
.his  commonwealth,  and  Mr.  Edwards  always  main- 
tained the  doctrines  of  freedom,  and  was  an  important 
;  ctor  in  the  great  struggle  which  ended  in  a  victory 
I'jr  his  par'y  in  1824. 

In  1826  7  the  Winnebago  and  other  Indians  com- 
mitted soue  deijredations  in  the  northern  Dart  of  tlie 


State,  and  the  white  settlers,  who  desired  the  landq 
and  wished  to  exasperate  the  savages  into  an  evacu- 
ation of  the  country,  magnified  the  misdemeanors  of 
the  aborigines  and  thereby  produced  a  hostility  be- 
tween the  races  so  great  as  to  precipitate  a  little  war, 
known  in  history  as  the  "Winnebago  War."  A  few 
chases  and  skirmishes  were  had,  when  Gen.  Atkinson 
succeeded  in  capturing  Red  Bird,  the  Indian  chief, 
and  puttifig  him  to  death,  thus  ending  the  contest,  at 
least  until  the  troubles  commenced  which  ended  in 
the  "  Black  Hawk  War  "  of  1832.  In  the  interpre- 
tation of  treaties  and  execution  of  their  provisions 
Gov.  Edwards  had  much  vexatious  work  to  do.  The 
Indians  kept  themselves  generally  within  the  juris- 
diction of  Michigan  Territory,  and  its  Governor, 
Lewis  Cass,  was  at  a  point  so  remote  that  ready  cor- 
respondence with  him  was  difficult  or  impossible. 
Gov.  Edwards'  administration,  however,  in  regard  to 
the  protection  of  the  Illinois  frontier,  seems  to  hava 
been  very  efficient  and  satisfactory. 

For  a  considerable  portion  of  his  time  after  his  re- 
moval to  Illinois,  Gov.  Edwards  resided  upon  his 
farm  near  Kaskaskia,  which  he  had  well  stocked  with 
horses,  cattle  and  sheep  from  Kentucky,  also  with 
fruit-trees,  grape-vines  and  shrubbery.  He  estab- 
lished saw  and  grist-mills,  and  engaged  extensively 
in  mercantile  business,  having  no  less  than  eight  or  ten 
stores  in  this  State  and  Missouri.  Notwithstanding 
the  arduous  duties  of  his  office,  he  nearly  alv/ays  pur- 
chased the  goods  himself  with  which  to  supply  the 
stores.  Although  not  a  regular  practitioner  of  medi- 
cine, he  studied  the  healing  art  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, and  took  great  pleasure  in  prescribing  for,  and 
taking  care  of,  the  sick,  generally  without  charge. 
He  w>s  also  liberal  to  the  poor,  several  widows  and 
ministers  of  the  gospel  becoming  indebted  to  hini 
even  for  their  homes. 

He  married  Miss  Elvira  Lane,  of  Maryland,  in 
1803,  and  they  became  the  affectionate  parents  of 
several  children,  one  of  wliom,  especially,  is  weh' 
known  to  the  people  of  the  ''  Prairie  State,"  namely. 
Ninian  Wirt  Edwards,  once  the  Superintendent  c< 
Public  Instruction  and  still  a  resident  of  Springfield 
Gov.  Edwards  resided  at  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Kas- 
kaskia from  i8o9tOT8r8;  in  Edwardsville  (named 
after  him)  from  that  time  to  1824;  and  fro!n  the  lat- 
ter date  at  Belleville,  St.  Clair  County,  until  jii-; 
death,  July  20,  1833,  of  Asiatic  ciiolera.  Edwards 
County  is  also  named  in  his  iioncr. 


J.WIS 


GO  VERNGRS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


■>l  ^ — ■x3i<B»i»r>o 


!;OHN  REYNOLDS,  Governor  1831- 
4,  was  born  in  Montgomery  Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  Feb.  26,  1788. 
His  fatlier,  Robert  Reynolds  and 
liis  mother,  nee  Margaret  Moore, 
were  both  natives  of  Ireland,  from 
which  country  they  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  in  1785,  land- 
ing at  Philadelphia.  The  senior 
Reynolds  entertained  an  undying 
hostility  to  the  British  Govern- 
ment. When  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  about  six  months  old, 
his  parents  emigrated  with  him  to 
Tennessee,  where  many  of  their 
relatives  had  already  located,  at  the  base  of  the 
Copper  Ridge  Mountain,  about  14  miles  northeast  of 
the  present  city  of  Knoxville.  There  they  were  ex- 
nosed  to  Indian  depredations,  and  were  much  molest- 
ed by  them.  In  1794  they  moved  into  the  interior 
of  the  State.  They  were  poor,  and  brought  up  their 
children  to  habits  of  manual  industry. 

In  1800  the  family  removed  to  Kaskaskia,  111.,  with 
eight  horses  and  two  wagons,  encountering  many 
Hardships  on  the  way.  Here  young  Reynolds  passed 
the  most  of  his  childhood,  while  his  character  began 
to  develop,  the  most  prominent  traits  of  which  were 
ambition  and  energy.  He  also  adopted  the  principle 
and  practice  of  total  abstinence  from  intoxicating 
lli|iiors.     In  1S07  the  family  made  nnolher  removal. 


this  time  to  the  "  Goshen  Settlement,"  at  the  foot  of 
the  Mississippi  bluffs  three  or  four  miles  southwest 
of  Edwardsville. 

On  arriving  at  his  20th  year,  Mr.  Reynolds,  seeins; 
tiiat  he  must  look  about  for  his  own  livelihood  and 
not  yet  having  determined  what  calling  to  pursue, 
concluded  first  to  attend^ college,  and  he  accordingly 
went  to  such  an  institution  of  learning,  near  Knox- 
ville, Tenn.,  where  he  had  relatives.  Imagine  his 
diffidence,  when,  after  passing  the  first  20  years  of 
his  life  without  ever  having  seen  a  car])et,  a  papered 
wall  or  a  Windsor  chair,  and  never  having  lived  in  a 
shingle-roofed  house,  he  suddenly  ushered  himseir 
into  the  society  of  the  wealthy  in  the  vicinity  of 
Knoxville!  He  attended  college  nearly  two  years, 
going  through  the  principal  Latin  authors;  but  it 
seems  that  he,  like  the  rest  of  the  world  in  modern 
times,  had  but  very  little  use  for  his  Latin  in  after 
life.  He  always  failed,  indeed,  to  exiiibit  any  good 
degree  of  literary  disciplme.  He  commenced  the 
study  of  law  in  Knoxville,  but  a  pulmonary  trouble 
came  on  and  compelled  him  to  change  his  mode 
of  life.  Accordingly  he  returned  home  and  re- 
cuperated, and  in  1812  resumed  his  college  and 
law  studies  at  Knoxville.  In  the  fall  of  1S12  he  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  at  Kaskaskia.  .About  this  time 
he  also  learned  the  French  language,  which. he 
practiced  with  pleasure  in  conversation  with  liis 
family  for  many  years.  He  regarded  this  language 
as  being  superior  to  al!  others  for  social   intercourse. 


124 


JOHN  REYNOLDS. 


From  his  services  in  the  West,  in  the  war  of  1812, 
he  obtained  the  sobriquet  of  the  "  Old  Ranger."  He 
was  Orderly  Sergeant,  then  Judge  Advocate. 

Mr.  Reynolds  opened  his  first  law  office  in  the 
winter  and  spring  of  1814,  in  the  French  village  of 
Cahokia,  then  the  capital  of  St.  Clair  County. 

In  the  fall  of  1818  he  was  elected  an  Associate 
Justice  upon  the  Supreme  Bench  by  the  General 
Assembly.  In  1825  he  entered  more  earnestly  than 
ever  into  the  practice  of  law,  and  the  very  next  year 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  where  he 
acted  independently  of  all  cliques  and  private  inter- 
ests. In  1828  the  Whigs  and  Democrats  were  for 
the  first  time  distinctively  organized  as  such  in  Illi- 
nois, and  the  usual  party  bitterness  grew  up  and 
raged  on  all  sides,  while  Mr.  Reynolds  preserved  a 
'udicial  calmness  and  moderation.  The  real  animus 
if  the  campaign  was  "  Jackson  "  and  "  anti-Jackson," 
'he  former  party  carrying  the  State. 

In  August,  1830,  Mr.  Reynolds  was  elected  Gov- 
ernor, amid  great  excitement.  Installed  in  office,  he 
did  all  within  his  power  to  advance  the  cause  of  edu- 
cation, internal  improvements,  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal,  the  harbor  at  Chicago,  settling  the  coun- 
try, etc.;  also  reccmmended  the  winding  up  of  the 
State  Bank,  as  its  affairs  had  become  dangerously 
complicated.  In  his  national  politics,  he  was  a 
moderate  supporter  of  General  Jackson.  But  the 
most  celebrated  event  of  his  gubernatorial  admin- 
istration was  tlie  Black  Hawk  War,  which  occurred 
in  1832.  He  called  out  the  militia  and  prosecuted 
the  contest  with  commendable  diligence,  appearing 
in  person  on  the  battle-grounds  during  the  most 
critical  periods.  He  was  recognized  by  the  President 
as  Major-General,  and  authorized  by  him  to  make 
treaties  with  tlie  Indians.  By  the  assistance  of  the 
general  Government  the  war  was  terminated  without 
much  bloodshed,  but  after  many  serious  fights.  This 
war,  as  well  as  everything  else,  was  materially  re- 
tarded by  the  occurrence  of  Asiatic  cholera  in  the 
West.  This  was  its  first  appearance  here,  and  was 
the  next  event  in  prominence  during  Gov.  Reynolds' 
Verm. 

South  Carolina  nullification  corning  up  at  this  time, 
t  was  heartily  condemned  by  both  President  Jackson 
..nd  Gov.  Reynolds,  who  took  precisely  the  same 
grounds  as  the  Unionists  in  the  last  war. 

On  the  termination  of  his  gubernatorial  term  in 
.834,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  Member  of  Con- 
gress, still  considering  himself  a  backwoodsman,  as 
•■  e  had  scarcely  been  outside  of  the  State  since  he 
became  of  age,  and  had  spent  nearly  all  his  youthful 
days  in  the  wildest  region  of  the  frontier.  His  first 
move  in  Congress  was  to  adopt  a  resolution  that  in 
all  elections  made  by  the  House  for  officers  the  votes 
should  be  given  7'k'a  voce^  each  member  in  his  ])lace 
ii:iming  aloud  the  person  for  whom  he  votes.  This 
cre.i'ed  considerable   heated  discussion,  but  was  es- 


sentially adopted,  and  remained  the  controlling  prin- 
ciple for  many  years.  The  ex-Governor  was  scarcely 
absent  from  his  seat  a  single  day,  during  eight  ses- 
sions of  Congress,  covering  a  period  of  seven  years, 
and  he  never  vacillated  in  a  party  vote;  but  he  failed 
to  get  the  Democratic  party  to  foster  his  "  National 
Road"  scheme.  He  says,  in  "  My  Own  Times  "  (a 
large  autobiography  he  published),  that  it  was  only 
by  rigid  econouiy  that  he  avoided  insolvency  while  in 
Washington.  During  his  sojourn  in  that  city  he  was 
married,  to  a  lady  of  the  place. 

In  1837,  while  out  of  Congress,  and  in  company 
with  a  few  others,  he  built  the  first  railroad  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  namely,  one  about  six  miles  long, 
leading  from  his  coal  mine  in  the  Mississippi  bluff  to 
the  bank  of  the  river  opposite  St.  Louis.  Having  not 
the  means  to  purchase  a  locomotive,  they  operated  it 
by  horse-power.  The  next  spring,  however,  the  com- 
pany sold  out,  at  great  sacrifice. 

In  1839  the  e.x-Governor  was  appointed  one  of  the 
Canal  Commissioners,  and  authorized  to  borrow 
money  to  prosecute  the  enterprise.  Accord'ngly,  he 
repaired  to  Philadelphia  and  succeeding  in  obtaining 
a  million  dollars,  which,  however,  was  only  a  fourth 
of  what  was  wanted.  The  same  year  he  and  his 
wife  made  at  our  of  Europe.  This  year,  also,  Mr. 
Reynolds  had  the  rather  awkward  little  responsibility 
of  introducing  to  President  Van  Bureii  the  noted 
Mormon  Prophet,  Joseph  Smith,  as  a  "  Latter-Day 
Saint!" 

In  1846  Gov.  Reynolds  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  from  St.  Clair  County,  more  particu 
larly  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  feasible  charter 
for  a  macadamized  road  from  Belleville  to  St.  Louis, 
a  distance  of  nearly  14  miles.    This  was  immediately 
built,  and  was  the  first  road  of  the  kind  in  the  State. 
He  was  again  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1852,  when 
he  was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House.    In  i860,  aged 
and   infirm,  he    attended    the   National    Democratic 
Convention  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  as   an  anti-Douglas 
Delegate,  where  he  received  more  attention  from  the 
Southern    Delegates   than   any   other  member.     He  , 
supported    Breckenridge  for  the  Presidency.     After  I 
the  October  elections  foreshadowed  the  success  of  i 
Lincoln,  he  published  an  address  urging  the   Demo- 
crats to  rally  to  the   support  of  Douglas.     Immedi- 
ately preceding  and  during  the  late  war,  his  corre- 
spondence evinced  a  clear  sympathy  for  the  Southern] 
secession,  and   about  the  first  of   March,    1861,  he 
urged  upon  the  Buchanan  officials  the  seizure  of  the 
treasure  and  arms  in  the  custom-house  and  arsenal . 
at  St.  Louis.     Mr.   Reynolds  was  a  rather  talkative] 
man,  and  apt  in  all  the  Western  phrases  and  catch- 
words that  ever  gained  currency,  besides   many  cun- 
ning and  odd  ones  of  his  own  manufacture. 

He  was  married  twice,  but  had  no  children.  He  I 
died  in  nellevillc,  in  May,  iS65,just  after  the  close] 
of  the  war. 


ILLINOIS 


.*<;?« 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'«7 


>-5— ^- — o.!»>««ii».^& 


^3^ 


ILLIAM    LEE    D.    EWING, 
Governor  of  Illinois  Nov.  3 
to  17,  1834,  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and  probably 
of  Scotch  ancestry.  He  had 
*^  a  fine  education,  was  a  gentle- 
man of  polished  manners  and 
refined    sentiment.      In    1830  Jolm  Rey- 
nolds was  elected  Governor  of  the  State, 
and   Zadok   Casey    Lieutenant   Governor, 
and  for  the  principal  events  that  followed, 
and  the  characteristics  of  the  times,  see 
sketch  of  Gov.   Reynolds.     The  first   we 
see  in  history  concerning  Mr.  Ewing,  in- 
_  forms  us  that  he  was  a  Receiver  of  Public 

Moi  eys  at  Vandalia  soon  after  the  organization  of 
t<iii.  State,  and  that  the  public  moneys  in  liis  hands 
v/ere  deposited  in  various  banks,  as  they  are  usually 
"■  th,.  ^Tesent  day.  In  1823  the  State  Bank  was 
ubbed,by  which  disaster  Mr.  Ewing  lost  a  thousand- 
collar  deposit. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  had  a  commission  as 
'  olonel  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  in  emergencies 
n"  acted  also  as  Major.  In  the  summer  of  1832, 
^>hen  I  v'as  rumored  among  the  whites  that  Black 
Hawk  ar.d  nis  men  had  encamped  somewhere  on 
Reck  River,  Gen.  Henry  was  sent  on  a  tour  of 
ceconnoisance,  and  with  orders  to  drive  the  Indians 
lioni  tlie  State.  After  some  opposition  from  his 
:iibordinate  officers,  Henry  resolved  to  proceed  up 
l<0(  k  River  in  se,U(  li  of  the  enemy.  On  tlic  i9tli  of 
ul\,    'jaily   ill  the    nirnning,    five    baggage    wagons. 


camp  equipage  and  all  heavy  and  cumbersome  arti- 
cles were  piled  up  and  left,  so  that  the  army  might 
make  speedy  and  forced  marches.  For  some  miles 
the  travel  was  exceedingly  bad,  crossing  swamps 
and  tlie  worst  thickets;  but  the  large,  fresh  trail 
gave  life  and  animation  to  the  Americans.  Gen. 
Dodge  and  Col.  Ewing  were  both  actmg  as  Majors, 
and  composed  the  "  spy  corps  "  or  vanguard  of  the 
army.  It  is  supposed  the  army  marched  nearly  50 
miles  this  day,  and  the  Indian  trail  they  followed 
became  fresher,  and  was  strewed  with  much  property 
and  trinkets  of  the  red-skins  that  they  had  lost  or 
thrown  away  to  hasten  their  march.  During  the 
following  night  there  was  a  terrific  thunder-storm,  and 
the  soldiery,  with  all  their  appurtenances,  were  thor- 
oughly drenched. 

On  approaching  nearer  the  Indians  the  next  day. 
Gen.  Dodge  and  Major  Ewing,  each  commanding  a 
battalion  of  men,  were  placed  in  front  to  bring  on  the 
battle,  but  the  savages  were  not  overtaken  this  day 
Forced  marches  were  continued  until  they  reached. 
Wisconsin  River,  where  a  veritable  battle  ensued, 
resulting  in  the  death  of  about  68  of  Black  Hawk's 
men.  The  next  day  they  continued  the  chase,  and 
as  soon  as  lie  discovered  the  trail  of  the  Indians 
leading  tow.ird  tlie  Mississippi,  Maj.  Ewing  formed 
iiis  battalion  in  order  of  battle  and  awaited  tlie  order 
of  Gen.  Henry.  The  latter  soon  appeared  on  the 
ground  and  ordered  a  charge,  which  directly  resulted 
in  chasing  tlie  rod  warriors  across  the  great  river. 
Maj.  Ewing  and  his  command  proved  particularly 
efficient  in  war,  as  it  seems  they  were  the  chief  actors 
in  driving  tlie  main  body  of  the  Sacs  and  Fo.Kes,  in- 


liS 


WILLIAM  L    D.  EWING. 


eluding  Black  Hawk  himself,  across  the  Mississippi, 
while  Gen.  Atkinson,  commander-in-chief  of  the  ex- 
pedition, with  a  body  of  the  army,  was  hunting  for 
them  'ii  another  direction. 

In  liie  above  affair  Maj.  Ewing  is  often  referred  in 
as  a  "General,"  "l;ich  title  he  liad  derived  from  his 
connection  with  the  militia. 

It  was  in  the  l.iiu-r  part  of  tlie  same  year  (1832) 
that  Lieutenant  Governor  Casey  was  elected  to  Con- 
gress and  Gen.  Ewing,  who  had  been  elected  to  the 
Genate,  was  chosen  to  preside  over  that  body.  At 
ihe  August  election  of  1S34,  Gov.  Reynolds  was  also 
elected  to  Congress,  more  than  a  year  ahead  of  llie 
liuie  at  whicli  he  could  actually  take  his  seat,  as  was 
then  the  law.  His  predecessor,  Chailes  Slade,  had 
just  died  of  Asiatic  cholera,  soon  after  tlie  elec- 
tion, and  Gov.  Reynolds  was  chosen  to  serve  out  his 
unexpired  term.  Accordingly  he  set  out  for  VVash- 
ingion  in  November  of  that  year  to  take  his  seat  in 
Congress,  and  Gen.  Ewing, by  virt.:e  of  his  office  as 
President  of  the  Senate,  became  Go-  ernor  of  the 
Stat.i  of  Illinois,  his  term  covering  o.ily  a  period  of 
15  days  namely,  from  the  3d  to  tlie  17th  days,  in- 
clusive, of  November.  0;i  the  17th  the  Legislature 
met,  and  Gov.  Ewing  transmitted  to  that  body  his 
message,  giving  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  the 
affairs  of  the  State  at  that  time,  and  urging  a  contin- 
uance of  the  policy  adopted  by  his  predecessor;  and 
■ju  the  same  day  Governor  elect  Joseph  Duncan 
—.IS   sworn  into  office,  thus  relieving  Mr.  Ewing  from 


the  responsible  situation.  This  is  the  only  time  that 
such  a  juncture  has  happened  in  the  historv  of  Illi- 
nois. 

On  tlie  29th  of  December,  1835,  Gen.  Ewing  was 
elected  a  United  States  Senaior  to  serve  out  the 
unexpired  term  of  Elias  Kent  Kane,  deceased.  The 
latter  geiitljnian  was  a  very  prominent  figure  in  the 
early  politics  of  lllinoi',  and  a  county  in  this  State  is 
named  in  his  honor.  The  election  of  Gen.  Ewing  to 
tlie  Senate  was  a  protracted  struggle.  His  competi- 
tors were  James  Semple,  who  af  erwards  held  several 
important  offices  in  this  State,  and  Richard  M. 
Young,  afterward  a  United  States  Senator  and  a 
.'suijrenie  Judge  and  a  man  of  vast  influence.  On 
the  first  ballot  Mr.  Semple  had  25  votes.  Young  19 
and  Ewing  18.  On  the  eighth  ballot  Young  was 
dropped;  the  ninth  and  tenth  stood  a  tie;  but  on 
the  i2ih  Ewing  received  40,  to  Semple  37,  and  was 
a'.cordingly  declared  elected.  In  1837  Mr.  Ewinr; 
received  some  votes  for  a  continuance  of  his  lerm  in 
Congress,  when  Mr.  Young,  just  referred  to,  was 
elected.  In  r842  Mr.  Ewing  was  elected  State 
Audit-^r  on  the  ticket  with  Gov   Ford. 

Gen.  Ewing  was  a  gentleman  of  culture,  a  lawyer 
by  profession,  and  was  much  in  public  life.  In  person 
he  was  above  medium  height  and  of  heavy  build, 
with  auburn  hair,  blue  eyes,  large-sized  head  and 
short  face.  He  was  genial,  social,  friendly  and 
affable,  with  fair  talent,  though  of  no  high  degree  o' 
originality.    He  died  March  25,  1846. 


:.!'IO!S 


Jc^^^/u-^    ^ 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Ill 


..(??5. 


"^i^^MM 


\^  i«i~t^>«'^®^OT^'f>^|W**»_. 


€^  <» 


OSEPH  DUNCAN,  Governor 
1S34-8,  was  born  at  Paris, 
Ky.,  Feb.  23,  1794.  At  the 
tender  age  of  19  years  he  en- 
listed in  the  war  against  Great 
'"■  Britain,  and  as  a  soldier  he 
acquitted  himself  with  credit.  He 
was  an  Ensign  under  the  daunt- 
less Croghan  at  Lower  Sandusky, 
or  Fort  Stephenson.  In  Illinois 
he  first  appeared  in  a  public  capa- 
city as  Major-General  of  the  Militia, 
a  position  which  his  military  Hime 
liad  procured  him.  Subsequently 
he  became  a  State  Senator  from 
,  Jackson  County,  and  is  honorably 
mentioned  for  introducing  the  first  bill  providing  for 
a  free-school  system.  In  1826,  when  the  redoubt- 
able John  P.  Cook,  who  had  previously  beaten  such 
men  as  John  McLean,  Elias  Kent  Kane  and  ex- 
Gov.  Bond,  came  up  for  the  fourth  time  for  Congress, 
Mr.  Duncan  was  brought  forward  against  him  by  his 
friends,  greatly  to  the  surprise  of  all  the  politicians. 
^s  yet  he  was  but  little  known  in  the  Stale.  He  was 
m  original  Jackson  man  at  that  time,  being  attached 
to  his  political  fortune  in  admiration  of  tlie  glory  of 
his  militaiy  achievements.  His  chances  of  success 
against  Cook  were  generally  regarded  as  hopeless, 
hut  lie  entered  upon  the  campaign  undaunted.  His 
speeciies,  tiiough  short  and  devoid  of  ornament,  were 
fill  of  good  sense.  He  made  a  diligent  canvass  of 
the  Stale,  Mr.  Cook  being  hindered  by  the  condition  of 
hs  lieahh.  The  mo.st  that  was  expected  of  Mr. 
l>iiit;m,  under  the  circumstances,  was  tliat  he  would 


obtain  a  respectable  vote,  but  without  defeating  Mr 
Cook.  The  result  of  the  campaign,  however,  was  a 
source  of  surprise  and  amazement  to  both  friends 
and  foes,  as  Mr.  Duncan  came  out  641  votes  ahead! 
He  received  6,32 r  votes,  and  Mr.  Cook  5,680.  Un- 
til this  denouement,  the  violence  of  party  feeling 
smoWering  in  the  breasts  of  the  people  on  account 
of  the  defeat  of  Jackson,  was  not  duly  appreciated, 
.'\side  from  the  great  convention  struggle  of  1824,  no 
other  than  mere  local  and  pergonal  considerations 
had  ever  before  controlled  an  election  in  Illinois. 

From  the  above  date  Mr.  Duncan  retained  his 
seat  in  Congress  until  his  election  as  Governor  in 
.\ugust,  1834.  The  first  and  bloodless  year  of  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Rey- 
nolds to  tlie  position  of  Brigadier-General  of  the 
volunteers,  and  he  conducted  his  brigade  to  Rock 
Island.  But  he  was  absent  from  the  State,  in  Wash- 
ington, during  the  gubernatorial  campaign,  and  did 
not  personally  participate  in  it,  but  addressed  circu- 
lars to  his  constituents.  His  election  was,  indeed, 
attributed  to  the  circumstance  of  his  absence,  be- 
cause his  estrangement  from  Jackson,  formerly  his 
political  idol,  and  also  from  the  Democracy,  largely 
in  ascendency  in  the  State,  was  complete;  but  while 
his  defection  was  well  known  to  his  Whig  friends, 
and  even  to  the  leading  Jackson  men  of  this  State, 
the  latter  were  unable  to  carry  conviction  of  that  fact 
to  the  masses,  as  mail  and  newspaper  facilities  at 
that  day  were  far  inferior  to  those  of  the  present 
time.  Of  course  the  (Governor  was  much  abused 
afterward  by  the  fossilized  Jackson  men  who  re- 
garded party  ties  and  affiliations  as  above  all 
other  issues  that  could  arise;  but  he  was  doubtless 


'32 


JOSEPH  DUNCAN. 


sincere  in  his  opposition  to  the  old  hero,  as  the  latter 
j,ad  vetoed  several  important  western  measures 
which  were  dear  to  Mr.  Duncan.  In  his  inaugural 
message  he  threw  off  the  mask  and  took  a  bold  stand 
r.gainst  tb.e  course  of  the  President.  The  measures 
.e  recommended  in  his  message,  however,  were  so 
desirable  that  the  Legislature,  although  by  a  large 
majority  consisting  of  Jackson  men,  could  not  refrain 
from  endorsing  them.  These  measures  related 
Liainly  to  Lar.ks  and  internal  improvements. 

It  was  while  Mr.  Duncan  was  Governor  that  the 
people  of  Illinois  went  whirling  on  with  bank  and  in- 
ternal impiovement  schemes  that  well  nigh  bank- 
•upted  the  State.  The  hard  times  of  1837  came  on, 
md  the  disasters  that  attended  the  inauguration  of 
jiese  plans  and  the  operation  of  the  banks  were  mu- 
tually cliarged  upon  the  two  political  parties.  Had 
any  z\-t  man  autocratic  power  to  introduce  and 
carry  on  any  one  of  these  measures,  he  would  proba- 
bly have  succeeded  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public; 
Lut  as  many  jealous  men  had  hold  <if  tlie  same  plow 
nandle,  no  success  followed  and  each  blamed  the  other 
"br  the  failure.  In  this  great  vortex  Gov.  Duncan 
was  carried  along,  suffering  the  like  derogation  of 
character  with  his  fellow  citizens. 

At  the  height  of  the  excitement  the  Legislature 
"  provided  for  "  railroads  from  Galena  to  Cairo,  Alton 
to  Shawneetown,  Alton  to  Mount  Carmel,  Alton  to  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  State  in  the  direction  of 
Terre  Haute,  Quincy  via  S;)ringfield  to  the  Wabasli, 
Bloomington  to  Pekin,  and  Peoria  to  Warsaw, — in  all 
about  1,300  miles  of  road.  It  also  provided  for  the 
improvement  of  the  navigation  of  the  Kaskaskia, 
Illinois,  Great  and  Little  Wabash  and  Rock  Rivers  ; 
also  as  a  placebo,  $200,000  in  money  were  to  be  dis- 
.ributed  to  the  various  counties  wherein  no  improve 
inents  were  ordered  to  be  made  as  above.  The 
estimate  for  the  e.xpenses  for  all  these  projects  was 
jlaced  at  a  little  over  $10,000,000,  whicli  was  not 
more  >  lan  half  enough  !  That  would  now  be  equal  to 
saddling  upon  the  State  a  debt  of  $225,000,000!  It 
wss  sufficient  to  bankrupt  the  State  several  times 
over,    even   counting  all  the   possible   benefits. 

One  of  the  most  exciting  events  that  ever  occurred 
'.w  this  fair  State  was  the  murder  of -Elijah  P.  Love- 
ly in  the  fall  of  r837,  at  Alton,  during  Mr.  Duncan's 
lerm  as  Governor.  Lovejoy  was  an  "  .Miolitionist," 
editing  tiie  Olnerver  at  that  place,  and  the  pio- 
slavery  slumj  there  formed  themselves  into  a  mob. 


and  after  destroying  successively  three  presses  be- 
longing to  Mr.  Lovejoy,  surrounded  the  warehouse 
where  the  fourth  press  was  stored  away,  endeavoring 
to  destroy  it,  and  where  Lovejoy  and  his  friends 
were  entrenching  themselves,  and  shot  and  killed  tlie 
brave  reformer! 

About  th's  time,  also,  the  question  of  removing  thi 
State  capital  again  came  up,  as  the  20  years'  limit  for 
its  existence  at  Vandalia  was  drawing  to  a  close. 
There  was,  of  course,  considerable  excitement  over 
the  matter,  the  two  main  points  competing  for  it  be- 
ing Springfield  and  Peoria.  The  jealousy  of  the  lat- 
ter place  is  not  even  yet,  45  years  afterward,  fully 
allayed. 

Gov.  Duncan's  term  expired  in.  1838.  In  1842 
he  was  again  proposed  as  a  candidate  for  the  Execu- 
tive chair,  this  time  by  the  Whig  party,  against  Adam 
W.  Snyder,  of  St.  Clair  County,  the  nominee  of  the 
Democrats.  Charles  W.  Hunter  was  a  third  candi- 
date for  the  same  position.  Mr.  Snyder,  however,  died 
i)efore  the  campaign  had  advanced  very  far,  and  his 
party  substituted  Thomas  Ford,  who  was  elected 
receiving  46,901  votes,  to  38,584  for  Duncan,  and 
909  for  Hunter.  The  cause  of  Democratic  success 
at  this  time  is  mainly  attributed  to  the  temporary 
support  of  the  Mormons  which  they  eii joyed,  and  the 
want  o:'  any  knowledge,  on  the  part  of  the  masses, 
that  Mr.  Ford  was  opposed  to  any  given  policy  en- 
tertained in  the  respective  localities. 

Gov.  Duncan  was  a  man  of  rather  limited  educa- 
tion, but  with  naturally  fine  abilities  he  profited 
greatly  by  his  various  public  services,  and  gathered 
a  store  of  knowledge  regarding  public  affairs  which 
Served  him  a  ready  purpose.  He  possessed  a  clear 
j.idgment,  decision,  confidence  in  himself  and  moral 
courage  to  carry  out  his  convictions  of  tight.  In  his 
deportment  he  was  well  adapted  to  gain  the  admira- 
tion of  the  people.  His  intercourse  with  them  was 
botir  affable  and  dignified.  His  portrait  at  tlie  Gov- 
ernor's mansion,  from  whicli  the  accompanying  was 
made,  represents  him  as  having  a  swarthy  complex- 
ion, high  cheek  bones,  broad  foreliead,  piercing  black 
eyes  and  straight  black  hair. 

He  was  a  liberal  patron  of  the  Illinois  Clollege  at 
Jacksonville,  a  member  of  its  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
died,  after  a  short  illness,  Jan.  15,  1844,  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Ciiur<  li,  leaving  a  wife 
l)Ut  no  children,  '{'wo  children,  born  to  them,  had 
died  in  infancy. 


'o^^-rY(X>L^^^^:^ 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'35 


:*   > 


%w^p   p 


i>'^^\^«''  ^■ 


••■;'»•■ 


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^^^^^^S>'i 


(HOMAS  CARLIN,  the  sixth 
Governor  of  the  State  of 
Illinois,  serving  from  1838 
to  1842,  was  also  1  Ken- 
tuckian,  being  born  near 
Frankfort,  that  State,  July 
iS,  1789,  of  Irish  paternity. 
The  opiwrtunities  for  an  education 
being  very  meager  in  his  native 
place,  he,  on  approaching  years  of 
jud  'ment  and  maturity,  applied 
himself  to  those  branches  of  learn- 
ing that  seemed  most  important, 
and  thus  became  a  self-made  man  ; 
and  his  taste  for  reading  and 
study  remained  with  him  through 
life.  In  1803  his  father  removed 
10  Missouri,  then  a  part  of  "  New  Spain,"  where  he 
died  in  1810. 

In  18 1 2  young  Carlin  came  to  Illinois  and  partici- 
pated in  all  the  "ranging"  service  incident  to  the 
war  of  that  period,  proving  himself  a  soldier  of  un- 
daunted bravery.  In  18 14  he  married  Rebecca 
Huitt,  and  lived  for  four  years  on  the  bank  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Mis- 
sc..ri,  where  he  followed  farming,  and  then  removed 
to  Greene  County.  He  located  the  town  site  of  Car- 
it* 'ton,  in  that  county,  and  in  1825  niade  a  liberal 
donation  of  land  for  county  building  purposes.  He 
was  the  first  SherifT  of  that  county  after  its  separate 
organization,  and  afterward  was  twice  elected,  as  a 
Jackson  Democrat,  to  the  Illinois  Senate.  In  the 
Black  Hawk  War  he  commanded  a  spy  battalion,  a 
post  of  considerable  danger.  In  1834  he  was  ap- 
ix>inted  i)y  President  Jackson  to  the  position  of 
Receiver  of  Public  Moneys,  and  to  fulfill   the  office 


more  conveniently  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Quincy. 

While,  in  1838,  the  unwieldy  internal  improvement 
system  of  the  State  was  in  full  operation,  witli  all  its 
expensive  machinery,  amidst  bank  suspensions 
throughout  the  United  States,  a  great  stringency  in 
the  money  market  everywhere,  and  Illinois  bonds 
forced  to  sale  at  a  heavy  discount,  and  the  "  hardest 
times"  existing  that  the  people  of  the  Prairie  State 
ever  saw,  the  general  election  of  State  officers  was 
approaching.  Discreet  men  who  had  cherished  the 
hope  of  a  speedy  subsidence  of  the  public  infatua- 
tion, met  witli  disappointment.  A  Governor  and 
Legislature  were  to  be  elected,  and  these  were  now 
looked  forward  to  for  a  repeal  of  the  ruinous  Stale 
policy.  But  the  grand  scheme  had  not  yet  lost  its 
dazzling  influence  upon  the  minds  of  the  people. 
Time  and  experience  had  not  yet  fully  demonstrated 
its  utter  absurdity.  Hence  the  ipiestion  of  arresting, 
its  career  of  profligate  expenditures  did  not  become 
a  leading  one  with  the  dominant  party  during  the 
canipiign,  and  most  of  the  old  members  of  the  Leg 
islatuie  were  returned  at  this  election. 

Under  these  circumstances  the  Democrats,  in  State 
Convention  assembled,  nominated  Mr.  Carlin  for  the 
office  of  Gov.;rnor,  and  S.  H.  Anderson  for  Lieuten- 
ant Governor,  while  the  Whigs  nominated  Cyrus  Ed- 
wards, brother  of  Ninian  Edwards,  formerly  (Governor, 
and  W.  H.  Davidson.  Edwards  came  out  strongly 
for  a  continuance  of  the  State  policy,  v.'hile  Car!!:- 
remained  non-committal.  This  was  the  first  time 
that  the  two  main  [wlitical  parties  in  this  State  were 
unembarrassed  by  any  third  party  in  the  field.  The 
result  of  the  election  was:  Carlin,  35,573;  Ander- 
son, 30,335;  Edwards,  29,629;  and  Davidson,  28,- 

7'.S- 

Upon  the  meeting  of  the  subsequent  Legislature 
(1839),  the  retiring  Governor  CDuncan)  in   his  mes- 


x^6 


THOMAS  CARLIN. 


sage  spoke  in  emphatic  terms  of  the  impolicy  of  the 
internal  improvement  system,  presaging  the  evils 
threatened,  and  uiged  that  body  to  do  their  utmost 
to  correct  the  great  error ;  yet,  on  the  contrary,  the 
Legislature  not  only  decided  to  continue  the  policy 
but  also  added  to  its  burden  by  voting  more  appro- 
priations and  ordering  more  improvements.  Although 
the  money  market  was  still  stringent,  a  further  loan 
of  $4,000,000  was  ordered  for  the  Illinois  &  Mich- 
igan Canal  alone.  Cli'cago  at  that  time  began  to 
loom  up  and  promise  to  be  an  important  city,  even 
the  great  emporium  of  the  West,  as  it  has  since  in- 
deed came  to  be.  Ex-Gov.  Reynolds,  an  incompe- 
tent financier,  was  commissioned  to  effect  the  loan, 
and  accordingly  hastened  to  the  East  on  this  respons- 
ible errand,  and  negotiated  the  loans,  at  considera- 
ble sacrifice  to  the  State.  Besides  this  embarrassment 
to  Carlin's  administration,  the  Legislature  also  de- 
clared that  he  had  no  authority  to  appoint  a  Secretary 
of  State  until  a  vacancy  existed,  and  A.  P.  Field,  a 
Whig,  virho  had  already  held  the  post  by  appointment 
.hrough  three  administrations,  was  determined  to 
keep  the  place  a  while  longer,  in  spite  of  Gov.  Car- 
lin's preferences.  The  course  of  the  Legislature  in 
this  regard,  however,  was  finally  sustained  by  the 
Supreme  Court,  in  a  quo  warranto  case  brought  u[) 
before  it  by  John  A.  McClernand,  whom  the  Gov- 
ernor had  nominated  for  the  office.  Thereupon  that 
dignified  body  was  denounced  as  a  "Whig  Court!' 
endeavoring  to  establish  the  principle  of  life-tenure 
of  office. 

A  new  law  was  adopted  re-organizing  the  Judici- 
ary, and  under  it  five  additional  Supreme  Judges 
were  elected  by  the  Legislature,  namely,  Thomas 
Ford  (afterward  Governor),  Sidney  Breese,  Walter  B. 
Scates,  Samuel  H.  Treat  and  Stephen  \.  Douglas — 
all  Democrats. 

It  was  during  Gov.  Carlin's  administration  that  the 
noisy  campaign  of  ''  Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too  "  oc- 
curred, resulting  in  a  Whig  victory.  This,  however, 
did  net  affect  Illinois  politics  very  seriously. 

.Another  prominent  event  in  the  West  during  Gov. 
Carlin's  term  of  office  was  the  excitement  caused  by 
the  Mormons  and  their  removal  from  Independence, 
Mo.,  to  Nauvoo,  111.,  in  1840.  At  the  same  time 
they  began  to  figure  somewhat  in  State  politics.  On 
account  of  their  believing — as  they  thought,  accord- 
ing to  the  New  Testament — that   they  should   have 


"  all  things  common,"  and  that  consequently  "  all 
the  earth  "  and  all  that  is  upon  it  were  the"  Lord's  " 
and  therefore  the  property  of  his  "  saints,"  they 
were  suspected,  and  correctly,  too,  of  committing 
many  of  the  deeds  of  larceny,  robbery,  etc.,  that 
were  so  rife  throughout  this  country  in  those  days. 
Hence  a  feeling  of  violence  grew  up  between  the 
Mormons  and  "anti-Mormons."  In  the  State  of 
Missouri  the  Mormons  always  supported  the  Dem- 
ocracy until  they  were  driven  out  by  the  Democratic 
government,  when  they  turned  their  support  to  the 
Whigs.  They  were  becoming  numerous,  and  in  the 
Legislature  of  1840-1,  therefore,  it  became  a  matter 
of  great  interest  with  both  parties  to  conciliate  these 
people.  Through  the  agency  of  one  John  C.  Ben- 
nett, a  scamp,  the  Mormons  succeeded  in  rushing 
through  the  Legislature  (both  parties  not  dariii;^  ;o 
oppose)  a  charter  for  the  city  of  Nauvoo  which  vir- 
tually erected  a  hierarchy  co-ordinate  with  the  Fed- 
eral Government  itself.  In  the  fall  of  1841  the 
Governor  of  Missouri  made  a  demand  upon  Gov. 
Carlin  for  the  body  of  Joe  Smith,  the  Mormon  leader, 
as  a  fugitive  from  justice.  Gov.  Carlin  issued  th? 
writ,  but  for  some  reason  it  was  returned  unserved. 
It  was  again  issued  in  1842,  and  Smith  was  arrested, 
but  was  either  rescued  by  his  followers  or  discharged 
by  the  municipal  court  on  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus. 

In  December,  1841,  the  Democratic  Convention 
nominated  Adam  W.  Snyder,  of  Belleville,  for  Gov- 
ernor. As  he  had  been,  as  a  member  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, rather  friendly  to  the  Mormons,  the  latter 
naturally  turned  their  support  to  the  Democratic 
party.  The  next  spring  the  Whigs  nominated  Ex- 
Gov.  Duncan  for  the  same  office.  In  the  meantime 
the  Mormons  began  to  grow  more  odious  to  the 
masses  of  the  people,  and  the  comparative  prospects 
of  the  respective  parties  for  success  became  very 
problematical.  Mr.  Snyder  died  in  May,  and 
Thomas  Ford,  a  Supreme  Judge,  was  substituted  as 
a  candidate,  and  was  elected. 

At  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term,  Mr.  Carlin 
removed  back  to  his  old  home  at  Carrollton,  where 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  as  before  Iris  ele- 
vation to  office,  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  iC/.g 
he  served  out  the  unexpired  term  of  J.  D.  Fry  in  th.e 
Illinois  House  of  Representatives,  and  died  Feb.  4, 
1852,  at  his  residence  at  Carrollton,  leaving  a  wife 
and  seven  children. 


.LINOIS 


Oi 


■^t^^^-^-Uty-CL^ 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


»39 


sAfii'if-yj..^  , 


.^tiil^^!^^ 


^h©Ma*  ^©pfl®  ••€€'>!of-!|f 


SspH^-*"^'     --^^=5 


5=5<-        '-''^■^^^S" 


-^3=H= 


€3- 


gHOMAS  FORD,  Governor 
from  1842  to  1846,  and  au- 
thor of  a  very  interesting 
history  of  Illinois,  was  born 
at  Uniontown,  Pa.,  in  the 
year  1 800.  His  mother,  after 
the  death  of  her  first  hus- 
band (Mr.  Forquer),  married  Rob- 
ert Ford,  who  was  killed  in  1802, 
by  the  Indians  in  the  mountains 
of  Pennsylvania.  She  was  conse- 
quently left  in  indigent  circum- 
stances, with  a  large  family,  mostly 
girls.  With  a  view  to  better  her 
condition,  she,  in  1S04,  removed  to 
Missouri,  where  it  had  been  cus- 
tomary by  the  Spanish  Govern- 
ment to  give  land  to  actual  settlers ;  but  upon  her 
arrival  at  St.  Louis  she  found  the  country  ceded  to 
the  United  States,  and  the  liberal  policy  toward  set- 
tlers changed  by  the  new  ownership.  After  some 
sickness  to  herself  and  family,  she  finally  removed  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  some  three  miles  south  of  Water- 
loo, but  the  following  year  moved  nearer  the  Missis- 
sippi  bluffs.     Here    young   Ford    received    liis  first   i 


schooling,  under  the  instructions  of  a  Mr.  Humphrey, 
for  which  he  had  to  walk  three  miles.  His  mother, 
though  lacking  a  thorough  education,  was  a  woman 
of  superior  mental  endovvments,  joined  to  energy 
and  determination  of  character.  She  inculcated  in 
her  children  those  high-toned  principles  which  dis- 
tinguished her  sons  in  public  life.  She  exercised  a 
rigid  economy  to  provide  her  children  an  education; 
but  fieorge  Forquer,  her  oldest  son  (six  years  older 
than  Thomas  Ford),  at  an  early  age  had  to  quit 
school  to  aid  by  his  labor  in  the  support  of  the  family. 
He  afterward  became  an  eminent  man  in  Illinois 
affairs,  and  but  for  his  early  death  would  probably 
have  been  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate. 

Young  Ford,  with  somewhat  better  op|)ortunities. 
received  a  better  education,  thougli  limited  to  the 
curriculum  of  the  common  school  of  those  pioneer 
times.  His  mind  gave  early  promise  of  superior  en- 
dowments, with  an  inclination  for  mathematics.  His 
proficiency  attracted  the  attention  of  Hon.  Daniel  P. 
Cook,  who  became  his  efficient  patron  and  friend 
The  latter  gentleman  was  an  eminent  lainois  states- 
man who,  as  a  Member  of  Congress,  oDtamed  agrant 
of  300,000  acres  of  land  to  aid  in  completing  the 
Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal,  and  after  whom  the 
county  of  Cook  was  named      Through  the  advice  of 


140 


THOMAS  FORD. 


this  gentleman,  Mr.  Ford  turned  his  attention  to  the 
study  of  law;  but  Forquer,  then  merchandising,  re- 
garding his  education  defective,  sent  him  to  Transyl- 
vania University,  where,  however,  he  remained  but 
one  term,  owing  to  Forquer's  failure  in  business.  On 
his  return  he  alternated  his  law  reading  with  teach- 
ir.g  school  for  support. 

In  1S29  Gov.  Edwards  appointed  him  Prosecuting 
Attorney,  and  in  1831  he  was  re-appomted  by  Gov. 
Reynolds,  and  after  that  he  was  four  times  elected  a 
Judge  by  the  Legislature,  without  opposition,  twice  a 
Circuit  Judge,  once  a  Judge  of  Chicago,  and  as  As- 
sociate Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  when,  in  1841, 
the  latter  tribunal  was  re-organized  by  the  addition 
of  five  Judges,  all  Democrats.  Ford  was  assigned  to 
the  Ninth  Judicial  Circuit,  and  while  in  this  capacity 
iie  was  holding  Court  in  Ogle  County  he  received  a 
notice  of  his  nomination  by  the  Democratic  Conven- 
tion for  the  office  of  Governor.  He  immediately  re- 
signed his  place  and  entered  upon  the  canvass.  In 
August,  1842,  he  was  elected,  and  on  the  8th  of  De- 
cember following  he  was  inaugurated. 

All  the  offices  which  he  had  held  were  unsolicited 
by  him.  He  received  them  upon  the  true  Jefferson- 
^an  principle, — Never  to  ask  and  never  to  refuse 
office.  Both  as  a  lawyer  and  as  a  Judge  he  stood 
deservedly  high,  but  his  cast  of  intellect  fitted  him 
rather  for  a  writer  upon  law  than  a  practicing  advo- 
cate in  the  courts.  In  the  latter  capacity  he  was  void 
of  the  moving  power  of  eloquence,  so  necessary  to 
success  with  juries.  As  a  Judge  his  opinions  were 
?ound,  lucid  and  able  expositions  of  the  law.  In 
practice,  he  was  a  stranger  to  the  tact,  skill  and  in- 
sinuating address  of  the  politician,  but  he  saw  through 
he  arts  of  demagogues  as  well  as  any  man.  He  was 
plain  in  his  demeanor,  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  at 
one  time  after  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office, 
during  a  session  of  the  Legislature,  he  was  taken  by 
a  stranger  to  be  a  seeker  for  the  position  of  door- 
keeper, and  was  waited  upon  at  his  hotel  near  mid- 
night by  a  knot  of  small  office-seekers  with  the  view 
of  effecting  a  "combination  !  " 

Mr.  Ford  had  not  the  "  brass  "  of  the  ordinary 
politician,  nor  that  impetuosity  which  characterizes  a 
political  leader.  He  cared  little  for  money,  and 
hardly  enough  for  a  decent  support.  In  person  he 
was  of  small  stature,  slender,  of  dark  complexion, 
with  black  hair,  sharp  features,  deep-set  eyes,  a 
pointed,  aquiline  nose  having  a  decided  twist  to  one 
side,  and  a  small  mouth. 

The  three  most  important  events  in  Gov.  Ford's 
r.dn:inistration  were  the  establishment  of  the  high 
financial  credit  of  the  State,  the  "  Mormon  War  "  and 
.he  Mexican  War. 

In  the  first  of  these  the  Governor  proved  himself 
to  be  eminently  wise.  On  coming  into  office  he  found 
the  State  badly  paralyzed  by  the  ruinous  effects  of 
the   notorious  "  internal  improvement '   schemes   of 


the  preceding  decade,  with  scarcely  anything  to 
show  by  way  of  "improvement."  The  enterprise 
that  seemed  to  be  getting  ahead  more  than  all  the 
rest  was  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  As  this 
promised  to  be  the  most  important  thoroughfare, 
feasible  to  the  people,  it  was  well  under  headway  in 
its  construction.  Therefore  the  State  policy  was 
almost  concentrated  upon  it,  in  order  to  rush  it  on  tc 
completion.  The  bonded  indebtedness  of  the  State 
was  growmg  so  large  as  to  frighten  the  people,  and 
they  were  about  ready  to  entertain  a  proposition  for 
repudiation.  But  the  Governor  had  the  foresight  to 
recommend  such  measures  as  would  maintain  the 
public  credit,  for  which  every  citizen  to-day  feels 
thankful. 

But  perhaps  the  Governor  is  remembered  more  for 
his  connection  with  the  Mormon  troubles  than  for 
anything  else;  for  it  was  during  his  term  of  office 
that  the  "  Latter- Day  Saints  "  became  so  strong  at 
Nauvoo,  built  their  temple  there,  increased  their  num- 
bers throughout  the  country,  committed  misdemean- 
ors, taught  dangerous  doctrines,  suffered  the  loss  of 
their  leader,  Jo  Smith,  by  a  violent  death,  were  driven 
out  of  Nauvoo  to  the  far  West,  etc.  Having  been  a 
Judge  for  so  many  years  previously,  Mr.  Ford  of 
course  was  non-committal  concerning  Mormon  affairs, 
and  was  therefore  claimed  by  both  parties  and  also 
accused  by  each  of  sympathizing  too  greatly  with  the 
other  side.  Mormonism  claiming  to  be  a  system  of 
religion,  the  Governor  no  doubt  was  "between  two 
fires,"  and  felt  compelled  to  touch  the  matter  rather 
"  gingerly,"  and  doubtless  felt  greatly  relieved  when 
that  pestilential  people  left  the  State.  Such  compli- 
cated matters,  especially  when  religion  is  mixed  up 
with  them,  expose  every  person  participating  in 
them  to  criticism  from  all  parties. 

The  Mexican  War  was  begun  in  the  spring  of 
1845,  and  was  continued  into  the  gubernatorial  term 
of  Mr.  Ford's  successor.  The  Governor's  connection 
with  this  war,  however,  was  not  conspicuous,  as  it 
was  only  administrative,  commissioning  officers,  etc. 
Ford's  "  History  of  Illinois  "  is  a  very  readable  and 
entertaining  work,  of  450  small  octavo  pages,  and  is 
destined  to  increase  in  value  with  the  lapse  of  time. 
It  exhibits  a  natural  flow  of  compact  and  forcible 
thought,  never  failing  to  convey  the  nicest  sense.  In 
tracing  with  his  trenchant  pen  the  devious  operations 
of  the  professional  politician,  in  which  he  is  inimit- 
able, his  account  is  open,  perhaps,  to  the  objection 
that  all  his  contemporaries  are  treated  as  mere  place- 
seekers,  while  many  of  them  have  since  been  judged 
by  the  people  to  be  worthy  statesmen.  His  writings 
seem  slightly  open  to  the  criticism  that  they  exhibit 
a  little  splenetic  partiality  against  those  of  his  con- 
temporaries who  were  prominent  during  his  term  of 
office  as  Governor. 

The  death  of  Gov.  Ford  took  place  at  Peoria,  111., 
Nov.  2,  1850. 


LLIKO'S 


',i?':^-^^^^>^^^/ 


GO  VERArORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


143 


>e^L^//<:x\K^^ 


I       Augustus  C.  French, 


[a^^'^^UGUSTUS  C.  FRENCH, 
Governor  of  Illinois  from 
)  1846  to  1852,  was  born  ill 
the  town  of  Hill,  in  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire, 
:>  Aug.  2,  1808.  He  was  a 
."^  descendant  in  the  fourth 
generation  of  Nathaniel 
Freni-h,  who  emigrated  from  England 
in  16S7  and  settled  in  Saybury,  Mass. 
In  early  life  yonng  French  lost  his 
father,  but  continued  to  receive  in- 
struction I'rom  an  exemplary  and 
Christian  mother  until  he  was  1  9  years 
old,  when  she  also  died,  confiding  to 
his  care  and  trust  four  younger  broth- 
ers and  one  sister.  He  discharged  his  trust  with 
parental  devotion.  His  education  in  early  life  was 
tucli  mainly  as  a  common  scliool  afforded.  For  a 
Srief  period  he  attended  Dartmouth  College,  but 
from  pecuniary  causes  and  the  care  of  his  brothers 
and  sister,  he  did  not  graduate.  He  subsequently 
read  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1831,  and 
shortly  afterward  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  first  at 
Albion,  Edwards  County,  where  he  established  him- 
self in  the  practice  of  law.  The  following  year  he 
removed  to  Paris,  Edgar  County.  Here  he  attained 
eminence  in  his  profession,  and  entered  public  life 
by  representing  that  county  in  the  Legislature.  A 
strong  attachment  sprang  up  between  him  and  Ste- 
phen A.  Douglas. 

In  1839,  Mr.  French  was  appointed  Receiver  of 
the  United  States  Land  Office  at  Palestine,  Craw- 
ford County,  at  which  place  he  was  a  resident   when 


elevated  to  the  gubernatorial  chair.  In  1844  he  was 
a  Presidential  Elector,  and  as  such  he  voted  for 
James  K.  Polk. 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  of  1846,  meet- 
ing at  Springfield  Feb.  10,  nominated  Mr.  French 
for  Governor.  Other  Democratic  candidates  were 
Lyman  Trumbull,  John  Calhoun  (subsequently  of 
Lecompton  Constitution  notoriety),  Walter  B.  Scates, 
Richard  M.  Young  and  A.  W.  Cavarly, — an  array  of 
very  able  and  prominent  names.  Trumbull  was  per- 
haps defeated  in  the  Convention  by  th'e  rumor  that 
he  was  opposed  to  tlie  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal, 
as  he  had  been  a  year  previously.  For  Lieutenant 
Governor  J.  B.  Wells  was  chosen,  while  other  candi- 
dates were  Lewis  Ross,  Wm.  McMurlry,  Newton 
Cloud,  J.  B.  Hamilton  and  W.  W.  Thompson.  The 
resolutions  declared  strongly  against  the  resuscita- 
tion of  the  old  State  Banks. 

The  Wliigs,  wlio  were  in  a  hopeless  nunority,  held 
their  convention  June  8,  at  Peoria,  and  selected 
Thomas  M.  Kilpatrick,  of  Scott  County,  for  Governor, 
and  Gen.  Nathaniel  G.  Wilco.x,  of  Schuyler,  for 
Lieutenant  Governor. 

In  the  campaign  the  latter  e.xposed  Mr.  French's 
record  and  connection  with  the  passage  of  the  in- 
ternal improvement  system,  urging  it  against  his 
election;  Inil  in  the  mcntime  the  war  with  Mexico 
broke  out,  regarding  which  the  Whig  record  was  un- 
popular in  this  State.  The  war  was  tlie  absorbing 
and  dominating  question  of  the  period,  sweeping 
every  other  political  issue  in  its  course.  The  elec- 
tion in  August  gave  Mr.  French  58,700  votes,  and 
Kilpatrick  only  36,775.  Richard  Eells,  Abolitionist 
candidate  for  the  same  office,  received   5,152   vot»s 


144 


AUGUSTUS  C.  FRENCH. 


By  the  new  Constitution  of  1848,  a  new  election  for 
State  officers  was  ordered  in  November  of  that  year, 
before  Gov.  French's  term  was  half  out,  and  he  was 
re-elected  for  the  term  of  four  years.  He  was  there- 
fore the  uicumbent  for  six  consecutive  years,  the 
only  Governor  of  this  State  who  has  ever  served  in 
that  capacity  so  long  at  one  time.  As  there  was  no 
organized  opposition  to  his  election,  he  received  67,- 
453  votes,  to  5,639  for  Pierre  Menard  (son  of  the 
first  Lieutenant  Governor),  4,748  for  Charles  V. 
Dyer,  3,834  for  W.  L.  D.  Morrison,  and  1,361  for 
James  L.  D.  Morrison.  But  Wm.  McMurtry,  of 
Knox  County,  was  elected  Lieutenant  Governor,  in 
place  of  Joseph  B.  Wells,  who  was  before  elected 
and  did  not  run  again. 

Governor  French  was  inaugurated  into  office  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  the  Mexican  War,  which  closed 
during  the  summer  of  1847,  although  the  treaty  of 
Guadalupe  Hidalgo  was  not  made  until  Feb.  2, 
1848.  The  policy  of  Gov.  French's  party  was  com- 
mitted to  that  war^  but  in  connection  with  that  affair 
he  was,  of  course,  only  an  administrative  officer. 
During  his  term  of  office,  Fei).  19,  1847,  the  Legisla- 
ture, by  special  peraiission  of  Congress,  declared  that 
all  Government  lands  sold  to  settlers  should  be  im- 
mediately subject  to  State  taxation;  before  this  they 
were  exempt  for  five  years  after  sale.  By  this  ar- 
rangement the  revenue  was  materially  increased. 
About  the  same  lime,  tlie  distribution  of  Government 
land  warrants  among  the  Me.xican  soldiers  as  bounty 
threw  upon  the  market  a  great  quantity  of 'good 
lands,  and  this  enhanced  the  settlement  of  tlie  State. 
The  same  Legislature  authorized,  with  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  Governor,  the  sale  of  the  Northern 
Cross  Railroad  (from  Springfield  to  Meredosia,  the 
first  in  the  State  and  now  a  section  of  the  Wabash, 
St.  Louis  &  Pacific)  It  sold  for  $roo,ooo  in  bonds, 
although  it  had  cost  the  State  not  less  than  a  million. 
The  salt  weils  and  canal  lands  in  the  Saline  reserve 
in  Gallatin  County,  granted  by  the  general  Govern- 
ment to  the  State,  were  also  authorized  by  the 
Governor  to  be  sold,  to  apply  on  the  State  debt.  In 
1850,  for  the  first  time  since  1S39,  the  accruing  State 
revenue,  exclusive  of  specific  appropriations,  was 
sufficient  to  meet  the  current  demands  upon  the 
treasury.  The  aggregate  taxable  property  of  the 
State  at  this  time  was  over  $100,000,000,  and  th.^ 
population  851,470. 


In  1S49  the  Legislature  adopted  the  township  or- 
ganization law,  which,  however,  proved  defective, 
and  was  properly  amended  in  185 1.  At  its  session 
in  the  latter  year,  the  General  Assembly  also  passed 
a  law  to  exempt  homesteads  from  sale  on  executions 
This  beneficent  measure  had  been  repeatedly  vuge(3 
upon  that  body  by  Gov.  French. 

In  1850  some  business  men  in  St.  Louis  com- 
menced to  build  a  dike  opposite  the  lower  part  of 
their  city  on  the  Illinois  side,  to  keep  the  Mississippi 
in  its  channel  near  St.  Louis,  instead  of  breaking 
away  from  them  as  it  sometimes  threatened  to  do. 
This  they  undertook  without  permission  from  the 
Legislature  or  Executive  authority  of  this  State  ;  and 
as  many  of  the  inhabitants  thera  complained  that 
the  scheme  would  inundate  and  ruin  much  valuable 
land,  there  was  a  slight  conflict  of  jurisdictions,  re- 
sulting in  favor  of  the  St.  Louis  project;  and  since 
then  a  good  site  has  existed  there  for  a  city  (East  St. 
Louis),  and  now  a  score  of  railroads  center  there. 

It  was  in  September,  1850,  that  Congress  granted 
to  this  State  nearly  3,000,000  acres  of  land  in  aid  of 
the  completion  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad, 
which  constituted  the  most  important  epoch  in  the 
railroad — we  might  say  internal  improvement — his- 
tory of  the  State.  The  road  was  rushed  on  to  com- 
pletion, which  accelerated  the  settlement  of  the  in- 
terior of  the  State  by  a  good  class  of  industrious  citi- 
zens, and  by  the  charter  a  good  income  to  the  State 
Treasury  is  paid  in  from  the  earnings  of  the  road. 

In  1851  the  Legislature  passed  a  law  authorizing 
free  stock  banks,  which  was  the  source  of  much  leg- 
islative  discussion  for  a  number  of  years. 

But  we  have  not   space   further  to    particularize  j 
concerning  legislation.      Gov.   French's  administra- 
tion was  not  marked  by  any  feature  to  be  criticised, 
while  the  country  was  settling  up  as  never  before. 

In  stature,  Gov.  French  was  of  medium  height, 
squarely  built,  light  coraplexioned,  with  ruddy  face 
and  pleasant  countenance.  In  manners  he  was 
plain  and  agreeable.  By  nature  he  was  somewhat 
diffident,  but  he  was  often  very  outspoken  in  his  con- 
victions of  duty.  In  public  speech  he  was  not  an 
orator,  but  was  chaste,  earnest  and  persuasive.  In 
business  he  was  accurate  and  methodical,  and  in  his 
administration  he  kept  up  the  credit  of  the  State. 

He  died  in  1S65,  at  his  home  in  Lebanon,  St 
Glair  Co.,  Jll. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


147 


%.  plEiles0n 


-  ^'^'^"X^^'"      '^'^■^^^^iL' 


~*J 


CoEL    A.    MATTESON,    Governor 
i-:^;j»  1853-6,  was  born  Aug.  8,    iSoo, 
;;'       ill  Jefferson  County,  New  York, 
to  which  place  his  father  had  re- 
moved from  Vermont  three  years 
l)efore.     His  father  was  a  farmer 
in  fair  circumstances,  but  a  com- 
mon English   education  was  all 
that  his  only  son  received.  Young 
Joel   first  tempted  fortune  as  a 
small    tradesman     in     Prescott, 
Canada,  before   he   was  of  age. 
He  returned  from  that  place  to 
his  home,  entered  an  academy, 
taught  school,  visited   the  prin- 
cipal Eastern  cities,  improved  a  farm  his  father  hail 
given  him,  made  a  tour  in  the  Soutli,  worked  there 
in  building  railroads,  experienced  a  storm  on  tire 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  visited  tiie  gold  diggings  of  Northern 
Georgia,  and  returned  via  Nashville  to  St.  Louis  and 
through  Illinois  to  his  fatlier's  home,  when  he  mar- 
ried.    In   1833,  having  sold  his  farm,  he  removed. 
with  his  wife  and  one  child,  to  Illinois,  and  entered 
a  claim  on  Government  land  near  the  head  of  An 
Sable  River,  in  what  is  now  Kendall  County.     Ai 
that  time  there  were  not  more  than  two  neighbors 
within  a  range  of  ten  miles  of  liis  place,  and  only 
diree  or  four  houses  between  him  and  Chicago.     He 
opened  a  large  farm.     His   family   was  boarded   1 2 


miles  away  while  he  erected  a  house  on  his  claim, 
sleeping,  daring  this  time,  under  a  rude  pole  shed. 
Here  his  life  was  once  placed  in  imminent  peril  by 
a  huge. prairie  rattlesnake  sharing  his  bed. 

In  1835  he  bought  largely  at  the  Government  land 
sales.  During  the  speculative  real-estate  mania  which 
broke  out  in  Chicago  in  1S36  and  spread  over  the  State, 
he  sold  his  lands  under  the  inflation  of  that  period 
and  removed  to  Joliet.  In  1838  he  became  a  heavy 
contractor  on  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  Canal.  Upon 
the  completion  of  his  job  in  1841,  when  hard  times 
prevailed,  business  at  a  stand,  contracts  paid  in  State 
scrip;  when  all  the  public  works  except  the  canal 
were  abandoned,  the  State  offered  for  sale  700  tons 
of  railroad  iron,  which  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Mat- 
teson  at  a  bargain.  This  he  accepted,  shipped  and 
sold  at  Detroit,  realizing  a  very  handsome  profit, 
enough  to  pay  off  all  his  canal  debts  and  leave  him  a 
surplus  of  several  thousand  dollars.  His  enterprise 
next  prompted  him  to  start  a  woolen  mill  at  Joliet, 
in  which  he  prospered,  and  which,  after  successive 
enlargements,  became  an  enormous  establishment. 

In  1842  he  was  first  elected  a  State  Senator,  but, 
ijy  a  bungling  apportionment,  jcin  Pearson,  a  Senator 
holding  over,  was  found  to  be  in  the  same  district 
and  decided  to  be  entitled  to  represent  it.  Mat- 
teson's  seat  was  declared  vacant.  Pearson,  however 
with  a  nobleness  difficult  to  appreciate  in  this  day  of 


148 


JOEL  A.  MATTESON. 


greed  for  office,  unwilling  to  represent  his  district 
under  the  circumstances,  immediately  resigned  his 
unexpired  term  of  two  years.  A  bill  was  passed  in  a 
few  hours  ordering  a  new  election,  and  in  ten  days' 
time  Mr.  Matteson  was  returned  re-elected  and  took 
his  seat  as  Senator.  From  his  well-known  capacity 
as  a  business  man,  he  was  made  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Finai'ce,  a  position  he  held  during 
this  half  and  two  full  succeeding  Senatorial  terms, 
discharging  its  important  duties  with  ability  and  faith- 
fulness. Besides  his  extensive  woolen-mill  interest, 
when  work  was  resumed  on  the  canal  under  the  new 
/oan  of  $1,600,000  he  again  became  a  heavy  con- 
tractor, and  also  subsequently  operated  largely  in 
building  railroads.  Thus  he  showed  himself  a  most 
energetic  and  thorough  business  man. 

He  was  nominated  for  Governor  by  the  Demo- 
cratic State  Convention  which  met  at  Springfield 
April  20,  1852.  Other  candidates  before  the  Con- 
vention were  D.  L.  Gregg  and  F.  C.  Sherman,  of 
Cook ;  John  Dement,  of  Lee  ;  Tliomas  L.  Harris,  of 
Menard;  Lewis  W.  Ross, of  Fulton ;  and  D.  P.  Bush, 
of  Pike.  Gustavus  Koerner,  of  St.  Clair,  was  nom- 
inated for  Lieutenant  Governor.  For  the  same  offices 
the  Whigs  nominated  Edwin  B.  Webb  and  De.xter  A. 
Knowlton.  Mr.  Matteson  received  80,645  votes  at 
the  election,  while  Mr.  Webb  received  64,408.  Mat- 
teson's  forte  was  not  on  the  stump;  he  had  not  cul- 
tivated the  art  of  oily  flattery,  or  the  faculty  of  being 
all  things  to  all  men.  His  intellectual  qualities  took 
rather  the  direction  of  efficient  executive  ability.  His 
turn  consisted  not  so  much  in  the  adroit  manage- 
ment of  party,  or  the  jwwerful  advocacy  of  great  gov- 
ernmental principles,  as  in  those  more  solid  and 
enduring  operations  which  cause  the  physical  devel- 
opment and  advancement  of  a  State, — of  commerce 
and  business  enterprise,  into  which  he  labored  with 
success  to  lead  the  people.  .\s  a  politician  he  was 
just  and  liberal  in  his  views,  and  both  in  official  and 
private  life  he  then  stood  untainted  and  free  from 
blemish.  As  a  man,  in  active  benevolence,  social 
irirtues  and  all  the  amiable  qualities  of  neighbor  or 
citizen,  he  had  few  superiors.  His  messages  present 
a  perspicuous  array  of  facts  as  to  the  condition  of  the 
State,  and  are  often  couched  in  forcible  and  elegant 
diction. 

The  greatest  excitement  during  his  term  of  office 
was  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  by  Con- 


gress, under  the  leadership  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in 
1854,  when  the  bill  was  passed  organizing  the  Terri- 
tory of  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  A  large  portion  of 
the  Whig  party  of  the  North,  through  their  bitter  op- 
position to  the  Democratic  party,  naturally  drifted 
into  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  and  thus  led  to  what 
was  temporarily  called  the  "  Anti-Nebraska  "  party, 
while  the  followers  of  Douglas  were  known  as  "  Ne- 
l)raska  or  Douglas  Democrats."  It  was  during  this 
embryo  stage  of  the  Republican  party  that  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  brought  forward  as  the  "Anti-Nebraska" 
candidate  for  the  United  States  Senatorship,  while 
Gen.  James  Shields,  the  incumbent,  was  re-nom- 
inated by  the  Democrats.  But  after  a  fewballotings 
in  the  Legislature  (1855),  these  men  were  dropped, 
and  Lyman  Trumbull,  an  Anti-Nebraska  Democrat, 
was  brought  up  by  the  former,  and  Mr.  Matteson, 
then  Governor,  by  the  latter.  On  the  nth  ballot 
Mr.  Trumbull  obtained  one  majority,  and  was  ac- 
cordingly declared  elected.  Before  Gov.  Matteson's 
term  expired,  the  Republicans  were  fully  organized 
as  a  national  party,  and  in  1856  put  into  the  field  a 
full  national  and  State  ticket,  carrying  the  State,  but 
not  the  nation. 

The  Legislature  of  1855  passed  two  very  import- 
ant measures, — the  present  free-school  system  and  a 
submission  of  the  Maine  liquor  law  to  a  vote  of  the 
people.  The  latter  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority 
of  the  popular  vote. 

During  tiie  four  years  of  Gov.  Matteson's  admin- 
istration the  taxable  wealth  of  the  State  was  about 
trebled,  from  $ 1 37,8  r 8,07 9  to  $349,951,272;  the  pub- 
lic debt  was  reduced  from  $17,398,985  to  $12,843,- 
144;  taxation  was  at  the  same  time  reduced,  and  the 
State  resumed  paying  interest  on  its  debt  in  New 
York  as  fast  as  it  fell  due ;  railroads  were  increased 
in  their  mileage  from  something  less  than  400  to 
about  3.000 ;  and  the  population  of  Chicago  was 
nearly  doubled,  and  its  commerce  more  than  quad- 
rupled. 

Before  closing  this  account,  we  regret  that  we  have 
to  say  that  Mr.  Matteson,  in  all  other  respects  an 
upright  man  and  a  good  Governor,  was  implicated 
in  a  false  re-issue  of  redeemed  canal  scrip,  amount- 
ing to  $224,182.66.  By  a  suit  in  the  Sangamon  Cir- 
cuit Court  the  State  recovered  the  principal  and  all 
the  interest  excepting  $27,500. 

He  died  in   the  winter  of  1872-3,  at  Chicago. 


I!'.' 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'S' 


*^i'..n;r.'.  •.'.•. '■  ■.  'i '.  'i  ■.  •i". 


I.LIAM  H.  BISSELL,  Gov- 
ernor 1857-60,  was  born 
^«;3  April  25,  iSii,  in  llie 
State  of  New  York,  near 
Painted  Post,  Yates  County. 
His  parents  were  obscure, 
lionest,  God-fearing  people, 
"  111  1  re  ired  their  children  under  the  daily 
Lxample  of  industry  and  frugality,  accord- 
ing to  the  custom  of  that  class  of  Eastern 
st)(  lety  Mr.  Bissell  received  a  respecta- 
ble but  not  thorough  academical  education. 
By  assiduous  application  he  acquired  a 
knowledge  of  medicine,  and  in  his  early 
manhood  came  West  and  located  in  Mon- 
roe County,  this  .State,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  that  profession.  But  he  was  not  enam- 
ored of  his  calling:  he  was  swayed  by  a  broader 
ambition,  to  such  an  extent  that  the  mysteries  of  the 
healing  art  and  its  arduous  duties  failed  to  yield  him 
further  any  charms.  In  a  few  years  he  discovered 
his  <,hoice  of  a  profession  to  be  a  mistake,  and  when 
he  approached  the  age  of  30  he  sought  to  begin 
.i;iew.  Dr.  Bissell,  no  doubt  unexpectedly  to  him- 
self, »lis<overed  a  singular  facility  and  charm  of 
speech,  the  exercise  of  which  acquired  for  him  a 
ready  loc.il    notoriety.      It   soon   came   to   be    under- 


stood that  he  desired  to  abandon  his  profession  and 
take  up  that  of  the  law.  During  terms  of  Court  he 
would  spend  his  time  at  the  county  seat  among  the 
members  of  the  Bar,  who  extended  to  him  a  ready 
welcome. 

It  was  not  strange,  therefore,  that  he  should  drift 
into  public  life.  In  1840  he  was  elected  as  a  Dem- 
ocrat to  the  Legislature  from  Monroe  County,  and 
was  an  efficient  member  of  that  body.  On  his  re- 
turn home  he  qualified  himself  for  admission  to  the 
Bar  and  speedily  rose  to  the  front  rank  as  an  advo- 
cate. His  powers  of  oratory  were  captivating.  With  a 
pure  diction,  charming  and  inimitable  gestures, 
clearness  of  statement,  and  a  remarkable  vein  of  sly 
luimor,  his  efforts  before  a  jury  told  with  irresistible 
effect.  He  was  chosen  by  the  Legislature  Prosecut- 
ing Attorney  for  the  Circuit  in  which  he  lived,  and 
in  that  position  he  fully  discharged  his  duty  to  the 
State,  gained  the  esteem  of  the  Bar,  and  seldom 
failed  to  convict  the  offender  of  the  law. 

\\\  stature  he  was  somewhat  tall  and  slender,  and 
with  a  straight,  military  bearing,  he  presented  a  dis- 
tinguished appearance.  His  complexion  was  dark, 
his  head  well  poised,  though  not  large,  his  address 
lileasant  and  manner  winning.  He  was  exemplary 
in  his  habits,  a  devoted  husband  and  kind  parent. 
He  was  twice  married,  tiie  first  tirne  to  Miss   lames, 


^52 


WILLIAM  II.  BISSELL. 


ot  Monroe  County,  by  whom  he  had  two  children, 
both  daughters.  She  died  soon  after  the  year  1840, 
and  Mr.  B.  married  for  his  second  wife  a  daughter 
of  Elias  K.  Kane,  previously  a  United  States  Senator 
from  this  State.  She  survived  him  but  a  short  time, 
and  died  without  issue. 

When  the  war  with  Mexico  was  declared  in  1846, 
Mr.  Bissell  enlisted  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  his 
regiment,  over  Hon.  Don  Morrison,  by  an  almost 
unanimous  vote, — 807  to  6.  Considering  the  limited 
opportunities  he  had  had,  he  evinced  a  high  order  of 
military  talent.  On  the  bloody  field  of  Buena  Vista 
he  acquitted  himself  with  intrepid  and  distinguished 
ability,  contributing  with  his  regiment,  tiie  Second 
Illinois,  in  no  small  degree  toward  saving  the  waver- 
ing fortunes  of  our  arms  during  that  long  and  fiercely 
contested  battle. 

After  his  return  home,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
was  elected  to  Congress,  his  opponents  being  the 
Hons.  P.  B.  Fouke  and  Joseph  Gillespie.  He  served 
two  terms  in  Congress.  He  was  an  ardent  politician. 
During  the  great  contest  of  1850  he  voted  in  favor 
of  the  adjustment  measures  ;  but  in  1854  he  opposed 
the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  act  and 
therefore  the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill  of  Douglas,  and 
thus  became  identified  with  the  nascent  Repul)lican 
party. 

During.,  his  first  Congressional  term,  while  the 
Southern  members  were  following  their  old  practice 
of  intimidating  the  North  by  bullying  language, 
and  claiming  most  of  the  credit  for  victories  in  the 
Mexican  War,  and  Jefferson  Davis  claiming  for  the 
Mississippi  troops  all  the  credit  ior  success  at  Buena 
Vista,  Mr.  Bissell  bravely  defended  the  Northern 
troops  ;  whereupon  Davis  challenged  Bissell  to  a  duel, 
which  was  accepted.  This  matter  was  brought  ujj 
against  Bissell  when  he  was  candidate  for  Governor 
and  during  his  term  of  office,  as  the  Constitution  of 
this  State  forbade  any  duelist  from  holding  a  State 
office. 

In  1856,  when  the  Republican  party  first  put  forth 
a  candidate,  John  C.  Fremont,  for  President  of  the 
United  States,  the  same  party  nominated  Mr.  Bissell 
for  Governor  of  Illinois,  and  John  Wood,  of  Quincy, 
for  Lieutenant  Governor,  while  the  Democrats  nomi- 
nated Hon.  W.  A.  Richardson,  of  Adams  County, 
for  Governor,  and  Col.  R.  J.  Hamilton,  of  ("ook 
County,  for  Lieutcnunt  Governor.     Tlie  result  of  the 


election  was  a  plurality  of  4,729  votes  over  Richard- 
son. The  American,  or  Know-Nothing,  party  had  a 
ticket  in  the  field.  The  Legislature  was  nearly  bal- 
anced, but  was  politically  opposed  to  the  Governor. 
His  message  to  the  Legislature  was  short  and  rather 
ordinary,  and  was  criticised  for  expressing  the  sup- 
posed obligations  of  the  people  to  the  incorporators 
of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  and  for  re- 
opening the  slavery  question  by  allusions  to  the 
Kansas  troubles.  Late  in  the  session  an  apportion- 
ment bill,  based  upon  the  State  census  of  1855,  was 
passed,  amid  much  partisan  strife.  The  Governor 
at  first  signed  the  bill  and  then  vetoed  it.  A  furious 
debate  followed,  and  the  question  whether  the  Gov- 
ernor had  the  authority  to  recall  a  signature  was 
referred  to  the  Courts,  that  of  last  resort  deciding  irj 
favor  of  the  Governor.  Two  years  afterward  another 
outrageous  attempt  was  made  for  a  re-apportionment 
and  to  gerrymander  the  State,  but  the  Legislature 
failed  to  pass  the  bill  over  the  veto  of  the  Governor. 

It  was  during  Gov.  Bissell's  administration  that 
the  notorious  canal  scrip  fraud  was  brought  to  light,  . 
'mplicating  ex-Gov.  Matteson  and  other  prominent 
State  officials.  The  principal  and  interest,  aggregat- 
ing $255,500,  was  all  recovered  by  the  State  except- 
ing $27,500.     (See  sketch  of  Gov.  Matteson.) 

In  1859  an  attempt  was  discovered  to  fraudu- 
lently refund  the  Macalister  and  Stebbins  bonds  and 
thus  rob  the  State  Treasury  of  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
million  dollars.  The  State  Government  was  impli- 
cated in  this  affair,  and  to  this  day  remains  unex- 
plained or  unatoned  for.  For  the  above,  and  other 
matters  previously  mentioned.  Gov.  Bissell  has  been 
severely  criticised,  and  he  has  also  been  most  shame- 
fully libelled  and  slandered. 

On  account  of  e.xposure  in  the  army,  the  remote 
cause  of  a  nervous  form  of  disease  gained  entrance 
into  his  system  and  eventually  developed  paraplegia, 
affecting  his  lower  extremities,  which,  while  it  left 
his  body  in  comparative  health,  deprived  him  of  loco-  ' 
motion  except  by  the  aid  of  crutches.     While  he  was  I 
generally  hopeful    of  ultimate  recovery,  this  myste- 
rious disease  pursued  him,  without  once  relaxing  its  ■ 
stealthy   hold,   to  the  close  of  his  life,   March   i8,i 
i860,  over  nine  months  before  tlie  expiration  of  hijj 
gubernatorial  term,  at  the  early  age  of  48  years.     Hej 
died  in  the  faith  of  tlie   Roman  C'atholic  ("hurch.  n(' 
which  he  ha.l  been  a  member  since  1S54. 


iV  ILLINOIS 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


■SS 


-  'liOHN  WOOD,  Governo.-  1860-1,  and 
jfew  the  first  settler  of  Quincy,  111., 
3=  was  born  in  the  town  of  Sempro- 
,  <.  niiis  (now  Moravia),  Cayuga  Co., 
2J?'  N.  Y.,  Dec.  20,  1798.  He  was 
the  second  child  and  only  son  of 
Dr.  Daniel  Wood.  His  mother, 
iifi  Catiierine  Crause,  was  of 
German  parentage,  and  died 
wliile  he  was  an  infant.  Dr. 
Wood  was  a  learned  and  skillful 
l)hysician,  of  classical  attain- 
ments and  proficient  in  several 
modern  lai.guages,  who,  after 
serving  throughout  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  as  a  Surgeon,  settled  on  the  land  granted 
him  by  the  Government,  and  resided  there  a  re- 
spected and  leading  influence  in  his  section  until  his 
death,  at  the  ripe  age  of  92  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  impelled  by  the  spirit 
of  Western  adventure  then  pervading  everywhere, 
left  his  home,  Nov.  2,  181 8,  and  passed  the  succeed- 
ing winter  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  The  following  sum- 
mer he  pushed  on  to  Illinois,  landing  at  Shawneetown, 
and  spent  the  fall  and  following  winter  in  Calhoun 
County.  In  1820,  in  company  with  Willard  Keyes, 
he  settled  in  Pike  County,  about  30  miles  southeast 
of  Quincy,  where  for  the  next  two  years  he  pursued 
farming.  In  1821  he  visited  "  the  BUiflfs  "  (as  the 
present  site  of  Quincy  was  called,  then  uninhabited) 
and,  pleased  with  lis  prospects,  soon  after  purchased 
a  i|u:irter-se(;tin;i  of  lanil  near  bv,  and  in  the  follow- 
lu^  fill  ( I  ;■;.'-•)  cre(lcii  near  the   livcr  a  small  cabin, 


#-# 


18  X  20  feet,  the  first  building  in  Quincy,  of  which 
he  then  became  the  first  and  for  some  months  the 
only  occupant. 

About  this  time  he  visited  his  old  friends  in  Pike 
County,  chief  of  whom  was  William  Ross,  the  lead- 
ing man  in  building  up  the  village  of  Atlas,  of  that 
county,  which  was  thought  then  to  be  the  possible 
commencement  of  a  city.  One  day  they  and  others 
I  were  traveling  together  over  the  country  between  the 
two  iX)ints  named,  making  observations  on  the  com- 
parative merits  of  the  respective  localities.  On  ap- 
proaching the  Mississippi  near  Mr.  Wood's  place, 
the  latter  told  his  companions  to  follow  him  and  he 
would  show  them  where  he  was  going  to  build  a  city. 
They  went  about  a  mile  off  the  main  trail,  to  a  high 
point,  from  which  the  view  in  every  direction  was 
most  magnificent,  as  it  had  been  for  ages  and  as  ye; 
untouched  by  the  hand  of  man.  Before  them  swept 
by  the  majestic  Father  of  Waters,  yet  unburdened  by 
navigation.  After  Mr.  Wood  had  expatiated  at 
.length  on  the  advantages  of  the  situation,  Mr.  Ross 
replied,  "  But  it's  too  near  Atlas  ever  to  amount  to 
anything!" 

Atlas  is  still  a  cultivated  farm,  and  Quincy  is  a 
city  of  over  30,000  population. 

In  1824  Mr.  Wood  gave  a  'lewspaper  notice, 
as  the  law  then  prescribed,  of  his  intention  to  apply 
to  the  General  Assembly  for  the  formation  of  a  new 
county.  This  was  done  the  following  winter,  result- 
ing in  the  establishment  of  the  present  Adams 
('oar.ty.  During  the  next  summer  Quincy  was  se- 
lected as  the  county  seui,  it  and  the  vicinity  then 
containini;  but    four   adult   male    icsidfiil^;   ami    h.ili 


sso 


rOHN  WOOD. 


that  number  of  females.  Since  that  period  Mr. 
Wood  resided  at  the  place  of  his  early  adoption  un- 
til his  death,  and  far  more  than  any  other  man  was 
he  identified  with  every  measure  of  its  progress  and 
history,  and  almost  continuously  kept  in  public  posi- 
tions. 

He  was  one  of  the  early  town  Trustees,  and  after 
the  place  became  a  city  he  was  often  a  member  of 
the  City  Council,  many  times  elected  Mayor,  in  the 
face  of  a  constant  large  opposition  political  majonty. 
In  1850  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate.  In  1856, 
on  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party,  he  was 
chosen  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  State,  on  the 
ticket  with  Wm.  H.  Bissell  for  Governor,  and  on  the 
death  of  the  latter,  March  r8,  i860,  he  succeeded  to 
the  Chief  Executive  chair,  which  he  occupied  until 
Gov.  Yates  was  inaugurated  nearly  ten  months  after- 
ward. 

Nothing  very  marked  characterized  the  adminis- 
tration of  Gov.  Wood.  The  great  anti-slavery  cam- 
paign of  i860,  resulting  in  the  election  of  the  honest 
Illinoisan,  Abraham  Lincoln,  to  the  Presidency  of  the 
United  States,  occurred  during  the  short  period 
while  Mr.  Wood  was  Governor,  and  the  excitement 
and  issues  of  that  struggle  dominated  over  every 
other  consideration, — indeed,  supplanted  them  in  a 
great  measure.  The  people  of  Illinois,  during  all 
that  time,  were  passing  the  comparatively  petty  strifes 
under  Bissell's  administration  to  the  overwhelming 
issue  of  preserving  the  whole  nauon  from  destruction. 
In  186 1  ex-Gov.  Wood  was  one  of  the  five  Dele- 
gates from  Illinois  to  the  "  Peace  Convention  "  at 
Washington,  and  in  Aprilofthe  same  year,  on  the 
breaking  cut  of  the    Rebellion,   he   was   appointed 


Quartermaster-General  of  the  State,  which  position 
he  held  throughout  the  war.  In  1864  he  took  com- 
mand as  Colonel  of  the  137th  111.  Vol.  Inf,  with 
whom  he  served  until  the  period  of  enlistment  ex- 
pired. 

Politically,  Gov.  Wood  was  always  actively  identi- 
fied with  the  Whig  and  Republican  parties.  Few 
men  have  in  personal  experience  comprehended  so 
many  surprising  and  advancing  local  changes  as 
vested  in  the  more  than  half  century  recollections  of 
Gov.  Wood.  Sixty-four  years  ago  a  solitary  settler 
on  the  "Bluffs,"  with  no  family,  and  no  neighbor 
within  a  score  of  miles,  the  world  of  civilization  away 
behind  him,  and  the  strolling  red-man  almost  his 
only  visitant,  he  lived  to  see  growing  around  him, 
and  under  his  auspices  and  aid,  overspreading  the 
wild  hills  and  scraggy  forest  a  teaming  city,  second 
only  in  size  in  the  State,  and  surpassed  nowhere  in 
beauty,  prosperity  and  promise;  whose  people  recog- 
nize as  with  a  single  voice  the  proverbial  honor  and 
liberality  that  attach  to  the  name  and  lengthened 
life  of  their  pioneer  settler,  "the  old  Governor." 

Gov.  Wood  was  twice  married, — first  in  January, 
1826,  to  Ann  M.  Streeter,  daughter  of  Joshua  Streeter, 
formerly  of  Salem,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.  They  had 
eight  children.  Mrs.  W.  died  Oct.  8,  1863,  and  in 
Tune,  1865,  Gov.  Wood  married  Mrs.  Mary  A.,  widow 
of  Rev.  Joseph  T.  Holmes.  Gov.  Wood  died  June  4, 
1 880,  at  his  residence  in  Quincy.  Four  of  his  eight 
children  are  now  living,  namely:  Ann  E.,  wife  of 
Gen.  John  Tillson;  Daniel  C,  who  married  Mary  J. 
Abernethy;  John,  Jr.,  who  married  Josephine  Skinner, 
and  Joshua  S.,  who  married  Annie  Bradley.  The 
last  mentioned  now  resides  at  Atchison,  Kansas,  and 
all  the  rest  are  still  at  Quincy. 


Ikt^. 


ILUiWiS 


lh^Sr^>idbS,Wi»,WVA^-T'\-!J'rj!^ 


SlkA^iV:>'.:^Vrr  V\\  :V-ij\~-V  ••  A-m:VJAVViViA!V;g 


I?ic'l\ard     Ya{;(?*^. 


-^1       a- 


^Jl 


4- 


IICHARD  YATES,  the  "War 
Governor,"  1861-4,  was  born 
Jan.  18,  18 18,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Ohio  River,  at  V'arsaw, 
Gallatin  Co.,  Ky.  His  lather 
f&^  moved  in  i8-?i  to  Illinois,  and 
after  stopping  for  a  time  in 
Springfield,  settled  at  Island 
Grove,  Sangamon  County.  Here, 
after  attending  school,  Richard  joined 
the  family.  Subsequently  he  entered 
Illinois  College  at  Jacksonville, 
where,  in  1837,  he  graduated  with 
fiist  honors.  He  chose  for  his  pro- 
fession the  law,  the  Hon.  J.  J.  Har- 
din being  his  instructor.  After  ad- 
mission to  the  Bar  he  soon  rose  to  distinction  as  an 
advocate. 

Gifted  with  a  fluent  and  ready  oratory,  he  soon 
appeared  in  the  political  hustings,  and,  being  a 
passionate  admirer  of  the  great  Whig  leader  of  the 
West.  Henry  Clay,  he  joined  his  political  fortunes  to 
he  party  of  his  idol.  In  1840  he  engaged  with  great 
-"•dor  in  the  exciting  "  hard  cider  "  campaign  for 
%'arrison.  Two  years  later  he  was  elected  to  the 
Legislature  from  Morgan  County,  a  Democratic 
stronghold.  He  served  three  or  four  terms  in  the 
Legislature,  and  such  was  the  fascination  of  his  ora- 
•ry  that  by  1850  his  large  Congressional  District, 
txtending  from  Morgan  and  Sangamon  Counties 
.  orlh  to  include  LaSalle,  unanimously  tendered  him 
tne  Whig  nomination  for  Congress.  His  Democratic 
opponent  was  Maj.  Thomas  L.  Harris,  a  very  pop- 
v'ar  man  wiio  had  won  distinction  at  the  battle  of 
Cerro  Gordo,  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  who  had 
Deaten  Hon.  Stephen  T.  Logan  for  the  same  position. 


two  years  before,  by  a  large  majority.  Yates  wa? 
elected.  Tkvo  years  later  he  was  re-elected,  over 
John  Calhoun. 

It  was  during  Yates  second  term  in  Congress  that 
the  great  question  of  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Com- 
promise was  agitated,  and  the  bars  laid  down  for  re- 
opening the  dreaded  anti-slavery  question.  He  took 
strong  grounds  against  the  repeal,  and  thus  became 
identified  with  the  rising  Republican  party.  Conse- 
quently he  fell  into  the  minority  in  his  district,  which 
was  pro-slavery.  Even  then,  in  a  third  contest,  he 
fell  behind  Major  Harris  only  200  votes,  after  the 
district  had  two  years  before  given  Pierce  2,000 
majority  for  President. 

The  Republican  State  Convention  of  i860  met  at 
Decatur  May  9,  and  nominated  for  the  office  of  Gov- 
ernor Mr.  Yates,  in  preference  to  Hon.  Norman  B. 
Judd,  of  Chicago,  and  Leonard  Swett,  of  Blooming- 
ton,  two  of  the  ablest  men  of  the  State,  who  were 
also  candidates  before  the  Convention.  Francis  A. 
Hoffman,  of  DuPage  County,  was  nominated  foi 
Lieutenant  Governor.  This  was  the  year  when  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  a  candidate  for  President,  a  period  re- 
membered as  characterized  by  the  great  whirlpool 
which  precipitated  the  bloody  War  of  the  Rebellion. 
The  Douglas  Democrats  nominated  J.  C.  Allen  cf 
Crawford  County,  for  Governor,  and  Lewis  W.  Ro;^s, 
of  Fulton  County,  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The 
Breckenridge  Democrats  and  the  Bell-Everett  party 
had  also  full  tickets  in  the  field.  After  a  most  fear- 
ful campaign,  the  result  of  the  election  gave  Mr. 
Yates  172,196  votes,  and  Mr,  Allen  159,253.  Mr. 
Yates  received  over  a  thousand  more  votes  than  did 
Mr.  Lincoln  himself. 

Gov.  Yates  occupied  the  chair  of  Stale  during  the 


i6o 


RICHARD     YATES. 


most  critical  period  of  our  country's  history.  In  the 
fate  of  the  nation  was  involved  that  of  each  State. 
The  life  struggle  of  the  former  derived  its  sustenance 
froir  the  loyalty  of  the  latter;  and  Gov.  Yates 
seemed  to  realize  the  situation,  and  proved  himself 
both  loyal  and  wise  in  upholding  the  Government. 
He  had  a  deep  hold  upon  the  affections  of  the 
people,  won  by  his  moving  eloquence  and  genial 
manners.  Erect  and  symmetrical  in  person,  of  pre- 
possessing appearance,  with  a  winning  address  and  a 
magnetic  power,  few  men  possessed  more  of  the  ele- 
ments of  popularity.  His  oratory  was  scholarly  and 
captivating,  his  hearers  hardly  knowing  why  they 
were  transported.  He  was  social  and  convivial.  In 
the  latter  respect  he  was  ultimately  carried  too  far. 

The  very  creditable  military  efforts  of  this  State 
during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  in  putting  into  the 
field  the  enormous  number  of  about  200,000  soldiers, 
were  ever  promptly  and  ably  seconded  liy  his  excel- 
lency;  and  the  was  ambitious  to  deserve  the  title  of 
"the  soldier's  friend."  Immediately  after  the  battle  of 
Shiloh  he  repaired  to  the  field  of  carnage  to  look 
after  the  wounded,  and  liis  appeals  for  aid  were 
promptly  responded  to  by  the  people.  His  procla- 
mations calling  for  volunteers  were  impassionate 
appeals,  urging  upon  the  people  the  duties  and  re- 
quirements of  patriotism ;  and  his  special  message 
in  1863  to  the  Democratic  Legislature  of  this  State 
pleading  for  material  aid  for  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  of  Illinois  regiments,  breathes  a  deep  fervor 
of  noble  sentiment  and  feeling  rarely  equaled  in 
beauty  or  felicity  of  expression.  Generally  his  mes- 
sages on  poHtical  and  civil  affairs  were  able  and  com- 
prehensive. During  his  administration,  however, 
there  were  no  civil  events  of  an  engrossing  character, 
although  two  years  of  his  time  were  replete  with 
partisan  quarrels  of  great  bitterness.  Military  ar- 
rests, Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  riot  in  Fulton 
County,  attempted  suppression  of  the  Chicago  Times 
and  the  usurping  State  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1862,  were  the  chief  local  topics  that  were  exciting 
during  tlie  Governor's  term.  This  Convention  assem- 
bled Jan.  7,  and  at  once  took  the  high  laosition  that 
Se  law  calling  it  was  no  longer  binding,  and  that  it 
ad  supreme  power;  that  it  represented  a  virtual 
.issemblage  of  the  whole  people  of  the  State,  and  was 
.  jvereign  in  the  exercise  of  all  power  necessary  lo 
uffecla  peaceable  revolution  of  tlie  State  Government 


and  to  the  re-establishment  of  one  for  the  "  happiness, 
prosperity  and  freedom  of  the  citizens,"  limited  only 
by  the  Federal  Con-ititution.  Notwithstanding  the 
law  calling  the  Convention  required  its  members  to 
take  an  oath  to  sup|)ort  the  Constitution  of  the  State 
as  well  as  that  of  the  general  Government,  they 
utterly  refused  to  take  such  oath.  They  also  as- 
sumed legislative  powers  and  passed  several  import- 
ant "laws!"  Interfering  with  the  (then)  present 
executive  duties,  Gov.  Yates  was  provoked  to  tell 
them  plainly  that  "  he  did  not  acknowledge  the  right 
of  the  Convention  to  instruct  him  in  the  performance 
of  his  duty." 

In  1863  the  Governor  astonished  the  Democrats 
by  "  proroguing  "  their  Legislature.  This  body,  after 
a  recess,  met  June  2,  that  year,  and  soon  began  to 
waste  time  upon  various  partisan  resolutions;  and, 
while  the  two  houses  were  disagreeing  upon  the 
question  of  adjourning  «W  die,  the  Governor,  having 
tlie  authority  in  such  cases,  surprised  them  all  by 
adjourning  them  "  to  the  Saturday  next  preceding  the 
first  Monday  in  January,  1865  !  "  This  led  to  great 
e.xcitement  and  confusion,  and  to  a  reference  of  the  J 
Governor's  act  to  the  Supreme  Court,  who  decided  iii  * 
his  favor.  Then  it  was  the  Court's  turn  to  receive 
abuse  for  weeks  and  months  afterward. 

During  the  autumn  of  1864  a  conspiracy  was  de- 
tected at  Chicago  which  had  for  its  object  the  liber- 
ation of  the  prisoners  of  war  at  Camp  Douglas,  the 
burning  of  the  city  and  the  inauguration  of  rebellion 
in  the  North.  Gen.  Sweet,  who  had  charge  of  the 
camp  at  the  time,  first  had  his  suspicions  of  danger 
aroused  by  a  number  of  enigmatically  worded  letters 
'.vhich  passed  through  the  Camp  postoffice.  .\  de- 
tective afterward  discovered  that  the  rebel  Gen. 
Marmaduke  was  in  the  city,  under  an  assumed 
name,  and  he,  with  other  rebel  officers — Grenfell, 
Morgan,  Cantrell,  Buckner  Morris,  and  Charles 
Walsh — was  arrested,  most  of  whom  were  convicted 
by  a  court-martial  al  Cincinnati  and  sentenced  to 
imprisonment, — Grenfell  to  be  hung.  The  sentence 
of  the  latter  was  afterward  commuted  to  imprison- 
ment for  life,  and  all  the  others,  after  nine  months' 
imprisonment,  were  \)ardoned. 

In  March,  1873,  Gov.  Yates  was  appointed  a  Gov- 
ernment Director  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad,  in 
which,  offire  he  continued  until  his  decease,  at  St. 
Louis,  Mo.,  o;i   the  27lh  of  Novem!  er  foUowiiiti. 


Hums 


•9 

i 
* 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'63 


Richard  J\  Oqlesby. 


-=^.M- 


-4^; 


-nff'^UCHARD  J.  OGLESBY,  Gov- 

\p^  ernor  1S65-8,  and  re-elected 
j.j,  ill  1872  and  1884,  was  born 
I  July  25,  1824,  in  Oldham  Co., 
f*  Ky.,— the  State  which  might 
be  considered  the  "  mother  of 
Illinois  Governors."  Bereft  of 
'^  his  parents  at  the  tender  age 
of  eiglit  years,  his  early  education 
was  neglected.  When  12  years  of 
age,  and  after  he  had  worked  a  year 
and  a  half  at  the  carpenter's  trade, 
he  removed  with  an  uncle,  Willis 
Oglesby,  into  whose  care  he  had 
been  committed,  to  Decatur,  this 
State,  where  he  continued  his  ap- 
prenticeshi[)  as  a  mechanic,  working  si.K  months  for 
Hon.  E.  O.  Smith. 

In  1844  he  commenced  studying  law  at  Spring- 
field, with  Judge  Silas  Robbins,  and  read  with  him 
one  year.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1845,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  at 
Sullivan,  the  county  seat  of  Moultrie  County. 

Tlie  next  year  the  war  with  Mexico  was  com- 
menced, and  in  June,  1846,  Mr.  Oglesby  volunteered, 
was  elected  First  Lieutenant  of  Co.  C,  Fourth  Illinois 
Regiment  of  Volunteers,  and  participated  in  tiie  bat- 
tles of  Vera  Crui  and  Cerro  Gordo. 

On  his  return  he  sought  to  perfect  his  law  studies 
by  attending  a  course  of  lectures  at  Louisville,  but 
■on  the  breaking  out  of  tlie  California  "gold  fever  "  in 
18  ((),  he  crossed  the  plains  and  mountains  to  the 
new   l',l,li>r.>'l().  driving  a  six-niulc  team,  with  a  com- 


#^ 


pany  of  eight  men,  Henry  Prather  being  the  leader. 

In  1852  he  returned  home  to  Macon  County,  and 
was  placed  that  year  by  the  Whig  party  oil  the  ticket 
of  Presidential  Electors.  In  1S56  he  visited  Europe, 
.^sia  and  Africa,  being  absent  20  months.  On  his 
return  home  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Gallagher,  Wait  &  Oglesby. 
In  1858  he  was  the  Republican  nouiinee  for  the 
Lower  House  of  Congress,  but  was  defeated  by  the 
Hon.  James  C.  Robinson,  Democrat.  In  i860  he 
was  elected  to  the  Illinois  State  Senate ;  and  on  the 
evening  the  returns  of  this  election  were  coming  in, 
Mr.  Oglesby  had  a  fisticuff  encounter  with  "  Cerro 
Gordo  Williams,"  in  which  he  came  out  victorious, 
and  which  was  regarded  as  "  the  first  fight  of  the 
Rebellion."  The  following  spring,  when  the  war 
had  commenced  in  earnest,  his  ardent  nature 
quickly  responded  to  the  demands  of  patriotism  and 
he  enlisted.  The  extra  session  of  the  Legislature 
elected  him  Colonel  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry, 
the  second  one  in  the  State  raised  to  suppress  the 
great  Rebellion. 

He  was  shortly  entrusted  with  important  com- 
mands. For  a  time  he  was  stationed  at  Bird's  Point 
and  Cairo;  in  .April  he  w,as  promoted  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral ;  at  Fort  Donelson  his  brigade  was  in  the  van, 
being  stationed  on  the  right  of  General  Grant's  army 
and  the  first  brigade  to  be  attacked.  He  lost  500 
men  before  re-inforcements  arrived.  Many  of  these 
men  were  from  Macon  County.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  Corinth,  and,  in  a  brave  charge  at  this 
jjlace,  was  shot  in  the  left  lung  with  an  ounce  ball, 
and  was  carried  from  the  field  in  expectation  of  im- 


164 


RICHARD  J.    OGLESBY. 


mediate  death.  That  rebel  ball  he  carries  to  thij 
day.  Oil  his  partial  recovery  he  was  promoted  as 
Major  General,  for  gallantry,  his  commission  to  rank 
from  November,  1862.  In  the  spring  of  1863  he 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  i6th  Army 
Corps,  but,  owing  to  inability  from  the  effects  of  his 
wound,  he  relinquished  this  command  in  July,  that 
year.  Gen.  Grant,  however,  refused  to  accept  his 
resignation,  and  he  was  detailed,  in  December  follow- 
ing, to  court-martial  and  try  the  Surgeon  General  of 
the  Army  at  Washington,  where  he  remained  until 
May,  1864,  when  he  returned  home. 

The  Republican,  or  Union,  State  Convention  of 

1864  was  held  at  Springfield,  May  25,  when  Mr. 
Oglesby  was  nominated  for  the  office  of  Governor, 
while  other  candidates  before  the  Convention  were 
Allen  C.  Fuller,  of  Boone,  Jesse  K.  Dubois,  of  Sanga- 
mon, and  John  M.  Palmer,  of  Macoupin.  Wm. 
Bross,  of  Chicago,  was  nominated  for  Lieutenant 
Governor.  On  the  Democratic  State  ticket  were 
James  C.  Robinson,  of  ("lark,  for  Governor,  and  S. 
Corning  Judd,  of  Fulton,  for  Lieutenant  Governor. 
The  general  election  gave  Gen.  Oglesby  a  majority 
of  about  31,000  votes.  The  Republicans  had  also  a 
majority  in  both  the  Legislature  and  in  the  repre- 
sentation in  Congress. 

Gov.  Oglesby  was  duly  inaugurated  Jan.  17,  1865. 
The  day  before  the  first  time  set  for  his  installation 
death  visited  his  home  at  Decatur,  and  took  from  it 
his  only  son,  an  intelligent  and  sprightly  lad  of  si.'c 
years,  a  great  favorite  of  the  bereaved  parents.  This 
caused  the  inauguration  to  be  postponed  a  week. 

The  political  events  of  the  Legislative  session  of 

1865  were  the  election  of  ex-Gov.  Yates  to  the 
United  States  Senate,  and  the  ratification  of  the  13th 
amendment  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
abolishing  slavery.  This  session  also  signalized 
itself  by  repealing  the  notorious  "  black  laws,"  part 
of  which,  although  a  dead  letter,  had  held  their  place 
upon  the  statute  books  since  181 9.  Also,  laws  re- 
quiring the  registration  of  voters,  and  establishing  a 
State  Board  of  Equaluation,  were  passed  by  this  Leg- 
islature. But  the  same  body  evinced  that  it  was  cor- 
ruptly influenced  by  a  mercenary  lobby,  as  it  adopted 
some  bad  legislation,  over  the  Governor's  veto,  nota- 
bly an  amendment  to  a  charter  for  a  Chicago  horse 
railway,  granted  in  1859  for  25  years,  and  now 
sought  to  be  e.xtended  99  years.  As  this  measure 
was  promptly  passed  over  his  veto  by  both  branches 
of  the  Legislature,  he  deemed  it  useless  further  to 
attempt  to  check  their  headlong  career.  At  this 
session  no  law  of  a  general  useful  character  or  public 
interest  was  perfected,  unless  we  count  such  the 
turning  over  of  the  canal  to  Chicago  to  be  deepened. 
The  session  of  1867  was  still  more  productive  of 
private  and  special  acts.  Many  omnibus  bills  were 
proficsed,  and  some  passed.  The  contests  over  the 
•Dcaiion  of  the    Industrial  College,  the  Capital,  the  I 


Southern    Penitentiary,   and    the  canal    enlargement 
and    Illinois    River   improvement,   dominated  every 
thing  else. 

During  the  year  1872,  it  became  evident  that  i( 
the  Republicans  could  re-elect  Mr.  Oglesby  to  the 
office  of  Governor,  they  could  also  elect  him  to  tlie 
United  States  Senate,  which  they  desired  to  do. 
Accordingly  they  re-nominated  him  for  the  E.xecu- 
tive  chair,  and  placed  upon  the  ticket  with  him  for 
Lieutenant  Governor,  John  L.  Beveridge,  of  Cook 
County.  On  the  other  side  the  Democrats  put  into 
the  field  Giistavus  Koerner  for  Governor  and  John 
C.  Black  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  The  election 
gave  the  Republican  ticket  majorities  ranging  from 
35>334  to  56,174, — the  Democratic  defection  being 
caused  mainly  by  their  having  an  old-time  Whig  and 
Abohtionist,  Horace  Greeley,  on  the  national  ticket 
for  President.  According  to  the  general  understand- 
ing had  beforehand,  as  soon  as  the  Legislature  met 
it  elected  Gov.  Oglesby  to  the  United  States  Senate, 
whereupon  Mr.  Beveridge  became  Governor.  Sena- 
tor Oglesby 's  term  expired  March  4,  1S79,  having 
served  his  party  faithfully  and  exhibited  an  order  of 
statesmanship  beyond  criticism. 

During  the  campaign  of  1S84  Mr.  Oglesby  was 
nominated  for  a  "third  term"  as  Executive  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  against  Carter  H.  Harrison,  Mayor 
of  Chicago,  nominated  by  the  Democrats.  Both 
gentlemen  "stumped  "  the  State,  and  while  the  peo- 
ple elected  a  Legislature  which  was  a  tie  on  a  join': 
ballot,  as  between  the  two  parties,  they  gave  the 
jovial  "  Dick"  Oglesby  a  majority  of  15,018  for  Gov- 
ernor, and  he  was  inaugurated  Jan.  30,  1885.  The 
Legislature  did  not  fully  organize  until  this  date,  on 
account  of  its  equal  division  between  the  two  main 
parties  and  the  consequent  desperate  tactics  of  each 
party  to  checkmate  the  latter  in  the  organization  of 
the  House. 

Gov.  Oglesby  is  a  fine-appearing,  affable  man,  with 
regular,  well  defined  features  and  rotund  face.  In 
stature  he  is  a  little  above  medium  height,  of  a  large 
frame  and  somewhat  fleshy.  His  physical  appear- 
ance is  striking  and  prepossessing,  while  his  straight- 
out,  not  to  say  bluff,  manner  and  speech  are  weL 
calculated  favorably  to  impress  the  average  masses. 
Ardent  in  feeling  and  strongly  committed  to  the  pol- 
icies of  his  party,  he  intensifies  Republicanism 
among  Republicans,  while  at  the  same  time  his  iovia. 
and  liberal  manner  prevents  those  of  the  opposite 
party  from  hating  him. 

He  is  quite  an  effective  stump  orator.  With  vehe- 
ment, passionate  and  scornful  tone  and  gestures, 
tremendous  physical  power,  which  in  speaking  he 
exercises  to  the  ntmost;  with  freipicnt  descents  to 
the  grotesque;  and  with  abundant  homely  compari- 
sons or  frontier  figures,  expressed  in  the  broadest! 
vernacular  and  enforced  with  stentorian  cniphasis,| 
he  delights  a  promiscuous  audience  beyond  measure  i 


..  TLLiNOiS 


(jL^£y^^c.L^ 


GO  VERNORS  OF  JLL/NO/S. 


167 


m 

John  M.  Pal  mem       wi 


r  t--"i'-'i'-.''»'^iSi'.;  ■'.•■'.•  i':.i' 


i^lOHN  Mc  AULEY  PALMER,  Gov- 
I  i^w  ernor  1869-72,  was  born  on 
Engle  Creek,  Scott  Co.,  Ky., 
Sept.  13,  18 1 7.  During  his  in- 
fancy, his  father,  who  had  been 
a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  re- 
moved to  Christian  Co.,  Ky., 
where  lands  were  cheap.  Here 
the  future  Governor  of  the  great 
Prairie  State  spent  his  childhood 
and  received  such  meager  school- 
ing as  the  new  and  sparsely  set- 
tled country  afforded.  To  this 
he  added  materially  by  diligent 
reading,  for  which  he  evinced  an 
eaily  aptitude.  His  father,  an  ardent  Jackson  man, 
was  also  noted  for  his  anti-slavery  sentiments,  which 
he  thoroughly  impressed  upon  his  children.  In  1831 
he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Madison  County. 
Here  the  labor  of  improving  a  farm  was  pursued  for 
about  two  years,  when  the  death  of  Mr.  Palmer's 
mother  broke  up  the  family.  About  this  time  Alton 
College  was  opened,  on  the  "manual  labor  "  system, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1834  young  Palmer,  with  his 
elder  brother,  Elihu,  entered  this  school  and  remained 
18  months.  Next,  for  over  three  years,  he  tried 
variously  coopering,  peddling  and  school-teaching. 

During    the   summer  of   1838  he  formed  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Stephen  A.  Douglass,  then   making  his 


first  canvass  for  Congress.  Young,  eloquent  and  in 
political  accord  with  Mr.  Palmer,  he  won  his  confi- 
dence, fired  his  ambition  and  fixed  his  purpose.  The 
following  winter,  while  teaching  near  Canton,  he  be- 
gan to  devote  his  spare  time  to  a  desultory  reading 
of  la.v,  and  in  the  spring  entered  a  law  office  at  Car- 
linville,  making  his  home  with  his  elder  brother, 
Elihu.  (The  latter  was  a  learned  clergyman,  of  coi>- 
siderable  orginality  of  thought  and  doctrine.)  On 
the  next  meeting  of  the  Supreme  Court  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar,  Douglas  being  one  of  his  examiners. 
He  was  not  immediately  successful  in  his  profession, 
and  would  have  located  elsewhere  than  Carlinville 
had  he  the  requisite  means.  Thus  his  early  poverty 
was  a  blessing  in  disguise,  for  to  it  he  now  attributes 
the  success  of  his  life. 

From  1839  on,  while  he  diligently  pursued  his 
profession,  he  participated  more  or  less  in  local 
politics.  In  1843  he  became  Probate  Judge.  Ir 
1847  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Constitutional  Con 
vention,  where  he  took  a  leading  part.  In  1852  ht, 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  at  the  special 
session  of  February,  1854,  true  to  the  anti-slaverj 
sentiments  bred  in  him,  he  took  a  firm  stand  in  op 
ijosition  to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise, 
and  when  the  Nebraska  question  became  a  part) 
issue  he  refused  to  receive  a  re-nomination  for  thi 
Senatorship  at  the  hands  of  the  Democracy,  issuing 
a  circular  to  that  effect.     A    few    weeks   afterward. 


i68 


JOHN  MC  AULEY  PALMER. 


'lowever,  hesitating  to  break  with  his  party,  he  par- 
ticipated ill  a  Congressional  Convention  which  nomi- 
T.  L.  Harris  against  Richard  Yates,  and  which 
anqualifiedly  approved  the  principles  of  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  act.  But  later  in  the  campaign  he  made 
the  plunge,  ran  for  the  Senate  as  an  Anti-Nebraska 
Democrat,  and  was  elected.  The  following  winter 
ne  put  in  nomination  for  the  United  States  Senate 
Mr.  Trumbull,  and  was  one  of  the  five  steadfast  men 
who  voted  for  liim  until  all  the  Whigs  came  to  their 
support  and  elected  their  man. 

In  1856  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Republican  State 
Convention  at  Bloomington.  He  ran  for  Congress  in 
1859,  but  was  defeated.  In  i860  he  was  Republican 
Presidential  Elector  for  the  State  at  large.  In  1861 
ne  was  appointed  one  of  the  five  Delegates  (all  Re- 
publicans) sent  by  Illinois  to  the  peace  congress  at 
Washington. 

When  the  civil  conflict  broke  out,  he  offered  his 
services  to  his  country,  and  was  elected  Colonel  of  the 
:4th  111.  Vol.  Inf ,  and  participated  in  the  engagements 
at  Island  No.  10;  .at  Farmington,  where  he  skillfully 
extricated  his  comniand  from  a  dangerous  position  ; 
at  Stone  River,  where  his  division  for  several  hours, 
Dec.  31,  1862,  held  the  advance  and  stood  like  a 
rock,  and  for  his  gallantry  there  he  was  made  Major 
General;  at  Chickamauga,  where  his  and  Van  Cleve's 
divisions  for  two  hours  maintained  their  position 
when  they  were  cut  off  by  overpowering  numbers. 
Under  Gen.  Sherman,  he  was  assigned  to  the  14th 
Army  Corps  and  participated  in  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
At  Peach-Tree  Creek  his  prudence  did  much  to  avert 
disaster.  In  February,  1865,  Gen.  Palmer  was  as- 
signed to  the  military  administration  of  Kentucky, 
which  was  a  delicate  post.  That  State  was  about 
half  rebel  and  half  Union,  and  tiiose  of  the  latter 
element  were  daily  fretted  by  the  loss  of  their  slaves. 
He,  who  had  been  bred  to  the  rules  of  common  law, 
trembled  at  the  contemplation  of  his  extraordinary 
power  over  the  persons  and  property  of  his  fellow 
men,  with  which  he  was  vested  in  his  capacity  as 
military  Governor;  and  he  exhibited  great  caution  in 
the  execution  of  the  duties  of  his  post. 

Gen.  Palmer  was  nominated  for  Governor  of  Illi- 
nois by  the  Republican  State  Convention  which  met 
at  Peoria  .May  6,  1868,  and  his  nomination  would 
probably  have  been  made  by  acclamation  had  he  not 
'jersistently  declared  that  he  could  not  accept  a  can- 


didature for  the  office.  The  result  of  the  ensuing 
election  gave  Mr.  Palmer  a  majority  of  44,707  over 
John  R.  Eden,  the  Democratic  nominee. 

On  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  in  January, 
1869,  the  first  thing  to  arrest  public  attention  was 
that  portion  of  the  Governor's  message  which  took 
broad  State's  rights  ground.  This  and  some  minor 
paints,  which  were  more  in  keeping  with  the  Demo- 
cratic sentiment,  constituted  the  entering  wedge  f  jr 
the  criticisms  and  reproofs  he  afterward  received 
from  the  Republican  party,  and  ultimately  resulted 
in  his  entire  aleniation  from  the  latter  element.  The 
Legislature  just  referred  to  was  noted  for  the  intro- 
duction of  numerous  bills  in  the  interest  of  private 
parties,  which  were  embarrassing  to  the  Governor. 
Among  the  public  acts  passed  was  that  which  limited 
railroad  charges  for  passenger  travel  to  a  maximum 
of  three  cents  per  mile ;  and  it  was  passed  over  the 
Governor's  veto.  Also,  they  passed,  over  his  veto, 
the  "tax-grabbing  law"  to  pay  rsiilroei  subscriptions, 
the  Chicago  Lake  Front  bill,  etc.  The  new  State 
Constitution  of  1870,  far  superior  to  the  old,  was  a 
peaceful  "  revolution"  which  took  place  during  Gov. 
Palmer's  term  of  office.  The  suffering  caused  by  the 
great  Chicago  Fire  of  October,  187 1,  was  greatly 
alleviated  by  the  prompt  responses  of  his  excellency. 

Since  the  expiration  of  Gov.  Palmers 's  term,  he  has 
been  somewhat  prominent  in  Illinois  politics,  and 
has  been  talked  of  by  many,  especially  in  the  Dem- 
ocratic party,  as  the  best  man  in  the  State  for  a 
United  States  Senator.  His  business  during  life  has 
been  that  of  the  law.  Few  excel  him  in  an  accurate 
appreciation  of  the  depth  and  scope  of  its  principles- 
The  great  number  of  his  able  veto  messages  abun- 
dantly testify  not  only  this  but  also  a  rare  capacity  to 
point  them  out.  He  is  a  logical  and  cogent  reasoner 
and  an  interesting,  forcible  and  convincing  speaker, 
though  not  fluent  or  ornate.  Without  brilliancy,  his 
dealings  are  rather  with  facts  and  ideas  than  with 
appeals  to  passions  and  prejudices.  He  is  a  patriot 
and  a  statesman  of  very  high  order.  Physically  he  is 
above  the  medium  height,  of  robust  frame,  ruddy 
complexion  and  sanguine-nervous  temperament  lie 
has  a  large  cranial  development,  is  vivacious,  soti.ii 
in  disposition,  easy  of  approach,  unostentatious  in  !v 
habits  of  life,  democratic  in  his  habits  and  maniit; 
and  is  a  true  American  in  his  fundamental  piinci]'! 
of  statesmanship. 


ILLINOIS 


GO  VERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


171 


cii^' 


OHN  LOWRiE  BEVER- 
IDGE,  (lovernor  187^-6,  was 
^'^  bom  111  the  town  of  Green- 
wich, Washington  Co.,  N.  Y., 
July  6,  1824.  His  parents 
were  George  and  Ann  Bever- 
.'%  idge.  His  father's  parents,  An- 
drew and  Isabel  Beveridge,  be- 
fore their  marriage  emigrated 
from  Scotland  just  before  the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  in 
AVashington  County.  His  father 
was  the  eldest  of  eight  brothers,  the 
youngest  of  whom  was  60  years  of 
age  when  the  first  one  of  the  num- 
ber died.  His  mother's  parents, 
James  and  Agnes  Hoy,  emigrated 
from  Scotland  at  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  War,  settling  also  in 
Jp  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y.,  with  their 
first-born,  whose  "  native  land  "was 
the  wild  ocean.  His  parents  and 
grandparents  lived  beyond  the  time 
allotted  to  man,  their  average  age 
being  over  80  years.  They  belonged  to  the  "  Asso- 
ciate  Ciiurch,"   a   seceding    Presbyterian    body    of 


America  from  the  old  Scotch  school ;  and  so  rigid 
was  the  training  of  young  Heveridge  that  he  never 
heard  a  sermon  from  any  other  minister  except  that 
of  his  own  denomination  until  he  was  in  his  19th 
year.  Later  in  life  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  relation  he  still 
holds. 

Mr.  Beveridge  received  a  good  common-school  ed- 
ucation, but  his  parents,  who  could  obtain  a  livelihood 
only  by  rigid  economy  and  industry,  could  not  send 
him  away  to  college.  He  was  raised  n[)on  a  farm, 
and  was  in  his  i8th  year  when  the  family  removed 
to  De  Kalb  County,  this  State,  when  that  section  was 
very  sparsely  settled.  Chicago  had  less  than  7,000 
inhabitants.  In  this  wild  West  he  continued  as  a 
farm  laborer,  teaching  school  during  the  winter 
months  to  supply  the  means  of  an  education.  In  the 
fill  of  1842  he  attended  one  term  at  the  academy  at 
Ciranville,  Putnam  Co.,  111.,  and  subsequently  sevcr.il 
terms  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary  at  Mount  Morris, 
Ogle  Co.,  111.,  completing  the  academic  course.  At 
this  time,  the  fall  of  1845,  his  parents  and  brothers 
were  anxious  to  have  him  go  to  college,  even  though 
he  had  not  money  sufficient;  but,  njt  willing  to  bur- 
den the  family,  he  packed  his  trunk  and  with  only 
$40   in  money   started    South    to  seek    his  fortune 


172 


JOHN  L.  BE  VER/DGE. 


Poor,  alone,  without  friends  and  influence,  he  thus 
entered  upon  the  battle  of  life. 

First,  he  taught  school  in  Wilson,  Overton  and 
Jackson  Cos.,  Tenn.,  in  which  experience  he  under- 
went considerable  mental  drill,  both  in  book  studies 
and  in  the  ways  of  the  world.  He  read  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar,  in  the  South,  but  did  not  learn 
to  love  the  institution  of  slavery,  although  he  ad- 
mired many  features  of  Southern  character.  In  De- 
cember, 1847,  he  returned  North,  and  Jan.  20,  1848, 
he  married  Miss  Helen  M.  Judson,  in  the  old  Clark- 
Street  M.  E.  church  in  Chicago,  her  father  at  that 
time  being  Pastor  of  the  society  there.  In  the  spring 
of  1848  he  returned  with  his  wife  to  Tennessee, 
where  his  two  children,  Alia  May  and  Philo  Judson, 
were  born. 

in  the  fall  of  1849,  through  the  mismanagement 
of  an  associate,  he  lost  what  little  he  had  accumu- 
lated and  was  left  in  debt.  He  soon  managed  to 
earn  means  to  pay  his  debts,  returned  to  De  Kalb 
Co.,  111.,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession at  Sycamore,  the  county  seat.  On  arrival 
from  the  South  he  had  but  one-quarter  of  a  dollar  in 
money,  and  scanty  clothing  and  bedding  for  himself 
and  family.  He  borrowed  a  little  money,  practiced 
.aw,  worked  in  public  offices,  kept  books  for  some  of 
the  business  men  of  the  town,  and  some  railroad  en- 
gineering, till  the  spring  of  1854,  wlien  he  removed 
to  Evanston,  12  miles  north  of  Chicago,  a  place  then 
but  recently  laid  out,  under  tlie  supervision  of  the 
Northwestern  University,  a  Methodist  institution. 
Of  the  latter  his  father-in-law  was  tlien  financial 
agent  and  business  manager.  Here  Mr.  Beveridge 
prospered,  and  the  next  year  (1855)  opened  a  law 
office  in  Chicago,  where  he  found  the  battle  some- 
what hard;  but  he  persevered  with  encouragement 
and  increasing  success. 

Aug.  12,  1 86 1,  his  law  partner.  Gen.  John  F. 
Farnsworth,  secured  authority  to  raise  a  regiment  of 
cavalry,  and  authorized  Mr.  Beveridge  to  raise  a 
company  for  it.  He  succeeded  in  a  few  days  in  rais- 
ing the  company,  of  course  enlisting  himself  along 
with  it.  The  regiment  rendezvoused  at  St.  Charles, 
111.,  was  mustered  in  Sept.  18,  and  on  its  organiza- 
tion Mr.  B.  was  elected  Second  Major.  It  was  at- 
tached, Oct.  II,  to  the  Eighth  Cavalry  and  to  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  He  served  with  the  regiment 
until  November,  1863,  participating  in  some  40  bat- 


tles and  skirmishes  :  was  at  Fair  Oaks,  the  seven  days 
fight  around  Richmond,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellors- 
ville  and  Gettysburg.  He  commanded  the  regiment 
the  greater  part  of  the  summer  of  1 863,  and  it  was  while 
lying  in  camp  this  year  that  he  originated  the  policy 
of  encouraging  recruits  as  well  as  the  fighting  capac- 
ity of  the  soldiery,  by  the  wholesale  furlough  system 
It  worked  so  well  that  many  other  officers  adopted 
it.  In  the  fall  of  this  year  he  recruited  another  com- 
pany, against  heavy  odds,  in  January,  1864,  was 
commissioned  Colonel  of  the  17th  111.  Cav.,  and 
skirmished  around  in  Missouri,  concluding  with  the 
reception  of  the  surrender  of  Gen.  Kirby  Smith's 
army  in  Arkansas.  In  1865  he  commanded  various 
sub-districts  in  the  Southwest.  He  was  mustered 
out  Feb.  6,  1866,  safe  from  the  casualties  of  war  and 
a  stouter  man  than  when  he  first  enlisted.  His  men 
idolized  him. 

He  then  returned  to  Chicago,  to  practice  law,  with 
no  library  and  no  clientage,  and  no  political  experi- 
ence except  to  help  others  into  office.     In  the  fall  of 
1866  he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Cook  County,  serving 
one  term;  next,  until  November,  [870,  he  practiced 
law   and   closed  up  the  unfinished   business   of  his 
office.     He  was  then  elected  State  Senator;  in  No- 
vember, 187  I,  he  was  elected  Congressman  at  large; 
in  November,  1872,  he  was  elected  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor on  the  ticket  with  Gov.  Oglesby;  the  latter  be- 
ing elected  to  the  U.  S.  Senate,  Mr.  Beveridge  became 
Governor,   Jan.   21,   1873.     Thus,  inside   of  a  few 
weeks,    he   was  Congressman    at  large.  Lieutenant 
Governor  and  Governor.     The  principal  events  oc- 
curring during  Gov.  Beveridge 's  administration  were: 
The  completion  of  the  revision  of  the  statutes,  begun 
in  1869;  the  partial  success  of  the  "farmers'  move- 
ment;" "  Haines'  Legislature  "  and  Illinois'  exhibit  at 
the  Centennial. 

Since  the  close  of  his  gubernatorial  term  ex-Gov 
Beveridge  has  been  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bever 
idge  &  Dewey,  bankers  and  dealers  in  commercial 
paper  at  71  Dearborn  Street  (McCormick  Block). 
Chicago,  and  since  November,  1881,  he  has  also  been 
Assistant  United  States  Treasurer-  office  in  the 
Government  Building.  His  residence  is  still  at  Ev- 
anston. 

He  has  a  brother  and  two  sisters  yet  residing  in 
De  Kalb  County — James  H.  Beveridge,  Mrs.  Jennet 
Henry  and  Mrs.  Isabel  French. 


flNIVEoSiiY  OF  ILLINOIS 


GO  VJiRNORS  OF  fLL/NO/S. 


«75 


8RELB  Y  M,  CULLO'M. 


HELBY  M,  CULLOM,  Gover- 
nor 18^7-83,  ib  the  sixth  cliiki 
of  the  late  Richard  N.  Cullom, 
and  was  born  Nuv.  22,  1S29,  in 
Wayne  Co.,  Ky.,  where  his  fa- 
ther then  resided,  and  whence 
both  the  Illinois  and  Tennessee 
branches  of  the  family  originated.  In 
the  following  year  the  family  emi- 
grated to  the  vicinity  of  Washington, 
Tazewell  Co.,  111.,  when  that  section 
was  very  sparsely  settled.  They  lo- 
cated on  Deer  Creek,  in  a  grove  at 
the  time  occupied  by  a  party  of  In- 
dians, attracted  there  by  the  superior 
hunting  and  fishing  afforded  in  that 
vicinity.  The  following  winter  was 
known  as  the  "  hard  winter,"  the  snow  being  very 
deep  and  lasting  and  the  weather  severely  cold;  and 
t'lie  family  had  to  subsist  mainly  on  irailed  corn  or 
hominy,  and  some  wild  game,  for  several  weeks.  In 
tlie  course  of  time  Mr.  R.  N.  Cullom  became  a  prom- 
inent citizen  and  was  several  times  elected  to  the 
Legislature,  both  before  and  after  the  removal  of  the 
cariital  from  Vandalia  to  Springfield.  He  died  about 
'87  3- 

Until  about  19  years  of  age  young  Cullom  grew  up 

to  agricultural  pursuits,  attending  school  as  he  had 

opportunity  during   the   winter.     Within   this   time, 

sv/ever,  he  spent  several  montlis  teaching-  school. 


and  in  the  following  summer  he  "broke  prairie  "with 
an  o.K  team  for  the  neighbors  With  the  money  oi)- 
tained  by  these  various  ventures,  he  undertook  a 
course  of  study  at  the  Rock  River  Seminary,  a 
Methodist  institution  at  Mt.  Morris,  Ogle  County; 
but  the  sudden  change  to  the  in-door  life  of  a  stu- 
dent told  severely  upon  his  health,  and  he  was  taken 
home,  being  considered  in  a  hopeless  condition.  While 
at  Mt.  Morris  he  heard  Hon.  E.  B.  Washburne  make 
his  first  speech. 

On  recovering  health,  Mr.  Cullom  coiicluded  to 
study  law,  under  the  instruction  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
at  Springfield,  who  had  by  this  time  attained  some 
notoriety  as  an  able  lawyer;  but  the  latter,  being  ab- 
sent from  his  office  most  of  the  time,  advised  Mr. 
Cullom  to  enter  the  office  of  Stuart  &  Edwards. 
After  about  a  year  of  study  there,  however,  his  healtb 
failed  again,  and  he  was  obliged  to  return  once  more 
to  out-door  life.  Accordingly  he  bought  hogs  for 
packing,  for  A.  G.  Tyng,  in  I'eoria,  and  while  he  re- 
gained his  health  he  gained  in  purse,  netting  $400  in 
a  few  weeks.  Having  been  admitted  to  the  Bar,  he 
went  to  Springfield,  where  he  was  soon  elected  City 
Attorney,  on  the  .\nti-Nebraska  ticket. 

In  1S56  he  ran  on  the  Fillmore  ticket  as  a  Presi- 
dential Elector,  and,  although  failing  to  be  elected  as 
such,  he  was  at  the  same  time  elected  a  Representa- 
tive in  the  Legislature  from  Sangamon  County,  by  a 
local  coalition  of  the  American  and  Republican  par- 
lies. On  the  organization  of  the  House,  he  received 
the  vote  of  the  Fillmore  men  for  Speaker.    Practicing 


•176 


SHELB  y  M.    CULLOM. 


law  until  i860,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  Legisla- 
ture, as  a  Republican,  while  the  county  went  Demo- 
cratic on  the  Presidential  ticket.  In  January  follow- 
ing he  was  elected  Speaker,  probably  the  youngest 
man  who  had  ever  presided  over  an  Illinois  Legis- 
lature. After  the  session  of  1861,  he  was  a  candidate 
for  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  called  for 
that  year,  but  was  defeated,  and  thus  escaped  tlie 
disgrace  of  being  connected  with  that  abortive  party 
scheme  to  revolutionize  the  State  Government.  In 
1862  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate,  but 
was  defeated.  The  same  year,  however,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Lincoln  on  a  Government 
Commission,  in  company  with  Gov.  Boutwell  of 
Massachusetts  and  Cnarles  A.  Dana,  since  of  tlie 
New  York  Sun,  to  investigate  the  affairs  of  the 
Quartermaster's  and  Commissary  Departments  at 
Cairo.     He  devoted  several  months  to  this  duty. 

In  1864  he  enteied  upon  a  larger  political  field, 
being  nominated  as  the  Republican  candidate  for 
Congress  from  the  Eighth  (Springfield)  District,  in 
opposition  to  the  incumbent,  John  T.  Stuart,  wiio  had 
been  elected  in  1862  by  about  1,500  majority  over 
Leonard  Swett,  then  of  Bloomington,  now  of  Chicago. 
The  result  was  the  election  of  Mr.  Cullom  in  Novem- 
ber following  by  a  majority  of  1,785.  In  1866  he 
was  re-elected  to  Congress,  over  Dr.  E.  S.  Fowler,  by 
the  magnificent  majority  of  4,103!  In  1868  he  was 
again  a  candidate,  defeating  the  Hon.  B.  S.  Edwards, 
another  of  his  old  preceptors,  by  2,884  votes. 

During  his  first  term  in  Congress  he  served  on  the 
Committee  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  Expenditures  in 
the  Treasury  Department;  in  his  second  term,  on 
the  Committees  on  Foreign  Affairs  and  on  Territories ; 
and  in  his  third  term  he  succeeded  Mr.  Ashley,  of 
Ohio,  to  the  Chairmanship  of  the  latter.  He  intro- 
duced a  bill  in  the  House,  to  aid  in  the  execution  of 
law  in  Utah,  wliich  caused  more  consternation  amoii" 
the  Mormons  than  any  measure  had  previously,  but 
which,  though  it  passed  the  House,  failed  to  pass  the 
Senate. 

The  Republican  Convention  which  met  May  25, 
1876,  nominated  Mr.  Cullom  for  Governor,  while  the 
other  contestant  was  Gov.  Beveridge.  For  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor they  nominated  Andrew  Shuman,  editor 
of  the  Chicago  Journal.  For  the  same  offices  the 
Democrats,  combining  with  the  Anti-Monopolists, 
olaced    in    nomination    Lewis    Steward,    a  wealthy 


farmer  and  manufacturer,  and  A.  A.  Glenn.  The 
result  of  the  election  was  rather  close,  Mr.  Cullom 
obtaining  only  6,800  majority.  He  was  inaugurated 
Jan.  8,  1877. 

Great  depression  prevailed  in  financial  circles  at 
this  time,  as  a  consequence  of  the  heavy  failures  of 
1873  and  afterward,  the  effect  of  wliich  had  seemed 
to  gather  force  from  that  time  to  the  end  of  Gov. 
Cullom's  first  administration.  This  unspeculative 
period  was  not  calculated  to  call  forth  any  new 
issues,  but  the  Governor's  energies  were  at  one  time 
put  to  task  to  quell  a  spirit  of  insubordination  that 
had  been  begun  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  among  the  laboring 
classes,  and  transferred  to  Illinois  at  Chicago,  East 
St.  Louis  and  Braidwood,  at  which  places  laboring 
men  for  a  short  tune  refused  to  work  or  allow  others 
to  work.  These  disturbances  were  soon  quelled  and 
the  wheels  of  industry  again  set  in  motion. 

In  May,  1880,  Gov.  Cullom  was  re-nominated  by 
the  Republicans,  against  Lyman  Trumbull,  by  the 
Democrats;  and  although  the  former  party  was  some- 
what handicapped  in  the  campaign  by  a  zealous 
faction  opposed  to  Grant  for  President  and  to  Grant 
men  for  office  generally,  Mr.  Cullom  was  re-elected 
by  about  314,565,  to  277,532  for  the  Democratic  State 
ticket.  The  Greenback  vote  at  the  same  time  was 
about  27,000.  Both  Houses  of  the  Legislature  again, 
became  Republican,  and  no  representative  of  the 
(ireenback  or  Socialist  parties  were  elected.  Gov. 
Cullom  was  inaugurated  Jan.  10,  iSSi.  In  his  mes- 
sage he  announced  that  the  last  dollar  of  the  State 
debt  had  been  provided  for. 

March  4,  1883,  the  term  of  David  Davis  as  United 
States  Senator  from  Illinois  expired,  and  Gov.  Cul- 
lo  11  was  chosen  to  succeed  him.  This  promoted 
Lisutenant-Governor  John  M.  Hamilton  to  the  Gov- 
ernorship. Senator  Cullom's  term  in  the  United 
St,-(tes  Senate  will  expire  March  4,  1889. 

As  a  practitioner  oflaw  Mr.  C.  has  been  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Cullom,  Scholes  &  Mather,  at  Spring- 
firld;  and  he  has  also  been  President  of  the  State 
National  Bank. 

He  has  been  married  twice, — the  first  time  Dec. 
ii:,  1855,  to  Miss  Hannah  Fisher,  by  whom  he  had 
t\<o  daughters;  and  the  second  time  May  5,  1863, 
to  Julia  Fisher.  Mrs.  C  is  a  member  of  the  Method-] 
isl  Episcopal  Church,  with  which  religious  body  Mr. 
C.  is  also  in  sympathy. 


L 

n 


HMIVt;  ILLINOIS 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


'79 


s;s*^):s*^;S«»-S!S*sig* 


^«S-^H*^ 


OHN  MARSHALL  HAMIL- 
TON, Governor  1883-5,  '^^^ 
born  May  28,  1847,  in  a  log 
house  upon  a  farm  about  two 
miles  from  Richwood,  Union 
County,  Ohio.  His  father  was 
Samuel  Hamilton,  the  eldest  son 
uf  Rev.  Wm.  Hamilton,  who,  to- 
gether with  his  brotlier,  the  Rev. 
.Samuel  Hamilton,  was  among  the 
early  pioneer  Methodist  preachers  in 
Ohio.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was,  before  her  marriage, 
Mrs.  Nancy  McMorris,  who  was 
born  and  raised  in  Fauquier  or  Lou- 
doun County,  Va.,  and  related  to  the 
two  large  families  of  Youngs  and  Marshalls,  well 
known  iia  that  commonwealth ;  and  from  the  latter 
family  name  was  derived  the  middle  name  of  Gov. 
Hamilton. 

In  March,  1854,  Mr.  Hamilton's  father  sold  out 
his  little  pioneer  forest  home  in  Union  County,  O., 
and,  loading  his  few  household  effects  and  family 
(of  six  children)  into  two  emigrant  covered  wagons, 
moved  to  Roberts  Township.  Marshall  Co.,  III.,  being 
21  days  on  the  route.  Swamps,  unbridged  streams 
and  innumerable  hardships  and  privations  met  them 
on  their  way.  Their  new  home  had  been  previously 
selected  by  the  father.  Here,  after  many  long  years 
of  toil,  they  succeeded  in  payii.g  for  the  land  and 
.naking  a  comfort  ''■'-  jiome.     John  was,  of  course, 


brought  up  to  hard  manual  labor,  with  no  schooling 
except  three  or  four  months  in  the  year  at  a  common 
country  school.  However,  he  evinced  a  capacity 
and  taste  for  a  high  order  of  self-education,  by 
studying  or  reading  wliat  books  he  could  borrow,  as 
the  family  had  but  very  few  in  the  house.  xVIuch  of 
his  study  he  prosecuted  by  the  light  of  a  log  fire  in 
the  old-fashioned  chimney  place.  The  financial 
panic  of  1857  caused  the  family  to  come  near  losing 
their  home,  to  pay  debts;  but  the  father  and  two 
sons,  William  and  John,  "  buckled  to  "  and  perse- 
vered in  hard  labor  and  economy  until  they  redeemed 
their  place  from  the  mortgage. 

When  the  tremendous  excitement  of  the  political 
campaign  of  i860  reached  the  neighborhood  of  Rob- 
erts Township,  young  Hamilton,  wlio  had  been 
brought  up  in  the  doctrine  of  anti-slavery,  took  a  zeal- 
ous part  in  favor  of  Lincoln's  election.  Making  special 
efforts  to  procure  a  little  money  to  buy  a  uniform,  he 
joined  a  company  of  Lincoln  Wide-Awakes  at  Mag- 
nolia, a  village  not  far  away.  Directly  after  the 
ensuing  election  it  became  evident  that  trouble 
would  ensue  with  the  South,  and  tliis  VVide-Awake 
company,  like  many  others  throughout  the  country, 
kept  up  its  organization  and  transformed  itself  into  a 
military 'company.  During  the  ensuing  summer  they 
met  often  for  drill  and  became  proficient ;  but  when 
they  offered  themselves  for  th:i  svar,  young  Hamilton 
was  rejected  on  account  of  his  youth,  he  being  then 
but  14  years  of  age.  During  the  winter  of  [863-4  he 
attended  an  academy  at   Henry,   Marshall  t'ouniy 


:So 


JOHN  MARSHALL  HAMILTON. 


and  in  the  following  May  he  again  enlisted,  for  the 
fourth  time,  when  he  was  placed  in  the  141st  111. 
Vol  Inf.,  a  regiment  then  being  raised  at  Elgin,  111., 
for  the  100-day  service.  He  took  with  him  13  other 
lads  from  his  neighborhood,  for  enlistment  in  the 
service.  This  regiment  operated  in  Southwestern 
Kentucky,  for  about  five  months,  under  Gen.  Paine. 
The  following  winter,  1864-5,  ^''-  Hamilton  taught 
school,  and  during  the  two  college  years  1865-7,  he 
went  through  three  years  of  the  curriculum  of  the 
Ohio  Wesleyan  University  at  Delaware,  Ohio.  The 
third  year  he  graduated,  the  fourth  in  a  class  of  46, 
in  the  classical  department.  In  due  time  he  received 
the  degree  of  M.  A.  For  a  few  months  he  was  the 
Principal  of  Marshall  "  College  "  at  Henry,  an  acad- 
emy under  the  auspices  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  By 
this  lime  he  had  commenced  the  study  of  law,  and 
after  earning  some  money  as  a  temporary  Professor 
of  Latin  at  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at 
Blooniington,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Weldon, 
Tipton  &  Benjamin,  of  that  city.  Each  member  of 
this  firm  has  since  been  distinguished  as  a  Judge. 
Admitted  to  the  Bar  in  May,  1870,  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  given  an  interest  in  the  same  firm,  Tipton  hav- 
ing been  elected  Judge.  In  October  following  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  J.  H.  Rowell,  at  that  time 
Prosecuting  Attorney.  Their  lousiness  was  then 
small,  but  they  increased  it  to  very  large  proportions, 
practicing  in  all  grades  of  courts,  including  even  the 
U.  S.  Supreme  Court,  and  this  partnership  continued 
unbroken  until  Feb.  6,  1883,  when  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  sworn  in  as  Executive  of  Illinois.  On  the  4th 
of  March  following  Mr.  Rovvell  took  his  seat  in  Con- 
gress. 

In  July,  187 1,  Mr.  Hamilioa  married  Miss  Helen 
M.  Williams,  the  daughter  of  Prof.  VVm.  G.  Williams, 
Professor  of  Greek  in  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  have  two  daughters  and  one  son. 

In  1876  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  by  Uhe  Re- 
publicans for  the  State  Senate,  over  other  and  older 
competitors.  He  took  an  active  pan  '■  on  the  stump  " 
in  tiie  campaign,  for  the  success  of  his  party,  and  was 
sleeted  by  a  majority  of  1,640  over  his  Democratic- 
Greenback  opponent.  In  the  Senate  he  served  on 
the  Committees  on  Judiciary,  Revenue,  State  Insti- 
tutions, Appropriations,  Education,  and  on  Miscel- 
lany ;  and  (luring  the  contest  for  the  election  of  a 
U.  S.  Senator,  the  Republicans  endeavoring  to  re- 


elect John  A.  Logan,  he  voted  for  tlie  war  chief  on 
every  ballot,  even  alone  when  all  the  other  Republi- 
cans had  gone  over  to  the  Hon.  E.  B.  Lawrence  and 
the  Democrats  and  Independents  elected  Judge 
David  Davis.  At  this  session,  also,  was  passed  the 
first  Board  of  Health  and  Medical  Practice  act,  of 
which  Mr.  Hamilton  was  a  champion,  against  :c 
much  opposition  that  the  bill  was  several  times 
"  laid  on  the  table."  Also,  this  session  authorized 
the  location  and  establishment  of  a  southern  peni- 
tentiary,  which  was  fixed  at  Chester.  In  the  session 
of  1879  Mr.  Hamilton  was  elected  President //-c; /t'»2. 
of  the  Senate,  and  was  a  zealous  supporter  of  John 
A.  Logan  for  the  U.  S.  Senate,  who  was  this  time 
elected  without  any  trouble. 

In  May,  1880,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nominated  on 
the  Republican  ticket  for  Lieutenant  Governor,  his 
principal  competitors  before  the  Convention  being 
Hon.  Wm.  A.  James,  ex-Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  Judge  Robert  Bell,  of  '^''abash 
County,  Hon.  T.  T.  Fountain,  of  Perry  County,  and 
Hon.  M.  M.  Saddler,  of  Marion  County.  He  engaged 
actively  in  the  campaign,  and  his  ticket  was  elected 
by  a  majority  of  41,200.  As  Lieutenant  Governor, 
he  presided  almost  continuously  over  the  Senate  in 
the  32d  General  Assembly  and  during  the  early  days 
of  the  33d,  until  he  succeeded  to  the  Governorsliip. 
When  the  Legislature  of  1883  elected  Gov.  Culloni 
to  the  United  States  Senate,  Lieut.  Gov.  Hamilton 
succeeded  him,  under  the  Constitution,  taking  the 
oath  of  office  Feb.  6,  1883.  He  bravely  met  all  the 
annoyances  and  embarrass\nents  incidental  upon 
taking  up  another's  administration.  The  principal 
events  with  which  Gov.  Hamilton  was  connected  as 
the  Chief  Executive  of  the  State  were,  the  mine  dis- 
aster at  Braidwood,  the  riots  in  St.  Clair  and  Madison 
Co  inties  in  May,  1883,  the  appropriations  for  the 
State  militia,  the  adoption  of  the  Harper  high-license 
liquor  law,  the  veto  of  a  dangerous  railroad  bill,  etc. 

The  Governor  was  a  Delegate  at  large  to  the 
National  Republican  Convention  at  Chicago  in  June, 
1884,  where  his  first  choice  for  President  was  John 
K.  Logan,  and  second  choice  Chester  A.  Arthur;  but 
he  afterward  zealously  worked  for  the  election  of  Mr. 
Blaine,  true  to  his  party. 

Mr.  Hamilton's  term  as  Governor  expired  Jan.  30, 
18S5,  when  the  great  favorite  "  Dick  "  Oglesby  was  : 
inaugurated. 


J^^ftJI^.., 


""^, 


UOVEJiSOliS  OF  ILLIXOIS. 


1  Hn 


.    PC   ^^^-    ^ 


(§1® 


•^^•i 


.9'^ 


(JSEPII    "WaLSON   FIFER.      This 

distinguished  gentleman  was 
i^w  elected  Governor  of  Illinois 
-;^  November  6,  1888.  He  was 
Jf^*^:i||*fe  ,  v.  popularly  known  during  the 
\'L:  WJr^r4^?3.'  campaign  as  "Private  Joe."  He 
had  served  with  great  devotion 
to  his  country  during  the  Re- 
bellion, in  the  Thirty-third 
Illinois  Infantry.  A  native  of 
Virginia,  he  was  born  in  1840. 
His  parents,  John  and  Mary 
(Daniels)  Fifer,  were  American 
Ijurn,  though  of  German  de- 
scent. His  father  was  a  brick 
and  stone  mason,  and  an  old 
Hen  IT  Clay  Whig  in  politics.  John  and  Mary 
Filer  liad  nine  children,  ot'  whom  Joseph  was  the 
sixth,  and  naturally,  with  so  large  a  family,  it  was 
all  tlie  fatlier  could  ilo  to  keep  the  wolf  from  the 
duoi,  to  say  notliing  of  giving  his  children  anv- 
tliing  like  good  educational  advantages. 

Joseph  attcndiMl  school  for  a  while  in  Mrgina, 
but  it  was  not  a  good  school,  and  wlien  his  father 
rciiioviM]  to  Ihe  West,  in  IS")?,  .losopli  had  not  ad- 
V.uiced  iiiuili  lurtlu'i-  tiiau  the  ''First  Header.'" 
Our --uKjccI  was  sixteen  then  and  sutlered  a  great 
misfortune  in  tlie  loss  of    his  mother.     After  tlic 


death  of  Mrs.  Fifer,  which  occurred  in  IMissouri, 
the  family  returned  to  Virgina,  but  remained  onl^' 
a  short  time,  as  during  the  same  year  Mr.  Fifer 
came  to  Illinois.  He  settled  in  McLean  County 
and  started  a  brickyard.  Here  Joseph  and  his 
brothers  were  jjut  to  work.  Tlie  elder  Mr.  Fifer  soon 
bought  a  farm  near  JJloomington  and  began  life 
as  an  agriculturist.  Here  Joe  worked  and  attended 
the  neighboring  school.  He  alternated  farm- work, 
and  brick-laying,  going  to  the  district  school  for 
the  succeeding  few  years.  It  was  all  work  and  no 
play  for  Joe,  yet  it  by  no  means  made  a  dull  boy 
of  him.  All  the  time  he  was  thinking  of  the  great 
world  outside,  of  which  he  had  caught  a  glimpse 
when  coming  from  Virginia,  3''et  he  did  not  know 
just  how  he  was  going  to  get  out  into  it.  He 
could  not  feel  that  the  woods  around  the  new  farm 
and  the  log  cabin,  in  which  the  family  lived,  were 
to  hold  him. 

The  opportunity  to  get  out  into  the  world  was 
soon  offered  to  j'oung  Joe.  He  traveled  a  dozen 
miles  barefoot,  in  company  with  liisbrotherGeorge, 
.and  enlisted  in  Company  C,  Thirty-third  Illinois 
Infantry,  he  being  then  twenty  years  old.  In  a 
few  days,  the  regiment  was  sent  to  Camp  ISutler. 
and  then  over  into  Missouri,  and  saw  some  vigor- 
ous service  there.  After  a  second  lime  liel|)ing  to 
chase  Price  out  of  Missouri,  t!ie  Thirty-third    Hegi- 


184 


JOSEPH  W.  FIFER. 


ment  went  down  to  Milliken'8Bend,andforseveral 
weeks  "Private  Joe"  worked  on  Grant's  famous 
ditch.  The  regiment  tlien  joined  the  forces  oper- 
ating against  Tort  Gibson  and  Vickshurg.  Joe 
was  on  guard  dut_y  in  the  front  ditches  when  the 
Sag  of  surrender  was  run  up  on  the  4th  of  July, 
and  stuck  the  bayonet  of  his  gun  into  the  embank- 
ment and  went  into  the  city  with  the  vanguard  of 
Union  sokliers. 

The  next  day,  July  5,  the  Thirty-third  joined 
the  force  after  Johnston,  who  had  been  threatening 
Grant's  rear;  and  (inally  an  assault  was  made  on  him 
at  Jackson,  Miss.  In  this  charge  "Private  Joe"  fell, 
terribly  wounded.  He  was  loading  bis  gun,  wlien 
a  rainie-ball  struck  him  and  passed  entirely 
througli  his  body.  He  was  regarded  as  mortally 
wounded.  His  brother,  George,  who  had  been 
made  a  Lieutenant,  proved  to  be  the  means  of  sav- 
ing his  life.  Tlie  Suigeon  told  him  that  unless  lie 
had  ice  his  brother  could  not  live.  It  was  fifty  miles 
to  the  nearest  point  where  ice  could  be  obtained, 
and  the  roads  were  rough.  A  comrade,  a  McLean 
County  man,  who  had  been  wounded,  offered  to 
make  the  trip.  An  ambulance  was  secured  and 
the  brother  soldier  started  on  the  journey.  He  re- 
turned with  the  ice,  but  the  trii>,  owing  to  the 
roughness  of  the  ruad,  was  very  liard  on  him.  Af- 
ter a  few  months'  careful  nursing,  Mr.  Fifer  was  able 
to  come  home.  The  Thirty-third  came  home  on  a 
furlough,  and  when  the  bo.ys  were  ready  to  return 
to  the  tented  field,  young  Fifer  was  ready  to  go 
with  them,  for  he  was  determined  to  finish  his 
term  of  three  years.  He  was  mustered  out  in  Oct- 
ober, 18G4,  having  been  in  the  service  three  years 
and  two  months. 

"Private  Joe"  came  out  of  the  army  a  tall,  tan- 
ned, and  awkward  young  man  of  twenty-four. 
About  all  he  possessed  was  ambition  to  be  some- 
body— and  pluck.  Though  at  an  age  when  most 
men  have  finishiHl  their  college  course,  the  young 
soldier  saw  th.Tt  if  he  was  to  be  anybody  he  must 
have  an  education.  Yet  he  had  no  means  to  ena- 
ble him  to  enter  school  as  most  3'oung  men  do. 
He  was  determined  to  have  an  education,  however, 
and  that  to  him  meant  success.  For  the  following 
four  years  he  struggled   with    his  books.     He   en- 


tered Wesleyan  I'niversity  January  1,  18().5.  He 
was  not  a  brilliant  student,  being  neitiier  at  the 
head  nor  at  the  foot  of  his  class.  He  was  in  great 
earnest,  however,  studied  hard  and  came  forth  with 
a  well-stored  and  disciplined  mind. 

Immediately  after  being  graduated,  he  entered 
an  office  at  Bloomington  as  a  law  student.  He 
had  i)reviously  read  law  a  little,  and  as  he  continued 
to  work  hard,  with  the  spur  of  poverty  and  jirompt- 
ings  of  aniliition  ever  with  him,  he  was  ready  to 
hang  out  his  jirofessional  shingle  in  11SG;».  Being 
trustworthy,  he  soon  gathered  about  him  some  in- 
fluential friends.  In  1871  he  was  elected  Corpora- 
tion Counsel  of  Bloomington.  In  1872  he  was 
elected  State's  Attorney  of  McLean  County.  This 
office  he  held  eight  years,  when  betook  his  seat  in 
the  State  Senate.  He  served  for  four  years.  His 
ability  to  perform  abundance  of  hard  work  made 
him  a  most  valued  member  of  the  Legislature. 

Mr.  Fifer  was  married  in  1870  to  Gertie,  daugh- 
ter of  William  .T.  Lewis,  of  Bloomington.  I\Ir.  Fifei 
is  six  feet  in  height  and  is  spare,  weighing  only  one 
hundred  and  fifty  ptjunds.  He  has  a  swarthy  com- 
plexion, keen  black  eyes,  quick  movement,  and  pos- 
sesses a  frank  and  sympathetic  nature,  and  natur- 
lly  makes  friends  wherever  he  goes.  During  the 
late  gubernatorial  campaign  his  visits  throughout 
the  State  proved  a  great  power  in  his  behalf.  His 
faculty  of  winning  the  confidence  and  good  wishes 
of  those  with  whom  he  comes  in  personal  contact 
is  a  source  of  great  popularity,  especially  during  a 
political  battle.  As  a  speaker  he  is  fluent,  his  lan- 
guage is  good,  voice  clear  and  agreeable,  and  man- 
ner forcible.  His  manifest  earnestness  in  what  he 
says,  as  well  as  his  tact  as  a  public  speaker,  and  his 
eloquent  and  forceful  language,  make  him  a  most 
valuable  campaign  orator  and  a  powerful  pleader 
at  the  bar.  At  the  Rei)ublican  State  Convention, 
held  in  ISIay,  1888,  Mr.  Fifer  was  chosen  as  its 
candidate  for  Governor.  He  proved  a  popular 
nominee,  and  the  name  of  "Private  Joe"  became 
familiar  to  everj-one  throughout  the  State.  He 
waged  a  vigorous  campaign,  was  elected  by  a  good 
majority,  and  in  due  time  assumed  the  duties  of 
the  Chief  Executive  of  Illinois. 


V.  .  Mil. 

-iiYGF  ILLINOIS 


/?. 


GOVERNORS  OF  ILLINOIS. 


187 


l@kn  p.  m%%qm. 


""^^■^- 


'-vQ) 


Y<'IIN  P.  ALTGELD,  the  present 
5i  Governor  of  Illinois, is  a  native 
S,|  /.^^'  of  Prussia,  born  in  1848.  Shortly 
^'  =•'  after  his  birth  his  parents  emi- 
grated to  America,  locating  on 
a  farm  near  Mansfield,  Ohio. 
When  hut  a  mere  lad,  young 
Altgeld  had  to  walk  from  the 
farm  to  Man.sfield  with  buttea-, 
eggs  and  garden  produce,  which 
he  jieddled  from  house  to  house. 
About  1856,  his  parents  moved 
to  the  city  of  Mansfield,  and  for 
a  time  our  subject  was  engaged 
morning  and  evening  in  driv- 
ing cattle  to  and  from  the  pas- 
ture, :i  distance  of  eight  miles.  When  fourteen 
years  of  age  he  lured  out  as  a  farm  hand,  and  con- 
tinued iu  that  avocation  the  greater  part  of  his 
time  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
enli>ted  in  Company  C,  One  Hundred  and  .Sixty- 
tourlhOhioInfantry,and  served  until  the  closeof 
the  war.  On  being  mustered  in,  the  regiment  wa.s 
>ent  to  Washington  and  was  actively  engaged  iu 
llie  various  campaigns  in  and  around  that  city 
luitil  the  surrender  of  Lee.  In  the  fall  of  1864, 
jvoung  Altgeld  was  taken  sick,  while  with  hisregi- 
jiient  in  the  front,  and  the  surgeon  desired  to  send 
lim  to  a  hospital  in  Washington;  but  he  asked  to 


be  allowed  to  remain  with  the  regiment,  and  soon 
recovering  from  his  sickness  was  actively  engaged 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  mustered  out 
at  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  the  spring  of  1 865.  The 
succeeding  summer  he  worked  with  his  father  on 
a  farm,  during  which  time  he  became  connected 
with  the  Sun daj' -school  and  was  given  charge  of 
the  Bible  class.  Before  entering  the  army  he  had 
but  very-  limited  educational  advantages,  having 
attended  school  but  a  jiart  of  two  summers  and 
one  winter,  lie  had  at  homo,  however,  studied 
the  (Jerman  language  and  had  become  familiar 
with  some  (iernian  authors.  Determining  to  fit 
himself  for  a  useful  life,  he  resolved  to  attend  a 
select  school  at  Lexington,  Ohio,  and  in  a  little 
eight-b3--ten  room,  meagrely  furnished,  he  kept 
"bachelor's  hall,"  and  in  time  was  so  faradvanced 
that  he  secured  a  certiticate  as  teacher,  and  for 
two  years  was  engaged  in  that  profession.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  he  left  home  and  traveled  exten- 
sively over  the  country,  working  at  odd  jobs,  un- 
til he  finally  reached  Savannah,  Mo.,  where  he  en- 
tered a  law  office,  and  in  1870  was  admitted  to  the 
Bar.  In  the  fall  of  1872,  he  ran  as  Prosecuting 
Attorney  for  Andrews  County,  Mo.,  and  was  de- 
feated by  four  votes.  He  ran  again  in  1874  and 
was  elected.  But  life  in  the  small  town  of  Savan- 
nah was  a  little  too  monotonous  for  him,  and  he 
determined   to   locate    in    Chicago.     In    October, 


188 


JOHN  P.  ALTGELD. 


1875,  he  resigned  the  office  of  Prosecuting  Attor- 
ney, moved  to  Chicago,  and  at  ouce  commenced 
the  practice  of  law.  For  some  jears  after  he  had 
but  little  to  do  with  politics,  confining  himself  to 
his  piactice  and  dealing  in  real  estate.  One  _year 
after  Ids  arrival  in  Chicago  he  found  himself  with- 
out a  dollar,  and  in  debt  some  $400.  By  a  streak  of 
good  luck,  as  it  might  be  termed,  he  won  a  casein 
court,  from  which  he  received  a  fee  of  $900,  and 
after  paying  his  debt  he  had  $500  left,  which  he 
invested  in  real  estate.  This  venture  proved  a 
successful  one,  and  from  that  time  on  the  profits 
of  one  transaction  were  invested  in  others,  and 
to-day  he  is  numbered  among  the  millionaire  resi- 
dents of  the  great  metropolis  of  the  "West. 

In  1884,  Mr.  Altgeld  was  nominated  for  Con- 
gress, but  was  defeated  by  three  thousand  votes. 
In  1886,  he  w.-is  nominated  and  elected  Judge  of 
the  Superior  Court  of  Cook  County.  His  services 
as  Judge  were  such  as  to  commend  him  to  the  peo- 
ple.    Early  in  the  year  1892,  by  the  solicitation  of 


many  friends,  he  announced  himself  as  a  candi- 
date for  Governor.  At  the  convention  held 
April  27,  he  received  the  nomination  and  at  once 
entered  upon  an  active  canvass.  Alone,  he  traveled 
all  over  the  entire  State,  and  visited  and  consulted 
with  the  leading  politicians  of  every  section.  He 
made  few  public  speeches,  however,  until  near  the 
close  of  the  campaign,  but  it  was  very  evident  that 
lie  was  master  of  the  situation  at  all  times.  When 
the  votes  were  counted  at  the  close  of  election 
day,  it  was  found  that  he  had  a  majority  of  the 
votes,  and  so  became  the  first  Democratic  Governor 
of  Illinois  since  1856. 

Born  in  poverty,  alone,  single-handed  and  un- 
aided, he  faced  the  world,  and  with  a  determina- 
tion to  succeed,  he  pre.ssed  forward,  until  to-day  he 
has  a  National  reputation,  and  is  the  envied  uf 
many.  The  lesson  of  his  life  is  worthy  of  careful 
study  by  the  young,  and  shows  what  can  be  done 
by  one  who  has  the  desire  in  his  heart  to  attain  a 
front  rank  among  the  noted  men  of  the  country. 


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BIOGRAPF[ICAL.  p^^> 

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^^  OL.  HASWELL  C.  CLARKE,  Cashier  of  tfie 
(if^l^  First  National  Bank  of  Kankakee,  is  a  na- 
^^^  tive  of  Massachusetts,  and  was  born  in 
Boston  September  28,  1842.  His  parents  were 
John  Jones  and  Rebecca  Cordis  (Ilaswell)  Clarke. 
The  fatlier,  who  was  also  a  native  of  the  old  Bay 
State,  was  a  lawjer  by  profession  and  a  distin- 
gnished  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Bar.  In 
early  life  he  attained  considerable  prominence  in 
public  iK)sitions,  and  was  the  first  Mayor  of  Rox- 
bur^-,  wliich  now  forms  a  part  of  Boston.  He 
served  as  a  member  of  the  State  Senate,  and  was  a 
gentleman  of  considerable  wealth  and  of  high  so- 
cial standing.  He  continued  to  make  his  home  in 
Roxbury  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the 
5tii  of  November,  1887,  at  the  age  of  nearly 
eighty-five  years.  The  paternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  the  Rev.  Pitt  Clarke,  was  born  in 
IMedfield,  of  that  State,  on  the  IStli  of  January, 
17()3,  and  was  a  son  of  Jacob  Clarke,  who  was 
third  in  descent  from  the  first  ancestor  to  come  to 
America.  This  latter  emigrated  from  England 
about  the  year  1700,  and  settled  in  North  Ray n- 
ham,  Mass. 

Col.  Clarke's  mother  was  a  granddaughter  of 
Capt.  William  Haswell,  who  was  engaged  in  the 
revenue  service  on  the  American  station  in  1796, 
and  married  ISIiss  Rachel,  a  daughter  of  Ebenezer 
and  Elizabeth  Woodard,  of  George's  Island  in 
Boston  Harbor,  by  whom  he  iiad  tliree  sons,  Rob- 
ert, William  and  John  JMontresor.  Robert  Has- 
well, who  was  named  after  his  uncle,  and  his 
brother,  John  Montresor,  were  naval  oflicers  and 
greatl}-  distinguished  themselves  on  board  the 
"Boston,"    in    the    sharp    engagement    with    the 


French  corvette  "Le  Berceau,"  in  November,  1800. 
Robert  left  the  naval  service  on  the  establishment 
of  peace  in  1801.  and  in  August  of  tliat  j-ear 
sailed  in  the  "Louise"'  for  the  Northwest  Coast, 
but  was  lost  on  his  return  home.  He  had  sailed 
around  the  world  in  the  ship  "Columbia  Redi- 
viva."  Irving  sa3's  in  his  "Astoria,"  page  397: 
"The  'Columbia'  is  believed  to  have  been  the  first 
ship  that  made  a  regular  discovery  and  anchored 
within  the  waters  of  the  Columbia  River,  Ore., 
which  has  since  borne  the  name  of  that  vessel." 
On  the  17tli  of  October,  1797,  he  married  Miss 
Mar3%  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Cordis,  a  merchant  of 
Charleston,  Mass.,  b}'  whom  he  had  two  daughters, 
Mary  and  Rebecfia,  the  latter  being  the  mother  of 
our  subject.  John  Montresor  became  a  midship- 
man in  the  American  navy,  and  received  the 
thanks  of  Congress  for  his  signal  valor  in  the  war 
with  Tripoli,  and  w.as  promoted  to  a  Lieutenancj-. 
The  Ilaswell  family,  which  was  of  Scotch  origin, 
espoused  the  cause  of  Charles  Edward  Stuart. 
Mrs.  Clarke,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  was  a 
woman  of  high  intellectual  attainments  and  deep 
piet}',  and  was  charitable  and  public-spirited.  She 
w.as  moreover  possessed  of  much  personal  grace 
and  beaut3'  and  man}'  excellencies  of  cliaracter. 
Hei-  death  occurred  December  26, 1883,  in  her  home 
in  Massachusetts. 

Ilaswell  C.  Clarke  took  a  i)rcparatory  course  in 
the  Roxbur^'  Latin  School,  and  entered  Harvard 
College  in  1859,  being  a  member  of  the  Class  of 
'63.  Before  graduating,  however,  he  received  a 
commission  as  Second  Lieutenant,  and  accordingly 
entered  the  army  as  Aide-de-Camp  to  Gen.  Benja- 
min F.  Butler,  joining  that  General's  staff  in  Bos- 


196 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ton  in  1861.  lie  fallowed  liis  chief  to  Ship 
Island,  below  New  Orleans,  and  remained  there 
until  the  1st  of  Maj^,  1862,  when  with  the  victori- 
ous Union  army  he  entered  New  Orleans  and 
spent  one  year  there,  while  Gen.  Butler  was  in 
command  of  the  Department  of  the  Gulf.  Thence 
he  went  to  Fortress  Monroe,  where  Gen.  Butler 
took  command  of  the  Department  of  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina.  Afterward  Gen.  Butler  was  in 
command  of  the  Armj'  of  the  James,  which  oper- 
ated against  Petersburgh,  and  opened  the  way  for 
Grant  and  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  to  enter 
Richmond.  He  served  with  Gen.  lUitlei-  through 
all  his  campaigns,  and  was  in  his  .service  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  throughout  that  period  being  the 
warm  and  trusted  friend  of  his  distinguished  com- 
mander. He  was  mustered  out  in  October,  1865, 
as  Lieutenant-Colonel,  to  which  rank  lie  had  been 
promoted  Marcii  13,  1865, "for  meritorious  services 
in  the  Department  of  the  Gulf,  for  gallant  con- 
duct in  the  execution  of  orders  on  the  Mississippi 
River,  in  the  bombardment  of  Fts.  Jackson  and 
St.  Philip,  and  for  gallantr}'  and  courage  in  the 
attack  of  the  rebels  on  Battery  Harrison,"  one  of 
the  lines  of  entrenchment  above  Petersburgli.  Sucli 
is  a  brief  summary  of  the  official  military  record 
of  one  of  the  patriotic,  earnest  and  efficient  young 
officers  of  the  late  war. 

In  1872  Col.  Clarke  received  his  diploma  with 
the  honorable  degree  of  A.  B.  from  his  Alma 
Mater.  In  1865  his  father  became  interested  in  a 
large  flaxmill  in  Kankakee,  111.,  the  management 
of  which  was  not  giving  satisfaction  to  the  stock- 
holders, and  in  the  following  year  our  subject  was 
dispatched  thitlier  to  inquire  into  its  workings 
and  superintend  its  operations.  After  a  year's 
experience  and  observation  he  decided  that  the 
business  could  not  be  made  a  success  and  it  was 
accordingly  closed  up.  He  also  became  financially 
interested  in  a  large  stone  quarry,  which  paid  bet- 
ter dividends.  In  April,  1871,  when  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Kankakee  was  incorporated, 
Col.  Clarke  became  a  stockholder  and  a  member  of 
its  Board  of  Directors,  being  chosen  Cashier,  which 
position  he  has  held  continuously  since  the  bank 
doors  were  opened  for  business  to  the  present 
time,  covering  a  jieriod  of  twenty-two  years.  (See 


history  of  the  bank,  which  is  one  of  the  important 
financial  institutions  of  eastern  Illinois.) 

In  politics  Col.  Clarke  is  emphatically  Republi- 
can, but  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  an  elective 
office  of  prominence.  He  has  accepted  some  of 
the  minor  otlices  through  a  sense  of  duty  as  a 
good  citizen,  having  served  as  Alderman  of  Kan- 
kakee, and  as  a  member  of  the  Citj'  Board  of  Edu- 
cation, of  which  he  was  President  one  year. 
When  the  Illinois  Eastern  Hospital  was  located  at 
Kankakee,  Col.  Clarke  was  appointed  Secretary 
and  Treasurer  of  the  institution,  and  has  held  that 
po.sition  continuously  since,  a  period  of  thirteen 
years,  during  which  time  he  has  rendered  the 
State  faithful  and  efficient  service,  and  has  aided 
materially  in  the  success  that  has  crowned  that  in- 
stitution from  the  start.  (See  history  of  the  hos- 
pital elsewhere  in  this  work.) 

On  the  5th  of  May,  1869,  Col.  Clarke  married 
Miss  Harriet  Amelia  Cobb,  a  daughter  of  William 
and  Achsah  Cobb,  and  a  sister  of  Emor^-  Cobb, 
President  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Kanka- 
kee. In  his  religious  affiliations  Col.  Clarke  is  a 
communicant  of  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church  of 
Kankakee,  of  vvhich  he  has  been  Vestryman  for 
more  than  twenty  years.  His  wife  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  that  church. 

The  Masonic  record  of  our  sul)ject  is  a  conspicu- 
ous feature  of  his  histoiy,  as  he  has  been  very 
prominently  identified  with  the  order  officially  for 
a  quarter  of  a  century.  He  was  made  a  Master 
Mason  in  Owisco  Lodge  No.  571,  December  11, 
1867.  The  old  lodge  was  subsequently  consoli- 
dated with  Kankakee  Lodge  No.  389.  He  was 
advanced  to  the  Royal  Arch  degree  in  Kankakee 
Chapter  No.  78  on  the  28th  of  February,  1868; 
became  a  member  of  Springfield  Council  No.  2 
on  October  7  of  the  following  3ear,  and  on  the 
23d  of  that  month  became  a  member  of  Ivanhoe 
Coramandery  No.  33,  of  Kankakee.  He  was'  ad- 
mitted to  Van  Rensselaer  L.  of  P.  October  5, 
1875,  to  the  Chicago  Council  October  6,  1875,  on 
the  same  date  to  Gourgas  Chapter,  and  to  the 
Oriental  Consistory  on  the  7th  of  October,  1875, 
receiving  the  Thirtj'-third  Degree  in  Philadelphia 
September  16,  1879.  His  Masonic  official  record 
begins  with  his  service  as  Worshipful  Master  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


191 


Owisco  Lodge  in  1.S68.  lie  next  was  Woisliip- 
ful  Master  of  Kankakee  Lodge  in  1874-75,  was 
M.  E.  II.  P.  of  Kankakee  Chapter  for  1869-70-79- 
80  and  1881;  was  elected  E.  C.  of  Ivanhoe  Com- 
mauder}-  for  the  term  of  1872;  was  D.  I).  G.  M. 
of  the  Sixteenth  Masonic  District  of  Illinois  for 
seven  years,  from  1872  to  1879,  inclusive,  and  in 
October,  1875,  was  elected  M.  E.  G.  II.  P.  of  the 
Grand  Chapter  of  Illinois,  serving  for  one  term. 
In  October,  1884,  he  was  elected  R.  E.  G.  C.  of 
the  Grand  Commander^',  K.  T.,  of  Illinois,  and 
served  for  one  term.  At  this  writing  (1892)  he  is 
Grand  Marshal  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Illinois. 
During  the  man_y  years  of  his  prominent  and 
active  affiliation  with  the  order.  Col.  Clarke  has 
made  many  pleasant  acquaintances  throughout 
the  State  and  nation,  where  the  pleasure  has  been 
reciprocal. 

Our  subject  is  President  of  the  Kankakee  Club, 
a  social  society  composed  of  many  of  the  best  peo- 
ple of  the  city,  and  is  officially  connected  with 
many  other  social  and  financial  organizations.  In 
business  life  Col.  Clarke  is  enterprising  and  pub- 
lic-spirited, and  has  been  more  or  less  identified 
with  everything  of  public  interest  that  has  trans- 
pired in  his  time  in  his  city  or  county.  He  was 
elected  and  served  as  President  of  the  Business 
Men's  Association  of  Kankakee  during  its  recent 
rapid  growth  in  general  prosperity  and  the  indus- 
tries, and  did  much  to  aid  and  encourage  the 
same.  He  is  noted  for  exactness  and  correctness 
in  his  business  methods,  which  characteristic  h.is 
won  for  him  public  confidence  in  his  acts,  and  in 
the  important  financial  relations  he  holds  to  his 
fellow-citizens  and  the  general  public. 

In  the  earl3'  summer  of  1891,  Col.  Clarke,  feel- 
ing the  need  of  a  little  rest  and  recreation  after 
many  years  of  close  application  to  business, 
planned  a  tour  of  the  Old  World,  and  with  his 
wife  sailed  from  New  York  in  May  of  that  year, 
making  their  first  landing  in  Ireland.  After  vis- 
iting the  larger  cities  and  principal  points  of  in- 
terest in  the  British  Isles,  they  proceeded  to  Nor- 
way, stopping  at  its  principal  seaports,  and  going 
the  whole  length  of  its  coast  to  North  Cape,  "the 
land  of  the  midnight  sun,"  where  they  saw  no 
night.    Rounding  North  Cape  they  proceeded  into 


Lapland,  invading  the  fabled  domain  of  Santa 
C'laus,  where  they  inspected  his  reindeer  and  the 
curious  customs  of  the  Laplanders.  This  part  of 
the  trip  was  suggested  to  the  C<ilonel  b}'  his  pre- 
vious experience  in  Alaska,  which  had  given  him 
a  taste  for  Arctic  scenes.  On  their  return  tliey 
went  to  Scotland  and  England,  going  thence  to 
Austria,  (iermany,  and  tlience  to  France,  where 
they  rested  a  season  in  P.iris.  Next  they  crossed 
the  Alps  int(j  Switzerland, enjoying  for  a  time  the 
romantic  scenery  of  that  favorite  haunt  of  the 
tourist  and  the  artist.  They  returned  to  England 
and  then  home,  where  they  arrived  after  a  most 
enjoyable  tour  of  six  months,  during  which  time 
their  observations  would  afford  material  for  a  very 
readable  book.  The  collection  of  beautiful  paint- 
ings and  curios  which  the^'  brought  back  with 
them  will  not  onl^'  ornament  their  home,  but  will 
serve  as  pleasant  reminders  of  their  journeyings 
in  foreign  lands. 

It  is  no  flattery  to  say  of  Col.  Clarke  what 
everybody  who  knows  him  will  vouch  for,  that  he 
is  one  of  the  most  popular  men  in  Kankakee 
County.  It  may  be  that  he  is  not  entitled  to  any 
credit  for  it,  as  it  is  probable  that  he  doesn't 
mean  to  be  so,  but  simply  can't  help  it.  It  is  his 
nature  to  be  genial  and  courteous,  and  being  of  a 
happ3'  disposition  and  fortunate  in  natural  en- 
dowments, both  physical  and  mental,  and  favored 
by  fortune  with  abundant  means,  there  is  no  rea- 
son whj'  he  should  not  hold,  as  he  does,  a  fore- 
most place  in  the  hearts  of  all  who  know  him. 


^RANK    B.   WHI'ITUM    is  the  well-known, 

j  genial  station  agent  and  telegraph  operator 
_^  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  at  Herscher, 

111.  His  birth  occurred  at  Phelps,  Ontario  County, 
N.  Y.,  on  the  28tli  of  May,  1856.  Of  that  State, 
his  father,  II.  C.  Wliittum,  was  also  a  native,  and 
there  grew  to  manhood.  He  married  Miss  Pru- 
dence Bayloss,  likewise  of  New  Y'ork.  In  1867,  he 
removed  with  his  family  to  Michigan,  locating  in 
Eaton  County,  where  he  engaged  in  the  manufac- 


198 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tare  of  lumber  and  also  did  merchandising  and 
farming  for  a  number  of  \ears.  Now,  retired  from 
active  business,  lie  is  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his 
years  of  toil.  In  bis  earlier  life  he  was  quite  act- 
ive in  political  circles  and  held  a  number  of  posi- 
tions in  the  locality  in  which  he  dwelt.  He  has 
always  supported  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party  since  its  organization. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject  were 
passed  in  Eaton  County,  Mich.,  where  he  had  re- 
moved with  his  parents.  His  early  education  was 
acquired  in  the  district  schools,  which  studies 
were  supplemented  by  a  course  in  the  Eaton  Rapids 
High  School  and  later  at  Olivet  College.  Upon 
completing  his  school  life,  Mr.  Whittuni  engaged 
as  a  teacher  for  two  years,  in  which  line  he  proved 
very  successful.  Afterward  he  took  a  commercial 
course  at  Janesville,  Wis.,  also  learning  telegraphy. 
From  there  he  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  accepted 
a  position  in  a  commercial  house,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a  year.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time 
he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road Company  and  up  to  the  present  da}- has  been 
with  them,  stationed  at  various  oflices  along  the 
line.  In  1880,  he  was  appointed  station  agent  and 
operator  at  Herscher.  He  is  also  agent  for  several 
Brst-class  fire  insurance  companies  and  does  a  good 
business, both  in  Herscher  and  the  adjoining  coun- 
try. The  jTCtna  Life  Insurance  Company  have 
also  made  him  their  agent  at  this  point. 

Mr.  Whittum  has  taken  quite  an  active  part  in 
local  politics,  though  he  has  never  desired  official 
recognition.  On  the  organization  of  the  village  of 
Herscher  he  was  elected  Clerk,  in  which  capacity 
he  has  acted  since.  He  uses  his  right  of  franchise 
in  favor  of  the  Republican  part}'  and  cast  his  first 
vote  in  the  Presidential  election  of  1880  for  James 
A.  Garfield.  He  is  a  man  of  upright  character  and 
exemplary  habitsand  is  one  of  the  Jlliuois  Central's 
most  valued  and  trusted  employes. 

In  Momence,  on  the  27th  of  November,  1882, 
Mr.  Whittum  and  Miss  Sarah  Richaids  were  united 
in  marriage.  The  lad}-,  who  is  a  native  of  Indiana, 
received  her  education  in  Kankakee  County  and 
Oxford,  Ohio,  in  the  Ladies'  Seminar}-,  and  pre- 
vious to  her  marriage  was  a  successful  teacher.  Her 
parents  were  Samuel  and  Maria   Richards,  the  for- 


mer of  whom  died  when  she  was  a  child.  Mrs. 
AVhittum's  two  brothers,  Clark  and  Wheeler  Rich- 
ards, were  formerly  prominent  men  of  this  county, 
and  were  civil  engineers,  the  latter  being  at  one 
time  Surveyor  of  the  county.  They  are  both  now 
deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whittum  have  two  sons, 
Freddie  and  Harry,  and  are  highly  esteemed  mem- 
bers of  the  Herscher  Presbyterian  Church. 


_^) 


"S] 


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ri=i 


C^" 


^^EORGE  W.  P.YRNES,  a  farmer  residing  on 
III  (^—  section  3,  Limestone  Township,  is  one  of 
'^^  the  honored  pioneers  of  this  county,  and 
were  his  skelch  omitted  from  its  pages  the  history 
would  be  incomplete.  His  name  is  inseparably 
connected  with  its  upbuilding.  The  county  cer- 
tainly owes  a  debt  of  gratitude  to  the  early  set- 
tlers who  bore  the  hardships  and  trials  of  frontier 
life  while  making  homes  in  this  then  far  West- 
ern country,  thereby  laying  the  foundation  for  a 
county  which  now  occupies  a  foremost  place 
among  its  sister  counties  in  this  great  common- 
wealth. 

iNlr.  Byrnes  was  born  in  Fairport,  Geauga  County, 
now  Lake  County,  Ohio,  July  30,  1818,  and  w.as 
the  fifth  in  a  family  of  six  children,  includ- 
ing three  sons  and  three  daughters,  whose  par- 
ents were  James  and  Margaret  (Mayher)  Byrnes. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  Grafton  County,  N.  H. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  however,  was  born  in 
Ireland,  but  in  his  youth  emigrated  to  this  country 
and  married  a  lad}-  of  Vermont.  Mrs.  Byrnes,  the 
mother  of  our  subject,  was  a  native  of  the  Empire 
State. 

When  George  was  only  three  years  of  age  his 
parents  left  Ohio  and  removed  to  Mt.  Clemens, 
Mich.,  where  his  mother  died  the  following  year. 
He  remained  in  Michigan  until  1830,  his  time  be- 
ing passed  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  and 
then  at  the  age  ()f  thirteen  years  ran  away  from 
home  in  order  to  become  a  sailor  on  the  Lakes.  Go- 
ing to  Detroit,  he  carried  out  his  cherished  resolu- 
tion. When  about  fourteen  years  old  he  made  his 
home  in   Chicago,  but  continued  to  sail  the  Lakes 


I 
1 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


199 


until  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  can  relate  many 
interesting  stories  concerning  his  experience  as  a 
sailor  lad.  AVhen  his  father  came  to  this  county 
in  1834,  George  Byrnes  accompanied  him.  Ilis 
father  had  located  land  here  two  j'cars  previous. 
Our  subject  made  the  journej'  from  Chicago  on  foot 
and  carried  with  him  eigiit  pounds  of  nails  to  be 
used  in  building  the  roof  of  their  house.  At  that 
lime  there  were  only  about  six  settlements  in  the 
entire  countj'.  The  greater  part  of  the  land  was 
still  in  its  primitive  condition  and  was  owned  by 
the  Government,  ludians  still  resided  in  tliis  lo- 
cality, all  kinds  of  wild  game  were  plentiful,  and 
the  primitive  condition  of  everything  gave  little 
indication  that  Kankakee  County  was  to  attain  to 
the  enviable  position  which  it  to-day  occujiies. 

In  1843,  Mr.  Byrnes  was  united  in  marriage  with 
]\Iiss  Sabra  Anna  Hawkins,  whose  parents  were 
among  the  earliest  pioneers  of  this  county.  The 
following  children  were  born  of  their  union:  Joel 
B.,  born  April  C,  1845,  is  now  living  in  Kansas; 
.lames,  born  December  16,  1846,  is  engaged  in 
farming  in  the  Sunllower  State;  Hester  Maria, 
born  .lanuar^'  5, 1850,  died  at  the  age  of  two  years; 
Geoige  W.,  horn  January  11,  1852,  is  one  of  the 
substantial  farmers  of  this  county.  The  mother  of 
this  family  died  in  1865,  and  on  the  16th  of  Decem- 
ber, 18()6,  Mr.  B\'rnes  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Harriet  Benson,  a  resident 
of  Washington,  D.  C.  She  was  born  in  Queen  Anne 
and  Prince  George  County,  Md.,  April  16,  1840, 
and  her  parents  wore  also  natives'of  the  same  State. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Byrnes  were  born  the  follow- 
nig children.  Sabra  Anna,  born  September  6,  1867, 
died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years.  Hattie  L.,  born 
November  29, 1868,  is  now  the  wife  of  John  Cahen, 
a  resident  farmer  of  Kankakee  County.  Ce|5has 
B.,  born  on  the  12th  of  July,  1871,  died  in  infancj'. 
The  younger  children  are  Jolin  B.,  born  July  25, 
1872;  and  Cyntha  Eunice,  born  November  10, 
1878.     They  are  still  under  tlie  parental  roof. 

The  hardships  and  privations  of  pioneer  life  are 
well  known  to  I\Ir.  B3rnes,  not  as  a  matter  of  re- 
port but  of  experience.  He  performed  the  ardu- 
ous task  of  developing  wild  land,  many  an  acre 
having  lirst  been  plowed  bj-  him.  lie  has  ever 
worked   for  the   best  interests  of  the  county,  for 


its  upbuilding  and  advancement.     lie  aided  in  the 

organization  of  the  county  and  was  its  first  Sher- 
iff, to  which  ollice  he  was  elected  in  1852,  filling 
the  position  for  a  term  of  two  years.  True  to 
avcry  public  and  private  trust,  he  iias  won  the 
confidence  and  high  regard  of  all  with  whom  bus- 
iness or  pleasure  has  brought  liim  in  contact. 
Through  his  business  ability  and  enterprise  he  has 
gained  a  handsome  property  and  now  owns  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  rich  farming  land. 
In  politics,  he  has  always  been  a  stalwart  Demo- 
crat and  for  forty-seven  years  he  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Masonic  fraternity. 


^^=^EORGE  H.  RKED,  living  on  section  17, 
l|  K^  Norton  Township,  has  been  a  resident  of 
^^1)  this  county  for  twenty-two  years.  His  birth 
occurred  in  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  lllh 
of  January,  1855.  He  is  a  son  of  Louis  L.,  and 
Eliza  (Cook)  Reed,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  New  York,  and  there  grew  to  maturity.  Tlie 
father  is  a  weaver  by  trade,  and  for  a  number  of 
years  was  engaged  in  the  manufacturing  business. 
About  1856  he  moved  Westward  to  Illinois,  locat- 
ing in  Will  County,  near  Wilmington.  There  for 
the  first  time  in  his  life  he  engaged  in  farming 
and  was  quite  successful.  In  1870,  coming  to 
Kankakee  Countj-,  he  purchased  a  tract  of  raw 
prairie  land,  which  he  has  since  mucii  im|)roved 
and  developed.  On  this  farm  he  resided  until 
1887,  engaged  in  its  cultivation,  but  at  that  time 
removing  to  Kankakee,  he  retired  from  the  active 
cares  and  business  of  life. 

Our  subject,  George  IL,  passed  his  boyhood  and 
3-outh  in  Will  and  Kankakee  Counties,  coming  to 
the  latter  place  when  fifteen  years  of  age.  I  lis  school 
privileges  were  such  as  were  afforded  by  the  dis- 
trict schools,  and  with  his  father  he  remained  until 
attaining  his  majority.  At  Wabash,  Ind.,  Mr. 
Reed  married  Miss  Louise  Miller,  on  the  3d  of 
March,  1882.  Mrs.  Reed  is  a  native  of  Indiana 
and  a  daughter  of  William  Miller,  of  that  State. 
The  family  circle  of  six  children  remains  unbroken, 


200 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  eldest  being  Leonard  L.;  the  others  are  Clara 
J.,  Nellie  E.,  Leroy  R.,  and  Hattie  May  and  Ward 
A.  (twins).  The  three  older  children  are  attend- 
ing school  in  the  neighborhood. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Reed  settled  upon  a 
farm  which  ho  had  previously  purchased  and  which 
land  adjoined  his  father's  property.  For  several 
years  he  carried  on  his  farm  and  after  his  father's 
removal  to  Kankakee  he  rented  his  farm,  since 
which  time  he  has  operated  both.  He  has  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  improved  land  and  is 
accounted  one  of  the  successful  farmers  of  Norton 
Township.  Our  subject  is  a  public-spirited  man 
and  has  given  his  hearty  support  to  all  measures 
for  the  benefit  of  the  community.  In  local  poli- 
tics he  is  much  interested  and  has  held  various 
official  positions  of  responsibility,  among  which 
we  mention  that  of  Collector  of  the  township  and 
Road  Commissioner.  He  is  a  stanch  adherent  of 
the  Republican  party  and  deposited  his  first  vote 
for  Hon.  .Tames  A.  Garfield.  The  cause  of  educa- 
tion finds  in  him  a  warm  friend,  and  for  nine  con- 
secutive years  he  has  been  a  Director  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  School  Board.  Socially,  he  holds  mem- 
bership with  Green  Grove  Camp  No.  1512,  M.  W.  A., 
of  Buckingham,  111.  In  his  personal  character  he 
is  honorable  and  upright  and  has  a  wide  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances. 


^^^EORGE  E.  WEIS  is  an  enterprising  agricul- 
[II  ,-— ,  turist  of  Norton  Township,  residing  on 
^^J^  section  6.  He  is  numbered  among  the  hon- 
ored pioneers  of  Kankakee  County,  and  is  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Norton  Township,  dating 
his  residence  here   since  1865. 

On  the  6th  of  March.  1826,  his  birth  occurred  in 
Wurtemberg,  Germany.  In  his  native  land  he 
passed  his  early  days,  receiving  good  advantages 
in  the  schools.  Since  coming  to  this  country,  by 
observation  and  study  he  has  acquired  a  good 
knowledge  of  English.  Previous  to  his  leaving 
German}-,  he  was  engaged  at  farm  labor.    .In  1854, 


going  to  Havre,  Mr.  Weis  took  passage  in  a  sailing- 
vessel  bound  for  New  York.  The  vessel  was  fortj'- 
three  days  in  crossing  the  broad  Atlantic  and  en- 
countered severe  storms  and  gales.  Nearly  all  the 
passengers  were  sick  during  the  entire  vo.yage. 
Thej'  arrived  in  New  York  Harbor,  casting  anchor 
on  the  1st  of  July,  1854.  From  there  Mr.  Weis 
went  West  to  Chicago  and  afterward  went  West  to 
DuPage  County,  where  he  joined  several  German 
friends.  He  soon  obtained  employment  on  a  farm, 
where  he  remained  for  six  years. 

On  the  16th  of  February,  1860,  Mr.  Weis  mar- 
ried Miss  Dora,  daughter  of  Philip  Spahn,  who 
was  also  a  native  of  Germany  and  spent  his  entire 
life  in  that  country.  When  eighteen  years  of  age, 
Mrs.  Weis  bade  adieu  to  her  friends  and  native 
land  and  came  to  the  United  States,  arriving  in 
Illinois  about  1857.  By  their  marriage  were  born 
five  children:  George  L.,  a  farmer  of  this  town- 
ship, and  who  learned  the  carpenter's  trade;  Louis 
Henry,  also  a  carpenter  and  farmer  of  this  county; 
Emma,  wife  of  .lohn  II.  Knipe,  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Kankakee  County;  Charles  W.,  a  young 
man  helping  to  carry  on  the  home  farm.  A 
daughter,  Rosa,  now  decea.sed,  was  the  wife  of 
James  Kriebel,  a  farmer  of  this  county.  She  de- 
parted this  life  on  the  IStli  of  July,  1892. 

In   1860,  Mr.  Weis  rented  a  farm   in    DuPage 
County,   which   he  carried  on  for  five  3'ears.     In 
1865,  removing  to  Kankakee  County,  he  purchased 
a  tract  of  eighty-four   acres  of   raw  prairie.     The 
land  was  veiy  productive  and  when  the  season  was 
at  all  favorable   brought  forth  abundant  harvests 
of    grain    and   other    fruits.     Thus  Mr.  Weis  was  : 
soon  on  the    road  to   prosperity.     He    purchased] 
eighty-  acres  adjoining  his  original  land,  but  located  1 
over  the  line  in  Grundy  County.     In  all,  his  farm 
comprises  one  hundred  and  sixty-four  acres  of  ara-j 
ble  and  improved    land.     He  has  a  large,  substan- 
tial residence,  commodious  barns,  sheds  and  other] 
farm  buildings.     His  place  is  located  one  mile  dis- 
tant from  Reddick  and  is  a  valuable   and  fertile] 
farm. 

Mr.  Weis  cast  his  fiist  ballot  for  Hon.  Abraham  j 
Lincoln  in    1860,  and  has    always  been  a  stanch 
supporter  of  the  Republican   party  until    1892,  atl 
which  time  he  voted  the  Prohibition  ticket.     He 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


201 


is  a  firm  believer  in  the  temperance  cause  and 
thinks  legislation  should  be  used  for  its  fiirtliur- 
ance.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weis  are  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Cliurcb,  to  which  they  give  their 
hearty  support.  He  is  a  man  well  esteemed  for 
his  integrity  and  moral  worth,  and  has  Iielped  to 
make  tlie  county  what  it  is  to-day,  one  of  the  best 
in  the  State. 


.    --^ 


—5- 


m>^r<^^—^- 


WULLIAM  V.  STATESis  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
Notary  Public  and  Town  Clerk  of  Norton 
Townsliip.  His  birth  occurred  in  Hunt- 
ingdon County,  Pa.,  on  the  14th  of  December, 
18.S7.  He  is  a  son  of  Thom.is  L.  States,  who  w.as 
a  native  of  the  same  county,  and  of  English  de- 
scent. Tlie  latter,  on  arriving  at  man's  estate, 
married  in  Connecticut  Miss  Mary  A'aughan,  who 
was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  Redding,  Conn., 
and  whose  father,  Daniel  ^^aughan,  was  born  in 
Riiode  Island.  The  newly-married  couple  located 
in  Huntingdon  Count}',  Pa.  Mr.  States  was  a  hat- 
ter by  trade,  and  also  a  contractor  on  public  works. 
Eor  several  seasons  lie  also  built  canal  boats,  and 
was  quite  actively  engaged  in  business.  In  the 
fall  of  18.j7,  leaving  his  famil}-  in  Pennsylvania, 
he  came  to  Illinois,  where  lie  purcliased  land  in 
Kankakee  County,  upon  whicii  he  built  a  good 
home.  Tlie  following  year  he  returned  to  Penn- 
sylvania, and  moved  his  family  and  household  ef- 
fects to  his  farm  in  this  county.  With  his  sons 
he  went  to  work  to  improve  his  land.  His  death 
occurred  in  1871,  and  he  was  buried  in  Smith 
Cemeter}',  where  a  marble  monument  marks  his  last 
resting-place.  He  took  quite  an  active  part  in  lo- 
cal [lolitics,  and  occupied  several  official  positions, 
both  in  Illinois  and  the  Kc3-stone  State.  Before 
coming  to  the  West  he  served  for  some  years  as 
Deputy  Sheriff.  He  was  an  active  worker  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  was  a  man  of 
unblemished  character  and  reputation.  His  wife, 
who  is  still  living,  makes  her  home  with  her  chil- 
dren, of  whom  three  yet  survive.  The  eldest,  II. 
B.,  is  a    farmer  of    Norton   Township;  William   is 


next  in  order  of  birth;  and  Julia  Anna,  is  the 
wife  of  George  Carpenter,  also  of  Norton  Town- 
ship. Alfred,  who  was  a  soldier,  died  in  the  ser- 
vice of  his  country  at  the  battle  of  Corinth  in  18<)3. 
Tliomas  died  in  this  county  in  18()2,  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  years. 

Mr.  States,  of  this  sketch  grew  to  maturity  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  received  good  school  ad- 
vantages in  lioth  the  common  and  liigher  schools. 
Upon  the  completion  of  his  studies  he  was  employed 
as  a  clerk  for  three  years  with  G.  &  J.  II.  Shoen- 
herger,  the  noted  iron  manufacturers.  March  2, 
18,58,  he  faced  for  the  West,  and  when  he  reached 
the  Alleghany  Mountains  he  met  with  very  severe 
weather,  freezing  his  hands  and  feet.  He  went  on 
to  Monroeville,  Ohio,  on  horseback,  where  he  ar- 
rived about  the  Kith  or  17th  of  Jlarcli.  He  traveled 
via  Toledo,  Ohio,  to  Chicago,  where  he  arrived 
about  the  2()tli  of  March,  and  immediately  started 
for  Kankakee  County.  Much  ofthewa\-  he  plowed 
through  sloughs  and  swamps,  and  had,  on  the 
whole,  a  laborious  and  discouraging  trip.  How- 
ever, he  decided  to  locate  here,  and  with  his  broth- 
ers helped  to  open  up  a  farm,  remaining  with  his 
father  until  the  lattcr's  death.  For  several  years 
previous,  however,  he  had  taken  almost  entire 
charge  of  the  place. 

Our  subject  returned  to  the  Keystone  State,  and 
on  the  17th  of  February,  1862,  married  Sarah  C. 
Chamberlain,  who  was  born  and  grew  to  woman- 
hood in  Huntingdon  County,  Pa.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  .Tames  and  Susan  (Ginter)  Chamberlain,  res- 
idents of  Warrior's  IMaik,  where  the  former  has 
been  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  for  a  period  of 
fifty-two  years.  Mrs.  States  is  the  fourth  child 
in  a  family  of  nine  children,  all  yet  living.  There 
are  two  sons  and  seven  daughters:  Harry,  a  sketch 
of  whom  is  given  elsewhere  in  this  volume;  Mary, 
Mrs.  Keefer,  of  Pennsylvania;  Rebecca,  also  a  Mrs. 
Keefer  of  Pennsylvania;  Sarah  C,  Mrs.  States; 
Susan,  Mrs.  Fetterhoof;  Fannie,  Mrs.  Funk;  Mar- 
garet, Mrs.  Fetterhoof;  Adeline,  Mrs.  Stahn;  and 
Daniel,  who  married  Miss  Goodman,  a  resident  of 
Penns3'lvania.  Mrs.  States  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  her  native  State  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society  and  of  the  Epworth 
League,   of   Buckingham,   111.     To   3Ir.   and  Mrs. 


202 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


States  was  born  a  son,  Henry  W.,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  six  years  and  seven  months,  in  December, 
1886,  with  diphtheria. 

.  For  twenty  years  Mr.  States  has  been  an  invalid, 
both  hands  being  crippled  with  rheumatism.  In 
spite  of  this  obstacle  he  is  a  successful  agriculturist, 
and  for  many  years  has  carried  on  his  farm  by 
means  of  hired  help.  For  the  past  twelve  years 
our  subject  has  been  identified  with  the  Republi- 
can party,  and  voted  for  James  A.  Garfield.  Pre- 
viously he  was  a  member  of  the  Democracy.  lie 
lias  taken  quite  an  active  part  in  local  politics 
for  some  years,  and  has  held  a  number  of  official 
positions  of  trust  and  honor.  Me  was  first  elected 
Constable,  and  served  in  that  capacity  most  ac- 
ceptably for  four  years.  For  nineteen  consecutive 
years,  Mr.  States  has  been  the  able  and  ellicient 
Clerk  of  the  Townshii).  to  which  office  he  lias  been 
elected  term  after  term.  He  is  now  serving  his 
tenth  year  as  .Justice  of  the  Peace.  For  five  years 
he  acted  under  appointment  as  Township  Treasurer. 
He  has  proved  faithful,  capable  and  trustworth}' 
in  these  various  positions,  and  has  won  the  ap- 
proval of  all.  For  thirty-five  years  Mr.  Slates  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment.of  this  region,  and  his  many  friends  will  be 
pleased  to  read  tliis  brief  tribute  to  his  worth. 
AVith  his  wife,  he  holds  membership  with  the  Buck- 
ingham iMethodist  Episcopal  Church, and  they  were 
enrolled  among  the  original  members.  Our  sub- 
ject and  wife  are  now  residents  of  the  town  of 
Buckingham,  where  they  have  a  comfortable  and 
pleasant  home,  which  is  alwa^'s  a  welcome  haren 
for  their  many  friends. 


^^  EORGE  LAKE  BROWN  is  one  of  the  lead- 
(II  (—-,  ing  land-owners  and  extensive  agricultur- 
^^JK  i***  ^^  Aroma  Township,  residing  on  section 
11,  where  he  has  made  his  home  for  four  years. 
His  birth  occurred  on  the  14th  of  October,  1835,  in 
Montgomery  County,  N.  Y.  He  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Sarah  (Stall)  Brown,  the  former  a  native  of 
the  Empire  State.     To  them  were  born  six  children: 


Alfred,  who  died  on  the  23d  of  August,  1892,  in 
Waldron:  Adeline,  who  is  the  wife  of  Henry 
P.  Lowe,  and  resides  in  Waldron;  Phila,  the 
wife  of  Peter  Lowe,  a  retired  farmer,  who  now 
makes  his  home  in  Kankakee;  Johnson  T.,  a  far- 
mer of  Hancock  County,  Iowa;  and  Jane,  who  re- 
sides in  Waldron. 

Our  subject  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth  of  his 
father's  famil3-,  and  emigrated  Westward  with  his 
parents  b3'  way  of  the  Lakes  to  Chicago  when  he 
was  seven  or  eight  j'ears  of  age,  landing  in  Chi- 
cago about  the  year  1842,  where  they  remained 
for  about  four  months.  Tliey  then  removed  to 
Kane  Couiitj-,  settling  in  Sugar  Grove,  near 
Aurora.  There  the  father  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  for  about  six  years,  and  then,  removing  to 
Kankakee  County,  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  near  Momence.  This  was  un- 
improved and  wild  prairie  land,  and  for  it  j\Ir. 
Brown  paid  but  ^60.  The  year  IHVJ  witnessed 
his  arrival  in  this  county,  and  in  the  same  year  he 
departed  this  life,  being  then  in  the  prime  of  man-  f  I 
hood,  having  reached  the  age  of  forty-nine  years. 
He  was  a  stanch  Democrat,  a  loyal  citizen  and  a 
man  of  intelligence  and  integiity.  The  mother  of 
onr  subject  is  still  living,  and  has  reached  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-two  years.  She  now  makes 
her  home  with  her  children  in  Waldron. 

The  boyhood  days  of  George  Brown  were  passed 
upon  a  farm  in  the  usual  pursuits  and  occupations 
of  farmer  lads.  lie  came  to  this  county  in  1849, 
and  from  that  time  has  lived  upon  the  farm  which 
his  father  then  purchased.  Upon  arriving  here 
they  built  a  small  frame  house,  and  here  Mr.  Brown 
continued  to  reside  until  1889.  He  is  now  tlie 
possessor  of  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  acres  on 
section  11,  Aroma  Township,  and  owns  altogether 
some  six  hundred  and  fort3'-two  acres  of  well-im- 
proved and  valuable  farming  land.  He  received 
a  common-school  education,  and  has  been  largely' 
self-educated.  From  the  first  lie  manifested  good 
business  abilit3',  and  has  exercised  wi.se  judgment 
in  his  investments.  At  the  death  of  his  father,  his 
mother  and  her  family  were  left  but  very  little, 
their  possessions  comprising  a  tract  of  prairie  land, 
a  couple  of  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  few  head  of  cattle. 
When  the  property  was  divided,  such  a  small  por- 


PORTRAIT  AM)  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


203 


tion  fell  to  our  subject  that  he  practically  began 
life  empty-hancled,  and  therefore  to  him  is  due  the 
entire  credit  of  his  present  success  and  prosperity. 

September  19,  1887,  Mr.  Brown  was  married  to 
Miss  Caroline  Powell.  She  was  born  in  Bruce, 
Macomb  County,  Mich.,  May  ."5,  1851,  and  was  the 
seventh  child  in  a  family  of  seven  children,  three 
sons  and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living 
except  Abram,  who  died  while  defending  the  old 
flag.  Mrs.  Brown  is  a  daughter  of  Abram  Ten 
Broeck  and  Sarah  A.  (Field)  Powell.  She  received 
her  education  in  her  native  county,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church.  By  this 
union  two  children  have  been  born:  (Georgia  Lake 
and  John  Ten  Broeck. 

In  August,  1861,  Mr.  r>rown  donned  the  blue, 
becoming  a  member  of  Company  D,  Forty-second 
Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  mustered  into  service 
at  Chicago,  tiie  period  of  his  enlistment  being  for 
three  j^ears.  AVith  his  company  he  participated  in 
many  engagements  and  battles,  and  among  these 
we  enumerate  that  of  Island  No.  10,  Farmington 
(Miss.),  Murfreesboro  (Tenn.),  Resaca  (Ga.),  New 
Hope  Church,  IMission  Ridge  and  n)an>-  smaller 
skirmishes  and  engagements.  Though  often  under 
fire  and  in  nian\-  dangerous  positions,  he  was  sin- 
gularly fortunate  and  with  one  exception  was  never 
injured.  At  one  time  a  piece  of  shell  struck  him 
on  the  leg,  but  no  serious  effect  ensued.  During 
the  entire  period  of  his  service,  which  comi)rised 
over  three  years,  he  was  onl}'  in  the  hospital  for 
about  tw^o  weeks.  He  received  an  honorable  dis- 
charge at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  in  1864.  He  was  ever  faith- 
ful in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  as  a  soldier,  and 
was  one  on  whom  his  superior  officers  might  safely 
rel}-.  .Socially  Mr.  Brown  holds  membership  with 
the  Grand  Army  post. 

For  half  a  century  Mr.  Brown  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  growth  and  progress  of  this  county, 
and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  its  ujibuilding  and 
success.  At  the  time  of  his  arrival  the  country 
was  sparsely  inhabited,  and  but  few  cabins  were  to 
be  seen  in  any  direction.  Much  of  the  countrj' 
was  a  swamp,  and  rank  prairie  grass  was  the  on\y 
thing  to  be  seen  upon  the  surface  of  the  laud  for 
miles.  Fifty  years  have  passed,  and  behold  how 
wonderful  the  transformation !     The  county  is  now 


one  of  the  most  fertile  and  beautiful  in  the  State. 
Thrifty  farms  are  to  be  seen  on  every  hand,  and 
waving  fields  of  golden  grain  have  replaced  the 
useless  grass  of  the  prairie.  Cities  and  villages  dot 
tlie  landscape,  and  railroads  traverse  this  section 
in  cvevy  direction. 


LBERT  G.  SMITH,  a  i)ractical  and  pro- 
gressive farmer  residing  on  sections  24  and 
*'  25,  Salina  Township,  owns  and  operates 
an  excellent  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
ninet}^  acres.  Almost  the  entire  amount  is  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  it  is  improved  with 
good  buildings  and  all  the  accessories  of  a  model 
farm  of  the  nineteenth  centurj'.  Its  owner  has 
the  honor  of  lieing  a  native  of  this  State.  He  was 
born  near  Oswego,  Kendall  County,  July  14,  1842, 
and  is  a  son  of  George  J.  and  Uelana  (Allen) 
Smith,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Massachu- 
setts and  were  of  English  descent.  Their  family 
numbered  ten  children,  as  follows:  Edwin  W.  G., 
deceased;  Tliom:is,  also  deceased;  Lucy,  wife  of  R. 
C.  Bingle}';  .Sarah  M.,  wife  of  James  Henry;  Albert 
of  this  sketch;  Mar}',  deceased;  I^lla;  Harriet,  de- 
ceased; Marion,  who  has  also  passed  awa}-;  and 
Julia  O.  The  father  of  this  family  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming  throughout  his  entire  life. 
He  was  born  July  21,  1806,  and  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen years  left  the  old  Bay  State,  going  to  Erie 
County,  N.  Y.,  where,  on  the  21st  of  November, 
1832,  he  married  Miss  Allen.  For  six  years  he 
followed  farming  in  New  York. 

On  the  expiration  of  that  period,  George  Smith 
lefli  the  East  and  by  way  of  the  Lakes  came  west 
to  Chicago.  He  first  located  near  Oswego,  Kendall 
County,  111.,  wliere  he  made  a  claim  of  Govern- 
ment land  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  pur- 
chasing the  same  at  the  regular  price  of  if  1.25  per 
acre.  It  w.as  all  in  its  primitive  condition,  but  the 
labor  he  bestowed  upon  it  soon  made  it  a  good 
farm.  He  resided  thereon  until  1858,  when  he 
came  to  Kankakee  County  and   took   up  his  resi- 


204 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


dence  in  Salina  Township.  Here  he  purchased 
one  liundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  25,  and  to 
its  improvement  and  development  devoted  liis 
energies  until  his  life  was  ended.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  in  politics  was  an 
ardent  supporter  of  the  Republican  partj-.  He 
passed  away  Ju\y  18,  1878,  and  his  remains  were 
interred  in  the  Shreffler  Cemetery.  His  wife  was 
called  to  the  home  beyond  March  1,  1892,  and  was 
laid  to  rest  by  the  side  of  her  husband.  She  was 
also  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  both 
were  highl.y  respected  citizens,  whose  many  ex- 
cellencies of  character  won  them  the  warm  regard 
of  their  many  friends.  In  the  veins  of  our  subject 
also  runs  Revolutionary  blood.  His  grandfather 
aided  the  Colonies  in  their  struggle  for  inde- 
pendence and  the  great-grandfather  was  killed  in 
that  war. 

Albert  Smith,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
was  only  a  3ear  old  when  his  father  removed  to 
his  claim  in  Kendall  CoiuHy.  His  education  was 
acquired  in  the  district  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, which  he  attended  at  intervals  until  nine- 
teen years  of  age.  He  remained  at  home  with  his 
parents  until  after  the  breaking  out  of  the  late 
war,  when,  on  the  7tli  of  August,  1862,  he  re- 
sponded to  the  country's  call  for  troops,  enlisting 
as  a  private  of  Company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Thir- 
teenth Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  mustered  into 
service  at  Ciiicago,  and  tlien  going  to  the  South 
participated  in  the  hard-fought  siege  of  Vicksburg. 
He  also  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Arkansas  Post 
and  many  other  engagements.  Me  was  honorably 
discharged  at  iMemphis,  Tenn.,  .July  20,  1865,  and 
was  mustered  out  as  regimental  orderly. 

When  the  war  was  over,  Mr.  Smith  returned  to 
the  old  homestead,  which  he  operated  for  three 
years.  He  then  purchased  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
six  acres  of  land  on  sections  24  and  25,  Salina 
Township,  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  al- 
though its  boundaries  have  since  been  extended 
until  now  one  hundred  and  ninety  acres  yield  to 
him  a  golden  tribute  in  return  for  his  care  and 
labor. 

On  Christmas  Day  of  1866.  Mr.  Smith  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  I.  Herrick.  a  daughter  of 
James  and  Mary  (Conout)  Herrick.     Their    union 


has  been  blessed  with  a  family  of  nine  children, 
eight  sons  and  a  daughter,  of  whom  all  are  now 
living  except  Albert  G.,  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth.  The  other  members  of  the  family  are:  Er- 
nest F.,  Alfred  AV.  T.,  Walter  E.,  Lucy  B.,  Arthur 
G.,  Leslie  C,  George  .J.  and  Frank  H. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  Christadelphian 
faith,  and  Mr.  Smith  holds  membership  with  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  In  politics  he  is  a 
supporter  of  the  Republican  principles.  He  tries 
faithfully  to  discharge  his  duties  of  citizenship, 
but  does  not  take  a  prominent  part  in  public 
and  political  affairs,  preferring  to  devote  his  atten- 
tion to  the  interests  of  his  business,  his  family  and 
his  home,  and  he  keeps  out  of  all  lawsuits  as  far  as 
he  can. 


4-^^ 


iVX'H)  Ml  EL\'AIN,  of  Kankakee,  is  a  rei)re- 
sentative  of  a  pioneer  family  of  this  county. 
His  father,  Greer  McElvain,  with  his  family 
settled  in  Rockville  Township  in  June,  1848.  He 
had  visited  the  country  the  previous  year  with 
the  view  of  establishing  a  permanent  home  in 
this  section.  He  was  born  in  Erie  Countj',  Pa., 
on  the  8th  of  February,  1804,  and  was  a  son 
of  John  and  INIary  (Jordan)  McElvain,  the  former 
a  native  of  Baltimore,  Md. 

At  the  age  of  eight  years  Greer  McElvain  re- 
moved with  his  parents  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Sandusky,  Ohio,  and  in  1828  to  Kalamazoo  County, 
Mich.  A  year  later  he  married  Miss  Mahala  Hanson, 
who  was  born  in  Norfolk,  \a.,  and  had  removed 
to  Michigan  with  her  parents  from  Ohio,  where 
the  families  had  previously  been  acquainted.  After 
his  marriage  Mr.  McElvain  settled  upon  a  farm 
near  Schoolcraft,  Kalamazoo  County,  and  later  re- 
moved to  the  town  of  Brady,  in  the  same  county. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  John 
McElvain,  lived  in  Kalamazoo  Count3'  until  his 
death.  He  was  twice  married,  Greer  having  been 
a  son  bjr  the  second  marriage.  His  mother  was  a 
native  of  Ireland.  There  were  three  sons  by  the 
first  marriage,  all  of  whom  have  passed  away.    Of  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BJOGKAl'lllCAL   liECORD. 


205 


family  of  five  sons  and  three  daughters  of  the  sec- 
ond union,  all  are  now  deceased  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Mar^'  Frazier,  of  School- 
craft, INIich. 

When  the  family  of  Greer  McElvain  came  to 
Kankakee  County  in  1848,  it  comprised  the  pa,r- 
ents,  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  The  father 
purchased  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  prai- 
rie land  on  section  21,  which  is  now  Rockville 
Townshij).  He  also  purchased  twenty  acres  of 
timber  land.  On  his  farm,  which  he  bought  of 
Samuel  Howard,  was  a  double  log  house,  and  of  his 
farm  about  sixty  acres  had  been  broken  and  on  them 
crops  [ilantcd.  Here  lie  made  a  home  for  himself 
and  family  and  resided  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred on  tlie  4th  of  February,  1871,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-seven  3'ears.  The  wife  and  mother  did 
not  long  survive  her  husband,  as  her  death  oc- 
curred .lanuary  11),  1873.  The  ciicurastances  at- 
tending the  death  of  Mrs.  McKlvain  were  pecu- 
liarly sad.  A  man  who  had  come  from  Wilmington, 
111.,  had  been  engaged  to  work  upon  the  farm. 
He  was  soon  taken  ill,  his  disease  proving  to  be 
smallpox.  All  of  the  famil_v  who  were  at  tiie  time 
at  home  contracted  the  disease,  which  proved  fatal 
to  the  mother  and  her  j'oungest  son,  Greer.  The 
hired  man  also  died  of  the  disease,  to  which  he  had 
so  fatally  exposed  the  family.  The  father  was  a 
well-known  and  esteemed  citizen.  He  was  a  plain, 
domestic  man,  who  had  had  but  little  opportunity 
for  education  in  his  younger  days,  and  was,  in  fact, 
a  typical  pioneer  of  forty  or  fifty  years  ago.  He 
was  a  man  of  generous  and  kind  disposition,  who 
aimed  to  do  well  his  part  in  life.  Fornierlj'  he 
was  a  Democrat,  voting  for  Gen.  .lackson,  but 
later  became  a  Whig  of  strong  anti-slaver}'  senti- 
ments, and  after  the  formation  of  the  IJepublican 
part  was  a  strong  adherent.  He  and  his  wife  some- 
what late  in  life  joined  the  United  Brethren 
Church,  of  which  thej^  remained  faithful  mem- 
bers until  death. 

Ten  children,  four  sons  and  six  daughters,  graced 
the  union  of  Greer  and  Maliala  (Hanson)  McEl- 
vain. Of  this  family  all  grew  to  mature  years. 
David  is  the  eldest;  John  and  William  are  resi- 
dents of  Rockville  Township;  Mary  Jane  is  the 
wife  of  Calvin  W.  Walton  and    makes    her   home 


in  Englewood,  III.;  Anna  Eliza  became  the  vvife 
of  John  (Jilford,  and  resides  near  Lake  Village, 
Ind.;  Elizabeth  married  John  Kowe,  who  was 
killed  during  the  War  of  the  Kebellion  at  the 
battle  of  Franklin,  Tenn.,  and  later  she  married 
Mathias  Harris,  of  Kankakee  County;  Margaret  is 
the  wife  of  Frederick  Ilertzberg,  of  Kankakee; 
Helen  ISlars  married  Charles  Putnam,  who  served 
in  the  late  war,  and  has  since  died;  Alice  Janette 
Iiecame  the  wife  of  Mr.  Forbes,  and  is  now  de- 
ceased. The  latter's  husband  and  children  live 
near  Goodland. 

David  McElvain  was  born  in  Kalamazoo  County, 
Mich.,  July  22,  18.'i(),  being  the  first  white  male 
child  born  in  that  county.  He  came  to  Kankakee 
County  with  his  fatlier's  family,  and  w(dl  remem- 
bers the  wild  appearance  of  the  country  in  those 
early  days.  Game,  including  <leer,  was  abundant. 
Once,  while  near  his  home  in  the  township  of 
Rockville,  he  counted  forty  in  a  herd,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  later  this  beautiful  animal  w.-is 
abundant  in  this  region.  Our  subject  c(jnlinued 
to  live  on  the  home  farm  until  he  was  twenty-eight 
3'ears  of  age,  at  which  time  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing for  himself  in  the  same  township,  where  for 
many  ^ears  he  and  his  family  resided,  the  farm  on 
which  he  then  located  being  still  in  possession  of 
the  family. 

April  7,  1858,  Mr.  McElvain  married  Miss  Sarah 
Jane  Iloj't,  who  was  born  in  Kalamazoo  County, 
Mich.,  October  4,  1840.  ller  parents,  John  and 
Elizabeth  Hoyt,  emigrated  to  Illinois  at  about  the 
time  that  the  McElvain  family  did.  They  settled 
in  Will  County,  where  they  resided  until  their 
death.  Then-  family  consisted  of  two  sons  and 
three  daughters.  Mary,  wife  of  Charles  Hartman, 
resides  in  Rockville  Township;  Mis.  McElvain  is 
the  next  in  order  of  birth;  Ann  married  Weslc}' 
Cooper,  after  whose  death  she  became  the  wife  of 
James  McElroy,of  Bourbonnais  Township;  Jerome 
L.  resides  in  Kansas  City,  Mo.  The  third  child. 
Palmer,  accidentally  killed  him.self  when  a  lad 
of  eleven  years,  while  engaged  in  pla}'  with  his 
sister. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McElvain  have  been  born  two 
children,  a  son  and  a  daughter.  The  elder,  Ada  E., 
who  was  educated  in  the  city  schools,  is  now  one  of 


206 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  successful  teachers  of  Kankakee  County.  The 
son,  Greer,  named  after  his  grandfather,  was  born 
April  25,  1872.  He  possesses  a  natural  talent  for 
music,  and  excels  in  the  playing  of  several  instru- 
ments. 

For  several  j'ears  our  worthy  subject  and  his 
wife  have  made  their  home  in  this  city,  where 
they  removed  in  order  to  give  better  educational 
advantages  to  their  children.  They  have  a  jileas- 
ant  home  and  are  numbered  among  the  well- 
known  and  esteemed  citizens  of  this  county.  Po- 
litically, Mr.  McElvaiu  is  a  Republican,  having 
served  as  .Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  for  man3'  years 
was  School  Director,  doing  efficient  service  for  the 
educational  interests  of  his  community.  Socially, 
he  is  a  Master  Mason. 


VI>ILLIAM  PERKINS,  farmer  and  stockman, 
I  and  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Momence, 
Ij  is  the  son  of  William  G.  and  Philinda 
(Post)  Perkins,  and  was  born  in  Orleans  County', 
N.  Y.,  on  the  3d  of  March,  1830.  The  maternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject  spent  his  life  in  the 
Empire  State,  where  he  was  a  prosperous  farmer. 
He  attained  the  great  age  of  niuctj'-three  years,' 
and  the  day  before  his  death  walked  a  distance  of 
three  miles. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  both  natives  of 
New  Hampshire,  and  the  father  followed  agricul- 
tural pursuits  as  his  life  occupation.  He  removed 
with  his  family  to  New  York  some  time  in  the 
'20s,  and  located  on  a  farm  in  Orleans  County, 
where  he  made  his  home  until  1838,  at  which  time, 
going  to  Michigan,  he  settled  upon  a  farm  seven 
miles  northwest  of  Adrian,  in  Lenawee  County, 
where  for  many  years  he  devoted  himself  to  its 
care  and  cultivation.  At  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1853,  his  farm,  which  consisted 
of  ninety  acres,  was  under  a  fine  state  of  cultiva- 
tion and  was  a  valuable  piece  of  property.  Mr. 
Perkins  was  also  an  extensive  stock-raiser.  The 
death  of  his  wife  occurred  in  1851.  Five  sons  and 
four  daughters  were  born  to  them,  of   whom  but 


two,  William  and  Willard,  twin  brothers,  are  now 
living. 

The  early  years  of  our  subject  were  passed  in 
the  usual  occupations  and  pursuits  of  farmer  boys, 
and  his  school  privileges  were  those  of  the  district 
schools  of  the  neighborhood.  He  remained  with 
his  i)arents  on  the  old  homestead  until  arriving  at 
man's  estate,  and  on  the  22d  of  October,  1850, 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Melissa  M.,  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Marcia  (Parker)  Young- 
love,  the  former  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  the 
latter  of  Ohio.  Five  children  graced  the  union 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perkins.  George  H.  married  Miss 
liva  Stoner,  and  departed  this  life  on  the  26th  of 
September,  1877;  his  widow  is  now  the  wife  of 
Chester  Metcalf.  Mary  H.  became  the  wife  of 
Thomas  V.  Peters,  a  farmer  residing  near  Camp 
Clarke,  Neb.,  and  in  their  famil^^  are  four  children: 
Elmer,  Eva,  Laura  and  Elipha.  Frank  is  a  f.armer 
who  lives  three  miles  west  of  Momence;  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Kittie  Stabler  and  has  three  children: 
Donna,  Viola  and  Ruth.  Aaron  E.  is  operator 
and  agent  at  the  junction  of  the  Chicago  &  East- 
ern Illinois  and  tlie  Chicago  ife  Illinois  Central 
Railroads  at  Momence.  Cornelia  is  a  school 
teacher,  now  teaching  in  the  Lake  District,  three 
miles  west  of  Momence. 

At  the  time  when  ]\Ir.  Perkins  came  to  Mo- 
mence it  was  a  town  of  but  little  more  than  one 
hundred  inhabitants,  and  wild  game,  deer,  prairie 
chickens,  etc.,  were  in  great  abundance  in  this 
vicinity.  He  rented  a  farm  a  mile  and  a-half  west 
of  town  soon  after  his  arrival,  and  in  the  spring! 
of  1858  bought  a  farm  of  ninet}'  acres  on  section 
22,  three  miles  west  of  Momence,  in  Ganier] 
Township,  which  he  still  owns  and  to  which  he 
has  since  added  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  This 
propert}'  is  well  tiled,  and  has  neat  hedge  fences 
and  good  buildings  upon  it.  He  also  possesses  a 
good  comfortable  home  in  Momence,  which  he 
has  made  his  home  for  thirteen  jj'ears.  Mr.  Per- 
kins is  possessed  of  industry,  perseverance  and 
energy,  and  his  property  has  been  accumulated  by 
his  well-directed  efforts,  as  he  h.as  made  his  own 
way  in  the  world  and  fallen  heir  to  no  inherit- 
ance. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perkins  hold  membership  with  the 


vm 


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PORTRAIT  AKD  lilOGRAPIUCAL   RECORD. 


211 


Episcopal  Cliurcli  of  tliis  city.  In  politics  our 
subject  is  a  Democrat  of  the  Old  Hickory  stamp, 
and  has  always  supported  the  nominees  and  prin- 
ciples of  the  Democracy.  He  is  a  Mason,  be- 
longing to  jSIomence  Lodge  No.  481,  A.  F.  &  A. 
M.,  of  which  he  is  now  Master. 


V. 


r 


I(_^  ON.  CHARLES  RICHARD  STARR,  one  of 

*^   the  Judges  of    the    Circuit  Court  for  the 

Eleventh  District  of   Illinois,  is    the  first 

^  Circuit  Judge  elected  from  Kankakee 
County.  Ho  was  elected  to  that  office  in  1857, 
and  after  ten  years  of  active  service  resigned,  re- 
suming tiic  practice  of  iiis  (jrofession.  In  1891  he 
was  again  elected  for  a  term  of  six  years  and  is 
now  serving  his  second  year  of  that  period. 

Judge  Starr  was  born  in  the  town  of  Cornwallis, 
Kings  Count\',  Nova  Scotia,  May  15,  1824,  and  is 
the  son  of  Charles  and  Paulina  (Cox)  Starr.  His 
father,  wlio  was  a  farmer  in  good  circumstances, 
was  born  in  the  same  house  where  his  son  first  saw 
the  light  of  day  and  was  descended  from  an  old 
New  England  fan'il}' of  Englisli  origin,  wliich  was 
founded  in  America  in  1633  by  Dr.  Comfort  Starr, 
who  emigrated  from  Ashford,  in  the  county  of 
Kent,  near  London,  England,  and  settled  in  Cam- 
bridge, Mass.  Ultimatel}',  a  branch  of  the  familj- 
removed  to  Connecticut,  where  the  name  appears 
among  the  records  of  llie  pioneer  settlers.  .Samuel 
Starr,  grandson  of  Dr.  Com/ort  Starr,  married,  De- 
cember 23,  1604,  Hannah  Brewster,  a  granddaugh- 
ter of  Elder  William  Brewster,  who  came  over  in 
the  "Mayflower."  Their  great-grandson,  Maj. 
Samuel  Starr,  married  Abigail,  daughter  of  Capt. 
John  and  Sarah  Leffingwell,  and  in  1759  moved 
to  Nova  Scotia  with  his  wife  and  on I3' son,  Joseph, 
who  was  then  about  two  j-ears  of  age. 

The  Major  built  the  old  home  on  the  place 
known  to  tiiis  day  as  the  Starr  Farm  in  1760-61 
and  this  was  standing  until  (|uite  recently  in  a 
very  good  state  of  i)reservation.  It  is  described 
in  the  history  of  the  Starr  family,  written  iu  Con- 

10 


neeticuta  few  years  since,  as  a  "large,  square  build- 
ing of  nine  rooms,  and  having  an  immense  stack 
of  chimney's  in  the  center."  A  large  pine  tree 
stood  in  the  front  yard  which  measured  one  hun- 
dred and  sixteen  feet  in  iieiglit  and  was  four  feet 
five  inches  in  diameter  when  cut  down  in  1850. 
Tills  tree  was  a  part  of  the  "forest  primeval"  de- 
scribed by  Longfellow  in  his  "Evangeline,"  and 
under  its  shade  four  generations  of  the  Starr  fam- 
ily sported  in  childhood.  "This  was  the  Acadian 
land,  on  the  shores  of  tlie  Basin  of  Jlinas;"  here 
were  "the  murmuring  pines  and  the  hemlocks," 
and  "away  to  the  northward  lUomedon  rose." 
Judge  Starr  was  here  born  and  here  lived  until  he 
was  seventeen  j-ears  of  age.  "Near  tiie  old  home- 
stead stood  tlie  old  church,  its  golden  spindle  and 
balls  against  the  sky,  and  within  its  walls  the  fa- 
thers worshiped,"  and  here  our  subject  was  chris- 
tened in  infancy  and  afterward  instructed  in  the 
catechism  and  ritual  of  the  Church  of  England. 

Joseph  Starr,  mentioned  above,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  educated  in  Connecticut,  and 
while  there  attending  school  the  War  of  the  Revo- 
lution broke  out.  After  the  close  of  the  war  and 
the  acknowledged  independence  of  the  Colonies, 
he  married  a  Connecticut  cousin,  Joanna  Starr, 
and  returned  to  the  old  homestead  in  Nova  Scotia, 
where  he  reared  a  family,  of  which  Charles  Starr, 
the  father  of  Judge  Starr,  was  a  member.  Charles 
Starr  was  also  educated  in  Connecticut  and  mar- 
ried in  Nova  Scotia  Miss  Paulina  Cox.  daugliter 
of  Capt.  Harry  Cox.  Mrs.  Stair  was  a  native  of 
Cornwallis,  and  by  her  marriage  became  the  mother 
of  three  sons  and  four  daughters:  Susan,  the  eldest, 
is  the  widow  of  William  Gilliatt  and  now  lives  in 
Portland,  Me.  Henry  married  Miss  Sarah  A. 
Shipley  and  is  a  lawyer  by  profession,  now  presid- 
ing as  one  of  the  city  Judges  in  Sacramento,  C'al. 
He  was  educated  at  Kent's  Hill  Academy,  in 
Maine,  and  lived  in  Norwich,  Conn.  When  his  fa- 
ther removed  to  I  Uinois  in  the  year  1842,  he  accom- 
panied the  family.  The  second  son,  Christopher, 
remained  in  Nova  Scotia  and  married  Miss  Mary 
J.  Eaton,  but  afterward  removed  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Morris,  Grundy  County.  He  enlisted 
for  the  late  war  and  w.as  commissioned  Second 
Lieutenant  in   the  Fifty-third   Regiment,  Illinois 


212 


POKTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Infantry.  He  fought  under  Gen.  Sherman  and 
made  the  celebrated  march  to  the  sea.  His  death 
occurred  ou  the  26th  of  September,  1870,  in  Cali- 
fornia, as  the  result  of  disease  contracted  in  the 
armj\  The  Judge  is  next  in  order  of  birth.  Sarah, 
Mrs.  H.  H.  Spoor,  died  at  Elwood,  Will  County, 
July  14,  1888.  Joanna  E.  is  a  widow,  and  re- 
sides in  San  Francisco,  Cal.  Maria  is  now  Mrs. 
James  H.  Mendson,  of  Chicago. 

In  1842,  our  subject's  father,  with  his  wife  and 
younger  children,  emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  in 
Will  County  at  a  place  since  known  as  Starr's 
Grove,  where  he  was  recognized  as  a  prosperous 
farmer  and  an  upright  and  respected  citizen.  His 
death  occurred  at  that  place  February  25,  1874,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-six  j'ears.  His  wife  had  died  on 
the  nth  of  February,  1856. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm  and  attended  the  local  schools.  The 
winter  before  he  left  home  he  taught  school  in  his 
native  town.  In  1841,  when  seventeen  3'ears  old, 
he  went  to  Portland,  Me.,  and  pursued  his  studies 
in  the  higher  branches  at  Westbrook  Seminary, 
near  that  city,  until  the  following  summer,  when  he 
joined  his  father's  family  on  their  way  to  Illinois. 
His  early  educational  advantages  had  qualified 
him  for  teaching,  and  accordingly  he  followed  that 
vocation.  In  the  fall  of  1844  Mr.  Starr  accepted 
a  position  as  teacher  of  the  Bourbonnais  school,  his 
jiupils  being  chiefly  the  children  of  French-Cana- 
dian parents,  of  which  nationality'  the  settlement 
is  largely  composed,  being  one  of  the  very  earliest 
educators  of  tlie  territory  now  embraced  in  Kan- 
kakee County. 

Judge  Starr  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  spring 
of  1845,  in  the  oHice  of  H.  E.  Maynard,  at  Wil- 
mington, Will  County,  subsequently  pursuing  his 
studies  under  the  direction  of  Hon.  Hugh  Hender- 
son, of  Joliet.  In  1847  he  went  to  Morris,  Grundy 
County,  where  he  engaged  in  teaching  and  also 
pursued  his  law  studies  under  the  preceplorship  of 
his  brother,  Henry  Starr,  and  E.  P.  Seely,  of  that 
county,  devoting  about  half  his  time  to  teaching 
and  the  remainder  to  reading  law.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar  at  the  June  term  of  the  Illinois 
Supreme  Court  at  Ottawa,  in  1849.  The  following 
spring  he  retuined  to  Will  County,  where  he  took 


out  his  final  certificate  of  naturalization  as  a  cit- 
izen of  the  United  States,  and  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  chosen  profession  until  about 
the  last  of  Jlarch,  1852,  when  he  removed  to  Chi- 
cago and  opened  a  law  office  on  the  corner  of 
Clark  and  South  Water  Streets,  afterward  having 
one  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Randolph  and  Clark 
Streets.  He  remained,  however,  in  the  Garden 
City  only  until  the  5th  of  July,  1853,  when 
he  came  to  what  is  now  Kankakee.  The  county 
had  just  been  organized  and  this  site  selected  as 
the  count}'  seat,  and  but  one  building  had  'oeen 
prectcd  on  the  plat.  The  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
Compan}'  was  at  that  time  building  its  freight  de- 
pot but  the  cars  were  not  yet  running  within  a 
mile  of  its  location.  Judge  Starr  advertised  him- 
self in  the  papers  of  Will  and  Iroquois  Counties, 
there  being  no  papers  published  in  Kankakee 
County,  as  a  practicing  lawyer  of  Kankakee,  but 
did  not  at  once  devote  himself  to  business,  as  he 
had  an  important  engagement  that  called  him  to 
Maine. 

At  Westbrook,  near  Portland,  Me.,  on  the  22d 
of  September,  1853,  Judge  Starr  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Almena  M.  Stevens,  whose 
acquaintance  he  had  made  while  a  student  at  West- 
brook Seminary.  The  ceremony  was  performed 
by  the  Rev.  Rufus  P.  Cutler,  pastor  of  the  Park 
Street  Unitarian  Church  of  Portland,  of  which 
Mrs.  Starr  was  a  member.  She  was  born  in  West- 
brook, Me.,  April  20,  1823,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Capt.  Samuel  B.  and  Sarah  B.  (Francis)  Stevens, 
and  a  sister  of  ex-Maj'or  Stevens,  of  Portland. 
On  the  maternal  side  she  was  the  great-grand- 
daughter of  Mary  Revere,  the  only  sister  of  Paul 
Revere,  of  Revolutionary  fame.  Mary  Revere  be- 
came the  wife  of  Edward  Rose.  Their  daughter 
married  Caleb  Francis,  and  the  daughter  of  that 
union  w.as  Mrs.  Starr's  mother. 

Immediately  after  their  marriage,  Judge  Starr 
and  his  wife  set  out  for  Kankakee,  111.,  which  place 
they  reached  October  14,  1853.  The  Judge  at 
once  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
thus  becoming  one  of  the  first  lawyers  of  this  city 
and  county.  His  claim  to  being  a  pioneer  lawyer 
of  the  county  is  justly  supported  by  the  fact  that 
while  a  law  student  he   tried  several  cases  in  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


213 


justice  courts  in  Bourbonnais  and  other  towns  in 
the  count}-,  as  now  formed,  as  earl}'  as  1845  and 
1846. 

Three  children  were  born  to  Judsje  and  Mrs. 
.Starr,  a  son  and  two  daughters:  Charles  G.  grad- 
uated at  West  Point  Military  Academy  in  the 
Class  of  '78,  and  is  now  a  First  Lieutenant  in  the 
regular  arm\-  of  the  United  .States,  being  stationed 
at  Colunil>us,  Ohio,  in  the  recruiting  service.  He 
was  married  in  San  Antonio,  Tex.,  in  1881,  to 
Miss  p]llen  A.  Norton,  of  tliat  place.  Jane  became 
the  wife  of  Maj.  Richard  .1.  Ilanna,  a  prominent 
merchant  of  Kankakee.  Harriet  is  the  wife  of 
Prof.  George  V.  Buciianan.of  the  .Southern  Illinois 
Normal  University,  at  Carbondale,  111. 

While  a  resident  of  Chicago,  tiie  .Judge  was  ad- 
mitted to  pr.actice  in  the  United  States  District 
and  Circuit  Courts.  In  1855,  he  was  ap|)ointed 
Public  Administrator  for  the  county  by  Gov.  Joel 
A.  Matteson,  and  in  November  of  the  same  year 
was  elected  .School  Commissioner  of  the  county, 
serving  for  two  years  in  tliat  ofliceand  organizing 
the  first  Teachers"  histitute  in  tlie  county.  Judge 
Starr  was  appointed  by  the  act  of  incorporation 
the  first  President  of  the  town  of  K.ankakee  upon 
its  organization. 

In  early  life  the  Judge  was  a  Democrat,  but  on 
the  formation  of  tlie  Ke])ubliean  party  in  185(5,  he 
assisted  in  its  organization  in  this  count}'  and  was 
elected  President  of  its  first  Republican  Club.  In 
March,  1857,  he  was,  as  previously  stated,  elected 
Judge  of  the  Twentieth  Judicial  Circuit  of  Illinois 
for  a  term  of  four  years,  or  until  the  next  judicial 
election  in  June,  1861,  at  which  time  he  was  the 
unanimous  choice  of  the  Bar  throughout  the  cir- 
cuit and  was  re-elected  without  opposition.  He 
continued  to  hold  that  office  until  IMarch,  18(J7, 
when  he  resigned,  having  served  on  the  Bench 
just  ten  years. 

In  18(!8,  on  account  of  the  ill-health  of  his  wife, 
the  Judge  sent  his  family  to  Portland,  Me.,  and 
the  following  year  engaged  in  the  law  and  insur- 
ance business  in  Boston,  but  in  the  spring  of  1870 
returned  to  Kankakee  and  resumed  the  practice  of 
bis  profession  at  the  Bar  of  this  county.  In  the 
Judicial  Convention  held  in  Chicago  that  year 
for  tiie  purpose  of  nominating  a  Judge  of  the  Su- 


preme Court,  Judge  Starr  was  supported  by  the 
delegates  from  Will  and  Kankakee  Counties,  and 
in  the  Congressional  Convention  held  at  Morris 
October  4,  1871,  the  delegation  supported  him  as 
their  choice  until  the  nomination  was  made. 
Again,  in  1872,  at  tiie  convention  held  at  Fair- 
bury,  he  was  supported  by  his  own  county  on  one 
hundred  and  four  ballots,  since  which  time  he  has 
never  been  a  candidate  for  any  political  office. 
On  the  25th  of  July,  1885,  .ludge  Starr  received  a 
call  to  become  a  candidate  for  the  Supreme  Bench 
of  the  State,  a  call  signed  by  the  Bar  and  a  large 
number  of  the  leading  citizens  of  K.'uikakee  County, 
without  distinction  of  party,  and  he  again  received 
the  unanimous  support  of  his  co\inly  delegation. 
In  18S)1,  he  yielded  to  the  unanimous  call  of  the 
Biy-  of  his  county  to  become  a  candidate  for  the 
otilce  of  Circuit  Judge  of  tlie  Eleventh  District  of 
Illinois  and,  being  nominated  at  the  Chatsworth 
convention,  was  elected  without  opposition,  re- 
ceiving the  sti|)port  of  all  parties.  He  is  now 
serving  his  second  year  in  tlie  six-year  term.  In 
1873  he  was  elected  County  Judge  by  the  unani- 
mous vote  of  the  people  and  served  four  years. 

While  not  strongly  partisan,  Judge  Starr  has 
been  a  devoted  Republican  since  the  organization 
of  the  [larty.  His  election  to  l)oth  the  Circuit  and 
County  Benches  has  been  by  the  unanimous  voice 
of  the  people,  regardless  of  party  attiliations.  He 
is  a  Master  Mason,  being  a  member  of  Kankakee 
Lodge  No.  389,  A.  F.  i  A.  M.  The  Judge,  al- 
though now  (1893)  in  his  sixty-ninth  year,  is  ro- 
bust and  hearty,  with  mental  faculties  as  active  as 
in  middle  life,  and  is  capable  of  much  endurance, 
both  mental  and  physical.  His  course  as  a  lawyer 
was  distinguished  by  superior  ability,  thorough 
study,  and  a  conscientious  devotion  to  the  inter- 
ests of  his  clients,  which  was  rewarded  liy  the  con- 
fidence of  Court,  Bar  and  jury,  and  by  the  most 
flattering  success  in  his  practice.  On  the  lieiich 
his  record  is  most  creditable.  His  rulings  and  de- 
cisions, showing  a  well-grounded  knowledge  of 
law,  have  been  distinguislied  by  the  utmost  fairness 
and  impartiality,  while  his  superior  executive 
al)ility  secures  the  speedy  dispatch  of  business  and 
an  economical  administration  of  the  court  over 
which  he  presides. 


214 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


On  coming  to  Kankakee  to  live,  Judge  Starr 
and  iiis  wife  became  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church.  In  the  spring  of  1887  the  Judge  was 
called  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  whose  deatli 
occurred  on  the  29th  of  Ma}'  of  tli'it  year,  thus 
severing  the  happy  conjugal  relations  that  had 
existed  for  thirty-four  jears.  Mrs.  Starr  was  a 
highly  educated  and  accomplished  woman,  an  af- 
fectionate wife  and  a  loving  mother. 


"I^EV.  FREDERICK  SCIIROEDER,  pastor  of 
Ivfix''  the  First  (Tcrman  Evangelical  Lutheran 
/A.V\\\  Church,  St.  Paul's,  of  Kankakee,  was  born 
\^  in  Hanover,  Germany,  on  the  ,5th  of  Feb- 
ruar}',  1857,  He  emigrated  to  America  with  his 
parents,  Frederick  and  E,  Maria  (Ahring)  Schroe- 
der,  in  1858,  The  family  settled  in  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  where  our  subject  attended  the  parochial 
schools  of  his  church,  and  also  the  public  schools. 
In  1871,  he  entered  Concordia  College,  at  Ft. 
Waj'ne,  Ind.,  where  he  pursued  a  general  scientific 
and  literary  course.  During  the  years  1877  to 
1880  he  attended  the  Lutheran  Theological  Semi- 
nary at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  was  ordained  minister 
of  the  German  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  at 
Sadorus,  Champaign  County,  111.  Three  congrega- 
tions were  assigned  to  his  care,  two  in  Cham- 
paign County,  and  one  in  Douglas  County,  and  he 
continued  his  labors  in  that  field  foi'  three  years. 
In  1883  he  accepted  the  pastorate  of  the  Kankakee 
church,  where  he  has  since  served  with  marked 
success. 

In  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  on  the  Gth  of  February,  1881, 
occurred  the  marriage  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schroeder 
and  Miss  Sophia  Steinmeyer,  who  was  born  in  St. 
Louis,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Maria 
Steinmeyer.  Six  children,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schroe- 
der: Frederick  T.  A.,  Clara  M.  S.,  Walter  H.  F., 
Meta  A.  G.,  Lydia  II.  B.  and  Werner  A. 

Mr.  Schroeder  h.as  resided  in  Illinois  since  1880, 
and  in  Kankakee  since  1883,  and  has  been  very 
successful  in  his  ministry,  having  a  large  and  pros- 


perous congregation.  The  First  German  Evangeli- 
cal Lutheran  Church  Society,  St.  Paul's,  was  organ- 
ized in  1859,  the  first  pastor  being  the  Rev.  J. 
Bernthal,  who  served  until  1863,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Schmidt,  from  I'nion  Hill, 
who  served  until  1864.  For  the  succeeding  six 
3'ears  the  Rev.  Mr.  Meyer  was  in  charge,  and  his 
successor  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  G.  A.  Mueller,  who 
was  pastor  until  1883,  at  which  date  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  assumed  charge  of  the  work,  and  has 
now  served  for  nine  years.  Up  to  1864  the  so- 
ciety held  services  in  the  sehoolhouse.  They  then 
built  a  small  stone  church  at  the  corner  of  Chest- 
nut Street  and  East  Avenue.  In  1872,  they  built 
a  larger  one,  which  was  burned  in  a  general  fire  on 
the  1st  of  Ma3',  1887.  The  congregation  at  once 
purchased  the  propertj^  which  they  now  own  at  the 
southeast  corner  of  Merchant  .Street  and  Dearborn 
Avenue.  Tiiey  have  a  flue  church  structure  and 
neat  parsonage.  The  congregation  comprises  one 
hundred  and  eighty  families,  and  is  rapidly  in- 
creasing. They  have  in  connection  with  the 
church  a  parochial  school,  with  an  avei'age  atten- 
dance of  one  hundred  and  twent}'  scholars,  which 
is  under  control  of  one  male  and  one  female 
teacher. 


I 


"S) 


'^+.^j 


[S~ 


~Si. 


<jf7  UTHER  GUBTAIL,  who  now  resides  in 
I  ((S)  Kankakee,  is  one  of  the  honored  pioneers 
/''— ^\  of  the  county.  Here  he  has  made  his  home 
for  forty-five  years,  and  has  therefore  witnessed 
the  greater  part  of  its  growth  and  development. 
He  has  also  aided  in  its  progress  and  advancement, 
and  in  many  ways  his  name  is  inseparably  con- 
nected with  the  history  of  the  community.  The 
pioneers  are  those  who  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
count}',  upon  which  the  present  structure  of  its 
prosporitj-  was  reared,  and  for  their  work  a  debt 
of  gratitude  is  due  which  can  never  be  repaid  ex- 
cept by  cherishing  their  lives  and  deeds  in  memory 
and  peri^etuating  their  labors  by  written  records. 
Mr.  Gubtail,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Waterbury,  Washington  County,  Vt.,  De- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


215 


cembei-  28, 1818,  and  is  one  in  a  faniil\'  of  fourteen 
children.  Histor}'  says  that  three  brothers  of  the 
name  of  Gubtail  emigrated  to  America  frtmi  Eng- 
land, their  native  land,  more  than  three  centuries 
ago.  One  of  these  brothers  died  soon  after  reaching 
this  countr}',  and  a  second  located,  it  is  thought,  in 
New  Jersey.  The  third  settled  not  far  from  Port- 
land, Me.,  and  from  him  comes  the  line  of  theGub- 
tails  to  which  the  subject  of  tliis  sketch  belongs. 
The  parents  of  Luther  were  Humphre\'  and  Susan 
(Kimball)  Gubtail.  The  father  was  born  in  Wat- 
erboro.  Ale.,  in  1769,  being  about  seven  years  of 
age  when  the  Revolutionary  War  began,  and  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  was  written.  He 
grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  State,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty-four  years  he  emigrated  to  the  Green 
Mountain  State,  where  he  made  a  location.  Soon 
afterward,  however,  he  returned  to  Maine  and  mar- 
ried Miss  Kimball.  For  several  years  previous  to 
liis  marriage  he  iiad  been  engaged  in  the  cod  fish- 
ery business,  and  had  made  a  voyage  to  the  West 
Indies  and  to  France.  After  his  marriage  he 
turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  fol- 
lowing the  occupation  of  farming  in  Vermont  for 
a  number  of  years. 

In  1836,  Humphrey  Gubtail  removed  with  his 
family  to  Springfield,  Ohio,  and  in  the  fall  of  the 
same  year,  accompanied  by  his  son  Luther,  he  vis- 
ited Illinois  in  search  of  a  desirable  location.  At 
that  lime,  fifty-six  years  ago,  there  was  not  a  build- 
ing on  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Kanlvakee. 
The  father  bought  land  near  Watseka,  Iroquois 
County,  but  acccorapanied  by  his  son  he  returned 
to  Ohio  the  next  spring.  Later,  Ira  Gubtail,  the 
youngest  son  of  Humphrey,  bought  the  land  which 
the  father  had  i)urcliased  in  Iroquois  County,  and 
later  it  came  into  the  possession  of  our  subject, 
but  at  this  time  the  property  is  not  owned  by  any 
member  of  the  family,  altiiough  Luther  Gubtail 
has  the  original  patent,  which  is  signed  by  Martin 
Van  Hureu,  who  was  then  President  of  the  United 
States. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  continued  to  reside 
in  Ohio  until  called  to  the  home  beyond,  and  the 
father  survived  the  mother  for  many  yeais.  Of 
their  large  family  of  fourteen  children,  twelve 
grew  to  mature  j'ears,    including   seven  sous  and 


five  daughtei"s,  but  all  are  now  deceased  with  the 
exception  of  three  brothers:  Dan,  who  resides  in  El- 
gin, 111.,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  ^-ears;  Ira,  aged 
seventy-two,  who  is  living  in  Iroquois  County; 
and  Luther. 

Mr.  Gubtail,  of  this  sketch, spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  on  his  father's  farm,  in  the 
usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  and  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  the  Buckeye  State. 
He  was  then  a  young  man  of  eighteen  years.  On 
the  7th  of  February,  1812,  he  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Poll,v  Pinneo,  who  was  born  near  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
in  1803.  Her  maiden  name  was  Polly  Winters, 
and  she  was  about  fifteen  years  her  husband's 
senior. 

In  July,  1845,  Mr.  Gubtail  removed  to  Illinois, 
and  for  about  two  years  resided  with  his  family  in 
Kane  and  Cook  Counties.  In  1847  he  settled  in 
what  is  now  Otto  Township,  Kankakee  County, 
but  was  then  called  Dallas  Precinct,  and  was  a  part 
of  Iroquois  County.  He  located  on  fort}-  acres  of 
State  laud  and  engaged  in  its  development  and 
cultivation  until  1854,  when  he  sold  outand  bought 
a  farm  of  Government  land  in  the  same  township, 
about  a  mile  from  his  first  home.  Upon  that  place 
not  a  furrow  had  been  turned  or  an  improvement 
made,  but  with  characteristic  energy  he  began  the 
work  of  traiisformation,  and  the  raw  tract  soon 
became  rich  and  fertile.  Air.  Gubtail  there  con- 
tinued to  engage  in  farming  with  excellent  suc- 
cess until  1887,  when,  desiring  to  live  a  retired 
life,  he  removed  to  Kankakee.  However,  he  still 
owns  a  part  of  his  farm. 

On  the  27th  of  January,  1888,  Mr.  Gubtail  was 
bereft  of  his  wife  by  death.  They  had  traveled  the 
journey  of  life  together  for  the  long  period  of 
nearly  forty-six  years,  sharing  with  each  other  its 
joys  and  sorrow,  its  adversity  and  prosperity. 
Their  union  had  been  blessed  with  two  children,  a 
son  and  a  daughter.  Tlie  former,  who  was  also 
the  younger,  died  at  about  the  age  of  eleven 
months.  The  daughter,  Anna  G.,  wjis  born  in 
Springfield,  Ohio,  and  became  the  wife  of  Frank 
Enos,  who  died  in  March,  1874.  She  has  two  sons, 
Dr.  Emmet  Enos,  who  is  a  graduate  of  Rush  Med- 
ical College  of  Chicago;  and  Leon  A.,  a  painter  by 
trade,  who  is  engaged  in  business  in  Cliicago. 


216 


POaXEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


In  his  business  undertakings  Jlr.  Gubtail  met 
with  prosperity',  and  by  his  well-directed  efforts  ac- 
quired a  handsome  propert}' wliich  now  enables  him 
to  live  in  retirement,  enjojing  the  fruits  of  his 
former  toil.  As  has  been  shown,  he  is  one  of  the 
honored  pioneers  of  Kankakee  County.  He  is  also 
a  well-known  citizen,  and  his  long  residence  in  Ill- 
inois, covering  a  period  of  forty-eight  years,  has 
won  for  him,  through  his  upright  life,  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens.  He  and  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Enos,  now  reside  together  at  their 
pleasant  home  in  Kankakee,  where  he  expects  to 
spend  his  remaining  days. 

Politically,  he  has  always  been  a  Democrat,  hav- 
ing cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Martin 
Van  Buren  in  1840,  and  his  last  for  Grover  Cleve- 
land in  1892.  He  has  never  been  an  office-seeker, 
but  while  in  Otto  Township  held  the  position  of 
Highway  Commissioner  and  Supervisor,  discharg- 
ing his  duties  with  promptness  and  fidelity. 


^OHN  H.  SCRAMLIN  is  an  early  settler  and 
a  substantial  and  highly  respected  citizen 
of  Momence.  He  was  born  near  London, 
in  Upper  Canada,  March  6,  1832,  and  is  a 
son  of  Henry  and  Catherine  (Smith)  Scramlin, 
both  of  whom  were  born  in  Mohawk,  N.  Y.  The 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming  in  the  Empire  State,  where 
his  death  occurred  at  an  advanced  age  many 
years  ago.  Our  subject's  grandfather  Smith  also 
was  an  agriculturist  in  the  same  State  and  lived  to 
be  quite  old. 

Henry  Scramlin,  like  his  father,  was  a  farmer 
and  left  his  native  State,  removing  to  Canada.  In 
1835,  returning  to  the  United  States,  he  located  in 
Kalamazoo  County.  Mich.,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
cultivation  of  the  farm  for  the  succeeding  fifteen 
years.  In  1850,  he  came  with  his  family  to  Illinois, 
and  settled  on  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
two  and  a-half  miles  northwest  of  Momence.  where 
he  lived  for  over  twent3--one  years.  In  1871,  he 
again  went  to  Michigan,  but  after  being  there  for 


a  short  time  only  came  back  to  Momence  and 
lived  in  the  town  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1883.  He  had  retired  from  the  active  duties  of 
farm  life  some  years  before.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  throughout  life  was  an 
industrious  and  respected  citizen.  His  family 
consisted  of  twelve  children,  seven  sons  and  five 
daughters,  and  all  are  living  at  the  present  time 
with  the  exception  of  Julia  and  Sarah.  Thej-  are: 
Silas,  Moses,  Orin  and  Warren  (twins),  John  H., 
Wealthy,  Harmon  and  Farmon  (twins),  Mary  and 
Permelia,  who  are  all  married  and  reside  in  sev- 
eral different  States  of  the  Union. 

John  H.  Scramlin  was  reared  as  a  farmer  lad 
and  lived  with  his  parents,  assisting  his  father  in 
the  care  of  the  farm  until  he  had  reached  manhood. 
He  received  a  common-school  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  the  neighborhood  and  came  to 
Momence  in  its  early  history.  On  his  arrival  here 
he  entered  the  employ  of  William  H.  Patterson 
as  a  clerk  in  his  general  store  and  remained  with 
him  for  twelve  years.  Mr.  Scramlin  then  opened 
a  general  store  and  embarked  in  business  for  him- 
self. He  carried  a  large  stock  but  was  unfortun- 
ate, as  the  same  year,  1870,  his  store,  and  its  equip- 
ments were  destroyed  by  fire.  The  following 
year  he  opened  a  meat-market,  which  he  has  car- 
ried on  successfully  to  the  present  time. 

On  Christmas  Day  'of  1856,  Mr.  Scramlin  was 
married  to  Miss  Margaret  Pollard,  whose  parents 
were  both  natives  of  Vermont.  Six  children 
graced  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife:  Ida 
F.  became  the  wife  of  Charles  R.  Batcbeler, 
of  Momence,  and  now  lives  in  Chicago,  where  Mr. 
Batcheler  is  engaged  in  the  life  insurance  business; 
John  H.  died  in  infancy,  as  did  also  the  youngest 
of  the  family,  Mark  W.;  Grace  E.  and  Mary  E.  re- 
side at  home;  and  Frank  E.  died  when  fourteen 
years  of  age,  in  1881.  Mrs.  Scramlin  was  called 
to  the  better  world  on  the  17th  of  October,  1884. 
She  was  a  faithful  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  to  which  she  had  belonged  for  many 
years. 

Mr.  Scramlin  politically  is  a  stanch  Republican, 
and  in  the  j'ears  1863  and  64  was  made  Collector  of 
Momence  Township,  in  which  capacity  he  proved 
an  able  and  faithful  official.    He  holds  membership 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


217 


with  tlie  Methodist  Church  and  is  a  member  of 
Lndije  No.  481,  A.  F.  ii-  A.  M.  lie  also  belongs  to 
tlie  Odd  Fellows'  fraternity.  Mr.  Scramlin's course 
in  life  has  ever  been  marked  with  strict  integrity 
and  lionorablc  dealings  with  liis  fellow-men  and 
thus  he  has  won  the  friendship  and  esteem  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact. 


ON.  GEORGE  R.  LETOURNEAU  is  Slate 
Senator,  representing  the  Sixteenth  Illinois 
Senatorial  District.  He  is  a  pioneer  settler 
C^)  of  this  State  and  of  Kani<akee  County,  to 
which  lie  came  in  1847.  He  was  born  at  St.  Tiiomas, 
in  the  Province  of  Quebec,  Canada,  on  the  28th  of 
February,  1 8:5.3,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Mar- 
garet (Lemieux)  Letourneau.  His  parents  were 
of  Canadian  birtii  and  of  Norman  ancestr}'.  The 
family  was  founded  in  America  by  David  Letour- 
neau, a  native  of  Normandy,  France.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  died  at  St.  George,  Henryvllle, 
Canada,  in  November,  1852.  Three  years  later 
tiie  father  came  to  Illinois  and  lived  for  many 
years  in  this  State.  His  death  occurred  at  Bour- 
bonnais,  Kankakee  County,  in  April,  18fi2. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  his  native  country,  and  in  1847  crossed 
the  border  line  and  readied  Chicago  on  the  lOtli 
of  May  of  that  year.  For  the  two  succeeding 
j'cars  he  occupied  a  position  as  clerk  to  a  mer- 
chant in  that  city,  and  in  1849,  coming  to  this 
county,  he  settled  on  section  19,  Bourbonnais 
Township.  He  then  engaged  as  clerk  to  Mr.  Os- 
born,  by  whom  he  was  employed  until  March, 
1850.  At  that  time,  catciiing  the  gold  fever,  Mr. 
Letourneau  joined  a  parly  of  gold  seekers  and 
crossed  the  plains  to  California  by  way  of  Council 
Bluffs  and  .Salt  Lake  City.  Tliis  was  a  journey 
taking  several  months,  and  owing  to  the  unsettled 
condition  of  the  country  and  the  active  hostility 
of  tiie  Indians,  was  attended  with  many  advent- 
ures and  considerable  danger.  He  remained  two 
years  in  the  gold  regions,  engaged  in  raining  and 


teaming.  The  return  trip  w-as  made  by  way  of 
the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  thence  to  Now  Orleans 
and  up  the  Mississi[)pi  to  his  home.  His  trip  wiis 
fairly  successful  and  had  it.s  full  measure  of  nov- 
elty and  unusual  methods  of  traveling. 

(.)n  the  i:5th  of  .July,  1852,  occurred  the  wedding 
of  Mr.  Letourneau  and  Miss  Eleodie,  a  daughter 
of  Edward  and  JIarguerite  (Cyr)  Langlois.  Mrs. 
Letourneau  was  born  at  St.  George,  Ilenryville,  in 
the  Province  of  Quebec,  Canada,  and  removed  to 
Bourbonnais  in  M.ay,  1848.  Six  sons  and  six 
daughters  have  been  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
wife,  and  all  of  them  are  living  and  are  good  and 
respected  citizens  of  the  community  in  which  they 
dwell.  George  A.,  who  makes  his  home  in  the  city 
of  .Joliet,  married  Miss  Lucia  LeVasseur,  who 
died;  he  then  married  Miss  Arilla  Gibson,  who 
also  died,  leaving  an  infant  child;  he  afterward 
married  again.  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  V.  A. 
Bergeron,  of  Muskegon,  Mich.  Agnes  is  the  wife 
of  Joseph  St.  Louis,  a  grocer  of  Kankakee.  Eu- 
genie became  the  wife  of  Dr.  Fred  A.  Marcotte, 
and  lives  in  Concordia,  Kan.  Philip  H.  clio.se  for 
his  wife  Mary  Lasage,  and  is  a  practicing  physi- 
cian of  Chippewa  Falls,  Wis.  Robert  A.  is  en- 
gaged in  the  drug  business  at  Chicago.  Arthur  E. 
is  married  and  is  a  druggist  of  Danville,  111.  The 
younger  members  of  the  family,  Loui.se,  Oswold, 
Corinne,  Marie  and  Albert,  are  all  under  the  par- 
ental roof  with  the  exception  of  Oswold,  who  is 
stud3'ing  medicine  with  his  brother  at  Chippewa 
Falls. 

Soon  after  his  return  from  California,  l\Ir.  Le- 
tourneau purchased  a  farm  in  Bourbonnais  Town- 
ship, which  he  continually  added  to,  both  in  the 
way  of  improvement  and  by  purchases  of  addi- 
tional property,  until  he  had  something  more  than 
two  hundred  acres.  He  placed  this  property  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  erected  tasty  and 
substantial  farm  Iniildings.  In  addition  to  his 
agricultural  pursuits  he  carried  on  the  grain  busi- 
ness at  Kankakee  for  fifteen  3ears.  He  has  ever 
shown  good  business  ability-  and  his  labors  have 
been  crowned  with  success. 

Mr.  Letourneau  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and 
assisted  in  the  organization  of  that  party  in  Kan- 
kakee County.     He  has  been  repeatedlj-  chosen  to 


218 


rORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


fill  official  positions,  and  has  served  as  Supervisor 
of  Bourbounais  Township  for  several  years.  In 
1872  he  was  chosen  Cleric  of  the  Circuit  Court  for 
this  county.  In  1882  lie  was  elected  Sheriff  and 
held  that  position  for  about  /our  }ears.  At  the 
end  of  that  time  he  was  chosen  Countj^  Treasurer, 
which  position  he  also  held  for  four  years.  In 
1891  he  was  made  Ma3or  of  Kankakee,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1892  was  elected  State  Senator  to  represent 
the  Sixteenth  District  of  Illinois.  On  being  elected 
to  the  Sheriff's  office  our  subject  removed  to  Kan- 
kakee, where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  made 
his  home  in  this  county  since  its  formation  and 
was  a  resident  of  the  territory  embraced  within  its 
limits  for  four  years  previous  to  that  time.  In  his 
long  and  varied  service  in  public  office  he  has 
made  an  extended  acquaintance  throughout  this 
and  adjacent  counties.  His  record  in  private  life 
and  as  a  public  officer  is  above  reproach.  As  a 
citizen  he  has  ever  aided  in  every  worthj^  public 
enterprise  calculated  to  advance  the  welfare  of  the 
town  and  county  where  he  has  so  long  made  his 
home.  As  a  representative  man  of  his  nationality 
he  has  won  a  foremost  place,  and  it  is  no  flattery 
to  say  of  liim  that  he  enjoys  the  highest  esteem  of 
his  fellow-citizens,  regardless  of  birth-place  or 
descent.  The  fact  that  he  has  been  so  often  chosen 
to  public  positions  of  responsibility  and  trust  is 
no  uncertain  evidence  of  their  confidence  in  his 
ability  and  fidelity. 

In  January,  1887,  Mr.  Letourneau  was  called 
upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  estimable  wife,  whose 
death  occurred  on  the  19th  of  that  month.  Siie 
was  born  of  Catholic  parents  and  was  reared  in 
that  faith. 


-5- 


i>^^<^ 


-J— 


lOBERT  D.  GREGG  is  agent  and  oper- 
ator for  the  Indiana,  Illinois  &■  Iowa  Rail- 
road at  Goodrich.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
1  prominent  and  influential  business  men 
of  that  place,  and  as  he  has  a  wide  acquaintance 
throughout  Kankakee  Countj^  it  gives  us  great 
pleasure  to  add  to  this  history  the    sketch    of    the 


gentleman  whose  name  appears  above.  Mr.  Gregg 
is  a  native  of  the  Kej'stone  State.  He  was  born  in 
Towanda,  Bradford  County,  Pa.,  on  the  21st  of 
June,  1859,  and  is  of  Scotch  descent,  for  the 
Gregg  family  was  founded  in  America  by  Scottish 
emigrants,  who  settled  in  Pennsylvania  at  a  very 
early  day.  Francis  Gregg,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Bradford  County,  and  after  he 
had  reached  man's  estate  there  married  Miss  Emily 
Davenport,  who  was  born  in  Plymouth,  Pa.  They 
began  their  domestic  life  upon  a  farm  in  Bradford 
County  and  there  reared  their  family.  Mr. 
Gregg  has  made  farming  his  life  work  and  is  still 
residing  upon  the  old  homestead  where  so  many 
years  of  his  life  have  been  passed. 

Robert  Gregg  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth  in 
the  family  of  five  cliildren.  No  event  of  special 
importance  occurred  during  his  childhood,  which 
was  passed  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads 
under  the  parental  roof.  His  educational  advant- 
ages, however,  were  good.  After  attending  the 
common  schools  he  became  a  student  in  the  Sus- 
quehanna Collegiate  Institute,  and  after  complet- 
ing his  studies  lie  started  Westward.  This  was  in 
1879.  He  accepted  a  position  as  civil  engineer 
with  the  Missouri,  Iowa  &  Nebraska  Railroad, 
and  was  afterwards  employed  in  the  same  capacity 
with  the  Wabash,  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Pacific, 
the  Des  Moines  ife  Northwestern,  and  later  witli  the 
Indiana,  Illinois  &  Iowa.  While  serving  with  the 
latter  road  his  headquarters  were  at  Kankakee. 
There  he  was  first  made  division  engineer,  and  in 
1884  he  was  appointed  chief  engineer  of  the  road, 
serving  in  that  capacity  for  a  period  of  four  years. 
He  then  resigned  and  accepted  a  position  as  agent 
and  operator  at  Goodrich,  locating  here  with  his 
family  on  the  1st  of  May,  1889.  He  also  holds 
the  position  of  express  agent,  and  for  two  years  lie 
has  carried  on  a  grocery  business  in  connection 
with  his  other  interests. 

On  the  22d  of  December,  1886,  in  Kankakee, 
Mr.  Gregg  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ida  M. 
Kurrasch,  wliose  entire  life  prior  to  her  marriage 
was  spent  in  Kankakee.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Charles  Kurrasch,  one  of  tlie  pioneers  of  that  city. 
Three  children  have  been  born  of  this  union: 
Stella  E.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six  months;  Emily 


i.i!i'L.;jUlf  Ui-  iLLlMOiS 


„«®5--; 


r 


..js-'^T^:' 


/"TN* 


iC^cn^^\J 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


221 


Pauline  and  Charles  Francis.  TUe  parents  are 
liiglily  respected  citizens,  who  have  mnny  friends 
throughout  the  community. 

Since  locating  in  Goodrich,  Mr.  Gregg  has  de- 
voted his  leisure  time  to  reading  law  and  was  admit- 
ted to  the  Bar  in  Ottawa  in  December,  18112.  He  has 
I  since  attended  to  some  law  c.ases  before  tiie  justice 
court  and  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  lie  was  nom- 
inated by  the  Democratic  party  for  the  position  of 
State's  Attorne}'.  The  count}-,  however,  is  largely 
Republican  and  in  consequence  he  was  not  elected, 
although  he  received  a  verj'  flattering  vote.  By 
his  first  Presidential  ballot  Mr.  Gregg  supported 
Grover  Cleveland  in  1884,  and  is  a  warm  advocate 
of  tiie  principles  of  Democracy.  He  is  a  man  of 
superior  business  ability,  sagacious  and  far-sighted, 
enterprising  and  progressive.  In  lvankakee,where 
he  is  widely  known,  and-in  Goodrich  he  is  con- 
sidered a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  upright 
character.  He  has  long  been  in  the  employ  of  the 
Indiana,  Illinois  it  Iowa  Railroad,  and  his  con- 
tinued service  with  that  company  indicates  his 
faithfulness  and  fidelitv  to  dutv. 


EDWARD  CHIPMAX,  a  prominent  and  ex- 
tensive farmer  of  Ganier  Township,  is  now 
I  living  a  retired  life,  but  still  supervises  his 

farm  property-  in  that  township.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  Brock ville,  Canada,  on  the  14tli  of  July, 
1824.  His  parents,  Truman  and  Sallie  (Cowdry) 
Chipman,  were  natives  of  Vermont,  and  have  been 
parents  of  ten  children.  Harriet  died  in  1819; 
Walter  died  in  infancy;  William  is  a  resident  of 
Burlington,  Wis.;  Edward, our  subject,  is  next  in  or- 
der of  birth;  Ransom  died  when  quite  30ung;  Maria 
became  the  wife  of  Charles  Wilsey,  but  has  since 
died;  Walter  is  a  farmer  of  Ganier  Township; 
Cyrus  is  now  deceased;  Clarinda  died  in  infancy; 
and  Amelia  is  tiie  wife  of  P.  Hoag,  who  runs  a 
meat-market  in  Momence.  Cyrus,  the  youngest 
son  of  this  family,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Stone 
River,  Teun.,  in  1862.  He  was  a  lieutenant  in 
Company  D,  Forty-second    Illinois   Infantry,  and 


was  a  valiant  soldier.  His  remains  lie  buried  on 
a  Southern  battlefield.  Tlfe  father  of  these  chil- 
dren followed  the  occu|)ation  of  a  farmer  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1872.  The  mother  de- 
parted this  life  some  five  years  later. 

Kdward  Chipman,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
removed  with  his  parents  to  St.  Lawrence  County, 
N.  Y.,  when  he  was  quite  ^'oung.  He  was  born 
and  reared  on  a  farm  and  received  such  education 
as  he  could  obtain  in  the  district  schools.  When 
fourteen  years  of  age  he  entered  the  emploj'  of  a 
man  with  whom  he  remained  for  seven  j'ears,  re- 
ceiving his  board  in  return  for  his  services  upon 
the  farm,  and  when  tvvent3'-one  3'ears  of  age  was 
presented  by  his  enn)lo3er  with  two  suits  of  clothes 
and  $100  in  money.  He  then  began  working  for 
farmers  by  the  month,  receiving  for  the  first  two 
years  110  per  month.  In  the  ^ear  1847,  Mr.  Chip- 
man  turned  his  face  Westward  and  came  to  Illi- 
nois, making  the  trip  b}-  the  wa}-  of  the  Lakes.  He 
landed  at  Racine,  Wis.,  where  he  worked  for  a 
short  time  at  §10  per  month.  The  same  year  he 
came  to  Kankakee  Count}",  111.,  and  entered  eighty 
acres  of  Government  land  on  section  G,  ^Momence 
Township,  then  in  AVill  Count}'.  In  the  spring  of 
1848,  he  returned  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  worked 
for  eight  months  at  a  place  near  Burlington.  He 
again  returned  to  Kankakee  County,  where  he 
purchased  ox-teams  and  commenced  breaking  the 
prairie.  At  this  time  he  built  a  small  log  house, 
where  he  lived  until  enabled  to  build  a  more  preten- 
tious one.  After  raising  acrop  he  hauled  his  grain  to 
Chicago,  purchased  lumber  and  hauled  it  back  by 
ox-team.  With  this  lumbei-  in  the  year  184!>, 
he  erected  a  frame  dwelling.  In  one  year  Mr. 
Chipman  made  thirt^'-six  trips  to  Chicago  by 
teams.  He  lived  on  the  property  which  was  his 
first  purchase  until  1887,  when  he  bought  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives  in  Ganier  Township,  which 
consists  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  situated 
on  section  1.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  about  fif- 
teen hundred  acres  of  well-im[)roved  and  valuable 
land,  all  in  Kankakee  County.  This  property 
represents  the  industry  and  hard  labor  of  years, 
and  he  is  well  entitled  to  the  rest  from  toil  which 
he  is  now  enjoying. 

On  the  14th  of  October,  185(1,  Mr.  Chi[)»ian  was 


222 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


joined  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary,  the  only  child 
of  James  and  Alice  Delany.  Mrs.  Chipmau's 
father  died  in  1830,  and  the  death  of  the  mother 
occurred  some  twelve  years  later.  Four  children 
have  blessed  the  union  of  our  subjectand  his  wife: 
Ellis,  who  resides  at  home;  Merril,  who  died  in 
infancy;  Alvira,  who  is  under  the  parental  roof; 
and  Annie,  the  wife  of  J.  E.  Paradis,  now  resiiUng 
in  Momence. 

Mr.  Chipman  has  always  taken  quite  an  active 
interest  in  politics  and  is  a  firm  Democrat.  He 
has  served  his  township  as  Highway  Commissioner, 
School  Director  and  in  other  minor  offices.  Mrs. 
Chipman  is  a  valued  member  and  worker  in  the 
Methodist  Cinirch.  Our  subject  assists  and  takes 
an  active  part  in  all  public  enterprises  and  has 
been  an  important  factor  in  the  development  and 
progress  of  this  county.  He  has  alvvaj's  abstained 
from  the  use  of  tobacco  and  strong  drink,  which 
has  added  both  to  his  physical  and  financial  wel- 
fare. Though  nearly  seventy  years  of  age  he  is 
remarkabljr  well  preserved. 


Wj;ALTER  L.  HENDRIX  is  a  respected  citi- 
zen and  retired  farmer  who  makes  his 
home  on  section  21,  Norton  Township. 
He  is  numbered  among  the  honored  pioneers  of 
Kankakee  County,  in  which  lie  has  lived  for  nearly 
forty  3'ears. 

Mr.  Hendrix  was  born  on  the  14th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1819,  in  Otsego  County'',  N.  Y.,  in  Butternuts 
Township.  His  parents  were  Axel  and  Narcissa 
(Hall)  Hendrix.  The  former  was  born  in  1789, 
near  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  and  the  latter  was  a  native 
of  tlie  same  State  and  county.  The  father  re- 
moved to  Otsego  County,  N.  Y.,  after  his  marriage 
and  carried  on  a  farm  there  until  his  death.  He 
was  called  from  this  life  in  1855,  being  then  six- 
ty-six years  of  age.  After  surviving  her  husband 
a  number  of  years,  Mis.  Hendrix  died  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-two  years. 

When  only  thirteen  years  old,  Walter  L.  started 


out  in  life.  He  was  engaged  on  a  farm  for  some 
years  and  was  early  inured  to  the  hardships  and 
the  various  duties  of  farm  life.  His  school  advan- 
tages were  of  the  most  limited  description  and  he  is 
almost  wholly  self-educated.  On  arriving  at  mature 
j'cars  he  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade  in  Fairfield, 
Herkimer  County,  N.  Y.  In  the  year  1855,  which 
witnessed  the  death  of  his  father,  our  subject  came 
to  Illinois.  He  located  in  Momence  Township, 
Kankaliee  County,  where  he  rented  and  carried  on 
a  farm  for  four  years.  He  tlien  rented  another  place, 
which  he  kept  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war. 
Leaving  his  crops  in  the  ground  he  enlisted  on  the 
18th  of  July,  1862,  in  the  Seventy-sixth  Illinois 
Infantiy,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  H,  and 
was  the  first  man  to  enlist  in  that  company.  With 
his  regiment  he  participated  in  a  number  of  skir- 
mishes in  Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  Georgia.  In 
tlie  fall  of  1862  he  was  taken  sick  and  poisoned  by 
medicine.  He  was  in  the  hospital  at  Memphis  for 
a  short  time  and  then  taken  liorae  by  his  wife,  wlio 
had  come  to  nurse  and  take  care  of  him.  At  the 
time  he  joined  the  regiment  he  was  in  robust 
health  and  weighed  two  hundred  and  four  pounds. 
When  he  arrived  at  home  his  weight  was  reduced 
to  eighty-five  pounds  and  for  two  years  he  was  in 
very  poor  health,  unable  to  do  much  work. 

In  the  spring  of  1867,  Mr.  Hendrix  came  to  Nor- 
ton Township  and  became  the  owner  of  an  eighty 
acre  tract  of  unimproved  land.  In  spite  of  poor 
health  for  a  number  of  j'ears  he  devoted  himself 
assiduously  to  the  cultivation  of  his  farm  and  has 
been  quite  successful.  He  afterward  purchased  an 
adjoining  forty  acres  and  now  owns  a  well-kept 
and  improved  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  located  one  and  a-half  miles  from  Bucking- 
ham. In  the  many  years  of  his  residence  in  this 
county,  Mr.  Hendrix  has  seen  vast  changes  and 
has  given  material  assistance  in  making  this  sec- 
tion what  it  is  to-daj',  a  prosperous  and  rapidly 
developing  localitj'. 

In  Otsego  Countj',  N.  Y.,  Mr.  Hendrix  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ann  Sutton,  the  cere- 
mony being  performed  on  the  19th  of  February, 
1840.  Mrs.  Hendrix  was  a  native  of  Worcester 
County,  N.  Y.,  and  a  daughter  Of  James  and  Re- 
becca Sutton.     To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hendrix  was  born 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


22^ 


44* 


^ 


one  flaiigliter,  Catherine,  who  is  the  wife  of  J.  D. 
Davidson,  of   Portland,   Kossuth    County,  Iowa. 
On   the  4th  of  August,  1874,  Mrs.  Ilendrix  was  | 
called  from  tliis  life,  and  August  9, 1875,  Jlr.  Ilen- 
drix married  Jliss  Ella  Woods,  who  was  born  in 
Indiana,  October  11,  1845,  and  is  a  daughter  of   ! 
Francis  and  Elizabeth  (Francis)  Woods.    The  lady 
came  witli  her  parents  to  Kankakee  Count}-  when 
eleven  years  old  and  was  here  reared  to  woman-   i 
hood.     By  her  marriage  she  has  become  the  mother 
of   two  children:     Willie  0.;    and   Flora   A.,  who 
lives  at  home.  1 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ilendrix  are  members  of  the  \ 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Buckingham,  in 
whose  work  they  take  an  active  part.  Our  subject 
uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  favor  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  casting  his  first  vote  for  .Tames  K. 
Polk,  and  has  been  one  of  its  firmer L  supporters 
since  its  formation.  The  cause  of  education  al- 
ways finds  in  him  a  stanch  advocate  and  for  twenty 
years  he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  School 
Board,  giving  his  time  and  influence  to  secure 
good  teachers  and  schools.  For  thirty-seven  years 
he  has  resided  in  Kankakee  County,  and  his  wife 
has  made  this  her  home  for  the  past  thirty-six 
years.  The^'  are  both  much  respected  people  and 
are  well  worthy  of  representation  in  the  volume 
which  records  the  life  history  of  nianj'  of  the 
sluidy  pioneers  and  earl}-  settlers  of  this  count3% 
who  endured  untold  hardships  and  privations  in 
the  early  days  of  its  history. 


y^  IRAM  M.  STORRS  is  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Kankakee  County,  having  located  in 
1855  in  Ganier  Township,  on  section  17, 
which  has  been  his  home  continuously  since. 
The  fatlier  of  our  subject,  Nathaniel  S.  Storrs,  was 
of  Englisli  extraction  and  a  native  of  the  Empire 
State.  When  a  young  man  he  met  and  married 
Mrs.  PhiL'be  Hunter,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Carpenter,  and  by  their  union  were  born  two 
children:  Phalinda,  Mrs.  Samuel  B.  Lowe,  who 
died  in   1885;  and  our  subject.     The  father  was  a 


prominent  man  and  was  .Tudgo  of  Essex  County, 
N.  Y.,  for  a  number  of  ye.ars.  Politically  he  was  a 
Democrat  till  the  rise  of  the  Republican  party, 
with  which  he  was  ever  afterward  identified.  He 
was  Postm.aster  of  his  town,  Moriah,  for  forty 
j-ears,  with  the  exception  of  one  term.  He  also 
carried  on  general  merchandising,  w.as  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  order,  and  with  liis  wife  held  mem- 
bership in  the  Baptist  Church.  His  death  occurred 
in  1871,  and  his  wife  had  died  manj'  j'cars  previ- 
ousl}',  in  1848.  .She  is  buried  in  New  York  State, 
where  she  was  born,  and  the  father's  last  resting- 
place  is  in  Momence  Cemetery. 

Hiram  Storrs  was  born  in  Moriah,  Essex  County, 
N.  Y.,  on  the  1 1th  of  .January,  1823.  His  early  ed- 
ucation W.1S  acquired  in  the  public  schools,  and 
was  supplemented  bj-arourse  of  instruction  at  the 
Norwich  University  of  Vermont.  When  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  he  went  into  partnership  with 
his  father  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Moriah, 
making  that  town  his  field  of  operations  for  eleven 
years.  In  1843  Mr.  Storrs  wedded  Jane  M.P'erris, 
who  died  leaving  one  child,  .Jennie  M.,  wife  of 
Fred  C.  Van  Veghten,  a  merchant  of  Holslein, 
Neb.  In  1855,  Mr.  Storrs  started  Westward,  stop- 
ping in  D.ayton,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  only 
four  months,  when,  coming  to  Kankakee  County, 
he  located  in  Ganier  Township.  He  purchased 
one  hundred  and  twentj'  acres  of  land  on  section 
17,  which  at  that  lime  was  raw  prairie  and  entirely 
unimproved.  As  the  result  of  his  many  years  of 
cultivation  of  this  property  it  is  now  beautifully 
improved  and  is  in  every  waj^  a  fine  farm  He 
carries  on  general  farming  and  stock-raising,  and 
his  fields  yield  to  him  each  year  a  good  harvest. 

November  8,  1849,  occurred  the  raarri.age  of  Mr. 
Storrs  and  Miss  Harriet  P.  Lamb,  who  w.as  born  in 
Waterford,  .Saratoga  County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  21st  of 
January,  1828,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Urania  (Minton)  Lamb.  Three  children  have 
graced  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Storrs.  William 
N.,  is  a  farmer  of  Ganier  Township,  Harriet  E. 
a  stenographer  of  Chicago,  and  Hiram  A.  a  resi- 
dent of  Momence. 

In  his  political  aflili:itions  our  subject  is  a 
Republican  and  has  always  taken  an  interest  in 
politics  and    public   affairs.     He   lin>;   lu'ld  virions 


224 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


local  positions  of  trust  and  honor,  having  served 
his  township  as  School  Trustee  for  about  thirty 
3-ears,  and  for  fifteen  years  of  that  time  was  Town- 
ship Supervisor,  being  elected  without  opposition 
to  tlie  latter  position  for  fourteen  years.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Storrs  are  of  the  Baptist  faitii.  For  over 
thirt3 -seven  3'ears  our  subject  has  been  a  resident 
of,  and  identified  with,  the  welfare  of  this  vicinity 
and  has  been  a  witness  of  its  marvelous  growth 
and  progress. 


^^^■^1@^(B 


^S^ll 


Ifafc 


EV.  A.  CHRISTIAN  OLSEN,  who  resides 
7      on  section    6,  Pilot  Township,  is  so  well 


known  throughout  Kaukalvce  County,  and 
indeed  throughout  the  State,  tliat  he  needs 
no  special  inti'oduction  to  the  readers  of  tiiis  vol- 
ume. We  feel  assured,  however,  that  his  sketch 
will  prove  of  interest  to  man j',  and  therefore  gladly 
give  it  a  place  in  the  history  of  his  adopted 
county. 

Rev.  Mr.  Olsen  is  a  native  of  Norway,  and  was 
born  on  the  27th  of  May,  1836.  He  passed  the 
days  of  his  boyhood  and  jouth  in  the  land  of  his 
birth,  where  he  received  excellent  educational 
privileges,  spending  seven  years  in  a  seminary, 
college  and  university,  pursuing  a  theological 
course.  He  then  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
in  18G6.  After  reaching  this  country  he  entered 
the  Concordia  Seminary  of  the  (German  Lutheran 
Church  in  St.  Louis,  where  he  pursued  a  supple- 
mentary course  and  graduated  from  that  institu- 
tion in  the  Class  of  '68. 

Soon  after  this  Rev.  JIi-.  Olsen  received  a  call  to 
the  pastorate  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Livingston 
County,  111.  This  he  accepted  and  there  entered 
upon  his  ministerial  labors,  working  for  that  congre- 
gation and  its  upbuilding  for  a  period  of  Ave  years. 
At  length  the  duties  of  the  place  became  so  great 
that  the  charge  was  divided,  and  in  1873  he  came 
to  Kankakee  County  and  established  a  Lutheran 
Church.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  actively  en- 
gaged in  ministerial  work  in  Illinois,  and  at  this 
writing  he  has  charge  of  ten   conoregations — two 


in  Missouri,  one  in  St.  Louis,  and  one  in  Webster, 
Mo.,  together  with  one  in  Indiana  and  seven  in 
Illinois.  His  time  is  thus  almost  wholly  taken  up 
with  pastoral  work.  In  addition  to  his  other  work 
our  subject  organized  the  congregation  and  erected 
the  house  of  worship  in  the  neighborhood  of  his 
residence,  and  has  also  established  and  built 
churches  in  numerous  other  places  throughout  Illi- 
nois. In  his  labor  in  the  Master's  vineyard  he  is 
untiring,  and  the  good  that  he  has  accomplished 
can  never  be  estimated. 

In  Lee  County,  111.,  October  2,  1870,  Mr.  Olsen 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Anna  Risetter,  a 
most  worthy  and  estimable  lady.  She  was  born 
May  7,  1849,  and  spent  the  days  of  her  maiden- 
hood in  Lee  County.  Her  parents,  Lars  L.  and 
Gertrude  (Helgeseu)  Risetter,  were  natives  of  Nor- 
waj',  but  became  early  settlers  of  Lee  County. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Olsen  have  been  born  nine 
children,  seven  of  whom  are  living:  Ole  T.  is  a 
young  man  of  good  education  and  a  successful 
teacher  of  Kankakee  County;  Holden  is  attend- 
ing the  Lutheran  College  in  Decorah,  Iowa;  and 
Martin,  Gertrude,  Anna,  Nilcs  A.  and  Thomas 
complete  the  family.  Of  their  two  other  children 
one  died  in  infancy,  and  Lars  was  called  to  the 
home  beyond  Januaiy  24,  1802,  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  years.  The  latter  spent  four  years  in 
college  at  Decorah,  Iowa,  and  was  taken  sick  while 
a  student  there.  He  was  a  young  man  of  excellent 
character  and  noble  qualities,  and  was  a  dutiful 
and  kind  son  to  his  parents.  We  (juote  a  resolu- 
tion which  was  offered  by  his  class  in  the  Luth- 
eran College,  at  Decorah: 

"  WiiEKEAS,  In  the  allwise  providence  of  God, 
He  has  seen  fit  to  deprive  us  of  our  esteemed  class- 
mate, Lars  Jorgen  Olsen,  while  recognizing  the 
wisdom  of  Him  whose  hand  has  bereft  us,  and 
bearing  in  all  meekness  the  affliction  laid  upon  us; 
nevertheless,  we,  the  Class  of  '94,  wish  to  express 
our  heartfelt  sorrow  atour  friend's  untimely  death, 
and  we  tender  to  his  afflicted  relatives  our  most 
sincere  sympathy.  In  Mr.  Olsen  we  had  a  mem- 
ber of  high  standing,  ability  and  much  promise. 
He  was  a  true  friend  and  a  faithful  student.  The 
influence  of  his  upright  char.acter  was  felt  and 
valued  bv  all  who  knew  him.     Thouoh  filled  with 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


?2:) 


grief  at  our  l)ereavemcnt,  we  are  comforted  by  the 
assurance  that '  lie  is  not  dead,  but  sleepetli.'  " 


Kit.    KUAMMK,  ) 

Os('\i!  Omi.ik,  >  C' 
().  S.  OiMiKni,  ) 


om. 


Lars  was  one  of  the  Kankakee  County  teachers 
at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Rev.  Mr.  Olsen  owns  a  good  home  about  two  miles 
from  Hersciier.  His  farm  is  a  valuable  and  well- 
improved  tract,  comprising  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
eight  acres  of  rich  land,  and  is  operated  bj'  his 
sons.  Our  subject  exercises  his  right  of  franchise 
in  support  of  the  Republican  part}',  with  which  lie 
has  alliliated  since  becoming  a  voter.  His  first 
Presidential  ballot  in  the  United  States  was  cast 
for  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant  in  1872.  He  takes  no  active 
pait  in  political  affairs,  especially  in  the  line  of 
ofiice-seeking,  yet  is  a  firm  believer  in  the  princi- 
ples of  his  party.  In  manner  Rev.  Mr.  Olsen  is 
unassuming,  but  his  upright  life  speaks  for  him  in 
most  convincing  terms.  Those  who  know  hiin 
hold  him  in  the  highest  esteem,  his  friends  are 
many,  and  all  who  know  him  are  glad  to  pay  a 
tribute  of  respect  to  so  wortli}'  a  man. 


X 


^^^  T.  VIATEUR'S  COLLEGE.  Near  the  banks 
^^^  of  the  Kankakee  River  is  situated  the  quaint 
111//  jj)  little  villaoe  of  Bourbonnais  Grove.  The 
place  itself,  though  not  a  scenic  resort,  is  far 
from  being  unattractive.  The  little  town  has  an 
air  of  life  about  it,  and  the  unassuming  people  who 
here  make  their  homes  are  as  happy  and  contented 
as  the  citizens  of  the  metropolis.  The  village  is  an 
old  landmark,  having  been  settled  over  sixt^-. years 
ago  by  Noel  Le  Vasseur,  whose  biographj'  will  be 
found  elsewhere  in  this  work.  It  is  surrounded 
by  one  of  the  most  fertile  tracts  of  land  on  the 
Illinois  prairies,  and  the.  inhabitants  are  mostly 
retired  farmers,  enjoying  the  sweets  of  a  well- 
earned  repose.  The  Kankakee  at  this  point  has 
cut  for  itself  a  deep  and  winding  valley,  through 
which   it  leisurely   wends   its  way  to  the  Illinois 


River,  about  thirty-five  miles  northeast.  Dense 
groves  line  the  river  on  either  side,  and  altogether 
the  surrounding  landscape  presents  a  beautiful 
scene. 

It  would  appear  that  a  more  favorable  spot  than 
this  could  not  be  chosen  for  a  school  or  college,  and 
it  was  this  that  induced  the  founders  of  St.  Viateur's 
College  to  choose  this  favored  place.  This  site  is 
no  less  remarkable  for  its  healthful  surroundings. 
Standing  as  it  does  high  above  the  valley  of  the 
river,  the  drainage  is  complete  and  no  stagnant 
pools  are  ever  present  to  develop  and  spread  ma- 
larial poison.  Local  advantages  are  no  small  mat- 
ter in  the  selection  of  a  college  site.  Healthful 
and  attractive  surroundings  do  much  to  make  the 
student  content  with  his  college  home. 

The  history  of  St.  Viateur's  College,  though 
short,  is  interesting.  It  has  not  been  without  its 
diHIculties,  but  it  has  overcome  these  and  now 
stands  on  a  level  with  the  foremost  educational 
institutions  of  the  West.  The  history  of  this  insti- 
tution began  in  1865.  The  people  of  I5ourbonnais 
Grove,  feeling  the  need  of  good  education  for  their 
children,  made  application  through  their  pastor, 
Rev.  Mr.  Cote,  to  the  Very  Rev.  C.  E.  Champaneur, 
C.  S.  v.,  of  Joliette,  Canada,  who  was  then  Provin- 
cial of  the  community  of  St.  Viateur.  The  Supe- 
rior^aw  plainly  the  need  there  was  of  good  teach- 
ers and  sent  three  of  the  order  to  open  the  school. 
These  were  the  Very  Rev.  P.  Beaudoin,  C.  S.  V.,  R. 
D.;  Rev.  A.  Martel,  C.  S.  V.,  and  Rev.  J.  B.  Bernard, 
C.  S.  V.  The  three  young  men  came  not  merely 
to  teach  the  young  secular  knowledge,  but  to  in- 
still into  their  growing  minds  sound  principles  of 
religions  doctrine  to  shield  them  from  the  error  of 
apostasy.  No  better  means  could  have  been  adopted 
for  reaching  this  end.  Upon  their  arrival  they 
took  charge  of  the  district  school,  which  became  a 
parochial  school  and  later  a  commercial  academy. 
The  building  which  the}^  then  occupied  is  what  is 
now  the  refectory  and  infirmary.  It  was  a  two- 
story  building,  40x60  feet  in  dimensions. 

While  Father  Beaudoin  administered  the  affairs 
of  the  parish,  he  kept  a  watchful  eye  over  the  in- 
terests of  the  infant  school.  Brother  August  Jlar- 
tel  acted  in  the  capacity  of  director,  teaching  the 
French  course,  and  Brother  Bernard  was  the  teacher 


226 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL   RECORD. 


of  English  and  mathematics.  At  the  end  of  the 
first  3'eav  tlie  success  of  the  school  was  assured,  and 
in  order  to  do  justice  to  the  increasing  numbers 
Brother  Laraarche  was  sent  as  a  reinforcement. 
The  latter  became  director,  Brotlier  Martel  taking 
charge  of  the  jirocure. 

In  1867,  a  commercial  course  was  inaugurated. 
The  students  were  becoming  interested  and  as  they 
required  more  time  to  study  in  the  evening,  room 
was  made  for  a  limited  number  to  sleep  in  the  build- 
ing. There  were,  however,  no  JDoarders.  In  1868 
the  brothers  purchased  the  school  from  the  town 
board  for  ^3,000,  p.ayable  in  teaching.  They  were 
allowed  fifteen  years  to  complete  the  payment.  The 
school  steadil}'  prospered  and  gained  a  reputation 
that  attracted  students  from  far  and  near.  Father 
Beaudoin  saw  that  it  was  bound  to  outgrow  its 
present  proportions  and  tliought  it  would  be  best 
for  the  interests  of  the  school  to  call  for  another 
priest,  who  would  take  charge  of  it  and  enlarge  it 
so  as  to  supply  tlie  demand.  In  answer  to  his  ap- 
peal .Joliette  sent  Rev.  Tiiomas  Roy,  C.  S.  V.,  and 
Brother  Guay.  With  their  arrival  dawned  a  new 
era. 

It  might  be  proper  to  say  at  this  point  that  of 
the  tlirec  teachers  who  first  came  two  survive: 
Father  Beaudoin,  who  is  pastor  of  Maternity 
Church  and  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and 
Brother  A.  Martel,  wlio  is  now  Director  of  the 
prosperous  Viatorian  Academy-  at  St.  Tiraothee, 
Canada.  Brother  Bernard  died  on  the  24th  of 
August,  181(0,  after  a  long  and  devoted  career  as 
Treasurer  of  St.  Viateur's  College. 

Rev.  Thomas  Roj',  C.  S.  V.,  arrived  in  Bour- 
bonnais  in  August,  1868.  At  the  beginning  of 
the  September  session  he  inaugurated  tlie  classical 
course,  he  himself  teaching  the  Latin  rudiments 
to  a  large  class,  among  whom  were  the  now  Rev. 
Fathers  J.  Lesage,  A.  Bergeron  and  G.  Legris; 
Drs.  F.  R.  Marcotte  and  V.  Bergeron;  Messrs.  F. 
St.  Pierre  and  George  Letonrneau,  Jr.  Under  the 
enlightened  direction  of  Father  R03',  who  pos- 
sessed the  manl}'  qualities  of  the  builders  of 
great  institutions,  ever^-tiiing  went  well  with  the 
school,  lie  was  the  true  type  of  a  pioneer — hard3', 
genial,  indefatigable,  constant  and  shrewd.  He 
consequently  won  not   onl}'  the  good- will  of  the 


people  but  also  their  substantial  aid  in  the  real- 
izing of  the  purpose  for  which  the}'  had  come, 
namely,  the  building  of  the  college  that  would 
make  Bourbonnais  the  resort  of  science  seekers 
and  the  Alma  Mater  of  able  men  in  all  walks  of 
life.  In  the  winter  of  1869,  in  answer  to  an 
api)eal  made  to  the  congregation  at  Bourbonnais, 
all  the  stone  necessary  for  a  new  building  was 
hauled  in  one  d.iy  b^'  the  ready  and  willing 
farmers,  who  were  naturally  anxious  to  see  in 
their  own  parisli  a  school  in  which  their  boys 
could  learn  to  cope  with  the  liberally  educated 
graduates  of  other  universities.  The  long  roll 
of  Bourbonnais  boys  now  professional  men,  priests, 
law.yers,  physicians,  teachers  and  business  men,  is 
ample  evidence  that  the  hopes  of  those  willing 
and  intelligent  helpers  liave  been  realized. 

In  the  spring  of  the  following  year  no  time 
was  lost  in  raising  the  walls  of  the  new  college. 
Operations  began  on  the  3d  of  April.  The  build- 
ing was  50x30  feet  in  dimensions  and  three  stories 
in  height.  Shortly  afterward  their  space  was 
doubled  in  capacity'  in  order  to  supply  the  de- 
mand for  more  room.  In  1874  a  French  roof 
was  put  on  the  building,  in  which  were  located 
the  two  tine  senior  and  junior  dormitories  which 
are  now  in  use.  In  the  same  3  ear  Rev.  Fatlier 
Beaudoin,  with  the  assistance  of  Rev.  Father  Fan- 
ning and  Hon.  M.  C.  Quinn,  of  Peoria,  obtained 
from  the  Illinois  Legislature  a  university  charter 
for  the  college.  Many  improvements,  such  as 
water  works,  steam-heating  apparatus,  etc.,  were 
also  introduced,  which  gave  to  the  college  more 
comfort  and  attractiveness. 

During  these  years  Father  Roy  and  the  able  as- 
sociates he  had  called  to  his  assistance  toiled  on 
incessantl}'  and  succeeded  in  establishing  for  St. 
Viateur's  the  excellent  reputation  it  has  ever  since 
enj03'ed  as  one  of  the  leading  educational  insti- 
tutions in  the  West.  Among  his  worthy  assistants 
were  the  Rev.  M.  J.  Marsile,  C.  S.  V.,  present 
President  of  the  University;  Rev.  Anthony  Main- 
ville,  C.  S.  v.,  for  many  3'ears  Prefect  of  studies, 
and  Brother  J.  B.  Bernard,  C.  S.  V.,  Treasurer  of 
the  college  until  his  death,  in  August,  1890.  It 
was  at  the  cost  of  most  ceaseless  toil,  of  personal 
sacrifices  and   constant    vigilance   on  the  part  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOOnAPinCAL  RECORD. 


227 


these  devoted  men  that  the  institution  (louiisheil 
and  made  itself  deservedly  popular  far  and  near. 
The  result  of  these  long  years  of  labor  and  hard- 
ship began  to  tell  upon  the  robust  constitution 
of  the  tireless  Father  Hoy,  and  he  finally  found 
himself  incapable  of  sewing  any  longer  the  insti- 
tution he  had  fashioned  with  his  own  hands,  and 
in  which  his  whole  heart  and  soul  were  wrapt. 
15eing  recalled  to  Joliette,  Canada,  he  with  tears 
stole  away  from  the  students  to  whom  lie  had  en- 
deared himself  and  the  college  he  had  loved  so 
well.  The  students  accompanied  him  to  the  sta- 
tion and  there  bade  that  most  devoted  Father  a 
last  farewell.  It  had  been  hoped  that  a  much 
needed  rest  and  the  air  of  his  own  native  coun- 
try would  restore  his  waning  health,  but  Father 
Roy  never  recovered  and  died  at  Joliette,  Can- 
ada, .luly  10,  1879.  The  memory  of  one  who  had 
devoted  his  life's  best  energies  to  the  education  of 
youth  was  not  forgotten  by  those  who  had  enjoyed 
the  benefits  of  his  direction.  The  old  students 
took  stefis  in  1888  for  the  erection  of  a  monument 
to  the  memory  of  Father  Roy.  It  was  thought  by 
the  majority  of  those  who  met  inChicago  for  that 
purpose  that  a  chaiiel  built  in  his  honor  would 
be  the  most  suitable  offering  that  could  be  made, 
and  steps  were  taken  133-  a  comntittee  to  arrange  a 
meeting  of  the  old  students  and  unfold  the  plan 
to  them.  Pursuant  to  their  request,  a  large  num- 
ber of  the  former  students  assembled  in  the  college 
ball  June  2."),  1888,  and  a  regular  alumni  associa- 
tion was  formed.  Subscriptions  were  paid  up  bj- 
members  and  a  sufficient  amount  was  secured 
to  enable  the  faculty  to  begin  work  on  the  new 
building.  In  March,  1889,  the  ground  was  first 
broken,  and  some  months  later  work  was  begun 
on  the  cha|)el,  which  will  stand  as  a  monument 
to  Father  Roy's  zeal  in  the  work  of  educati(m  and 
as  a  worthy  tribute  of  love  from  his  former  pupils. 
Rev.  M.  J.  Marsile,C.  .S.  Y.,  succeeded  Father  R03' 
as  President  of  the  college  in  1879,  and  it  is  but 
justice  to  say  that  he  has  proved  in  every  wa}' 
a  worthy  successor  to  the  lamented  first  Pi'esident 
of  the  college.  The  rapid  growth  of  the  institu- 
tion and  the  prominent  place  it  holds  among  the 
best  colleges  of  the  State  amply  prove  the  good 
leadership   and    management   of  Father   Marsile. 


lie  is  a  native  of  Longueuil,  near  .Muiilrf:il,  uhcrc 
his  birth  occuried  in  184G.  He  was  educated  in 
the  community  of  St.  Viateur's,  where  he  pursued 
both  a  literary  and  theological  course,  finishing 
these  latter  studies  at  St.  Viateur's  College,  in 
liourbonnais,  under  the  first  President.  He  was 
ordained  in  1875,  .and  occupied  for  many  years 
the  chair  of  French  literature  and  was  also  in- 
structor i.i  moral  philosoph}-.  He  is  a  man  of  su- 
perior culture  and  acknowledged  literary  ability, 
having  been  for  a  long  period  a  contributor  to 
the  best  magazines  of  Canada.  In  1890  Rev. 
Father  Marsile  published  a  volume  of  poems,  en- 
titled '-Eijines  et  Fleurs,"  which  has  been  very 
favorably  received  for  its  literar}'  merit  and  po- 
etic beavity. 

As  has  been  noted  before,  that  of  the  three  j'oung 
men  who  in  1865  laid  the  foundation  up(m  which 
has  been  erected  St.  V^iateur's  College  of  to-da^', 
but  two  are  still  living,  and  onl\'  one  remains 
upon  the  spot  where  the  college  was  planted 
twenty-seven  years  ago.  This  is  the  Very  Rev. 
Peter  Ueaudoin,  R.  D.,  President  of  the  College 
Board  of  Trustees  and  pastor  of  the  church  of 
Notre  Dame  at  P.ourbonnais,  in  the  Chicago  Dio- 
cese. Rev.  Father  Beaudoin  was  born  near  Mon- 
treal, Canada,  in  the  parish  of  St.  Paul  and  diocese 
of  Montreal,  on  the  28th  of  August,  1833.  He  was 
educated  at  Joliette  College,  in  that  diocese,  where 
he  was  graduated  in  1856.  He  finished  his  theo- 
logical studies  in  1861,  and  on  the  25th  of  Au- 
gust of  that  year  was  ordained.  Previous  to  com- 
ing to  Bourbonnais  he  was  pastor  of  St.  Andrew's 
Parish,  in  the  ]\Iontreal  Diocese.  His  appointment 
at  Bourbonnais  dates  from  September  6,  1865.  To 
the  faithful  labors  of  the  Rev.  Father  Beaudoin, 
to  his  earnest  and  unflagging  zeal  in  its  behalf, 
will  St.  A'iateur's  College  at  Bourbonnais  ever  be 
indebted. 

The  faculty-  of  the  college  is  as  follows:  Rev. 
M.  J.  Marsile,  C.S.V.,  President;  Rev.  E.  L.  Rivard, 
C.S.V.,  Vice-president,  Prefect  of  Studies  and  Pro- 
fessor of  Philosophy ;  Rev.  J.  Labi-rge,  D.D.,  Profess- 
or of  Theology;  Rev.  J.  Daley,  Professor  of  Latin 
and  Mathematics;  Rev.  G.  Leg'is,  A.M., Professor  of 
Philosophy  of  History;  Rev.  J.  J.  Cregan,  C.  S.  V., 
Assistant  Prefect  of  Studies  and  Professor  of  Book- 


228 


POETEAIT  AND  BIOGRArHICAL  RECORD, 


keeping  and  Arithmetic;  Rev.  Z.  Huot,  Professor 
of  Belles-lettres;  Rev.  L.  A.  Senecal,C.  S.  V.,Tieas- 
urei;  Rev.  A.  D.  Mainville,  C.  S.  V.,  Assistant 
Treasurer;  Rev.  J.  F.  Ryan,  C.  S.  V.,  Prefect  of 
Discipline  and  Professor  of  Greek;  Rev.  T.  J.  Mc- 
Cormick,  C.  S.  V.,  Professor  of  Rhetoric,  Latin 
and  Civil  Government;  Rev.  G.  Williams,  C.  S.  V., 
Prefect  of  Discipline  and  Professor  of  Stenog- 
raph^'  and  Typewriting;  Rev.  J.  Leclair,  C.  S.  V., 
Assistant  Prefect  of  Discipline;  E.  W.  Griffitli, 
Professor  of  Elocution;  C.  F.  Morrell,  M.  D.,  Pro- 
fessor of  Sciences  and  Mathematics  and  Attend- 
ing Physician ;  P.  Williams,  Professor  of  Piano  and 
Vocal  Music;  G.  Martineau,  Professor  of  Violin; 
R.  F.  Flynn,  Professor  of  Bookkeeping  and  Pen- 
manship, and  Curator  of  Museum;  W.  H.  Thorne, 
editor  of  ''Globe  Quarterly  Review"  and  Professsor 
of  Higher  Criticism;  T.  McDevitt,  Assistant  Pre- 
fect of  Discipline  and  Professor  of  History;  A. 
Leising,  Professor  of  German;  J.  Kelley,  Assist- 
ant Prefect  of  Discipline;  F.  Moody,  Military  In- 
structor; and  A.  Lesage,  Leader  of  Band.  The 
Board  of  Trustees  of  St.  Viateur's  College  are  the 
Very  Rev.  P.  Beaudoin,  C.  S.  V.,  President;  Very 
Rev.  C.  Fournier,  C.  S.  V.,  Vice-president;  Rev. 
L.  A.  .Senecal,  C.  S.  V.,  Treasurer;  and  Rev.  J.J. 
Cregan,  C.  S.  V.,  Secretary. 


-j^.4..^.}.,.^?ii:^,.}.4..j.4., 


REDERICK  LEUTLOFF  carries  on  general 
farming  and  stock-raising  on  section  36, 
Aroma  Township,  where  he  has  resided  for 
the  long  period  of  twenty-eight  j-ears.  He  first 
purchased  only  fifty  acres  of  land,  and  this  was  but 
partiall}'  improved,  but  with  characteristic  energy 
he  began  its  development,  and  soon  acre  after 
acre  was  placed  under  the  plow,  and  in  course  of 
time  yielded  to  him  abundant  harvests.  He  has 
since  added  to  his  farm  by  additional  purchases, 
until  now  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  valu- 
able farm  land  }ields  a  golden  tribute  in  return 
for  the  care  and  labor  he  bestows  upon  it. 

The  life  record   of  Mr.    Leutloff  is    as    follows: 


He  was  born  in  Saxe-Weimar,  Germany,  on  the  28th 
of  January,  1830,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of  five 
children.  The  parents,  AVilliam  and  Annie  Leut- 
loff, were  also  natives  of  the  same  country.  In 
accordance  with  the  laws  of  his  native  land, 
Frederick  attended  the  public  schools  of  Germany 
until  fourteen  years  of  age.  He  remained  in  that 
country  until  1851,  when,  having  attained  his 
majority,  he  determined  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the 
New  World,  and  took  passage  in  a  sailing-vessel, 
which,  crossing  the  broad  Atlantic,  dropped 
anchor  in  the  harbor  of  New  York. 

Mr.    Leutloff  did    not  tarry  long  in  the  Eastern 
metropolis,  but  went  at  once  to   Cumberland,  Md.,] 
and    worked    on    the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad 
during  the  succeeding  summer.     He  then   went  to  1 
Blue  Island,  111.,  and  secured  a  position  on  the  Rock] 
Island  Railroad,  working  thus  during    the    winter' 
season.     During  the  following  summer  he  worked] 
on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and   in  1854  he| 
came  to  Kamkakee  County,  111.     In  order  to  pro- 
vide for  his  support,  he  secured  employment  as  al 
farm  hand  in  Yellowhead    Township,  working   by] 
the    month,   and    thus  passed  the  two  succeedingl 
years  of  his  life.     The  first  year  he    got    $10    per] 
month,   and    the   second   yeav  his  wages  were  in- 
creased by  $1  additional  each  month.     Mr.  Leut-' 
loff  then  came  to  Kankakee,  where   he    worked    in 
the  employ  of    others    until    1862,  when  he   com- 
menced farming  for  himself.     He  rented  land  fori 
four  3'ears,  and   then  made  the  purchase  which  we 
have  before  mentioned. 

In  1857,  Mr.  Leutloff  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Catherine  Biland,  and  their  union  has 
been  blessed  with  a  family  of  five  children,  two  sons 
and  three  daughters,  namel^^:  Amos,  Louisa^ 
Emma,  John  and  Rose. 

In  politics,  our  subject  is  a  Republican,  having 
voted  with  that  part}-  since  he  came  to  this  coun- 
try. Religiously,  he  is  a  member  of  the  German 
Lutheran  Church.  It  was  a  fortunate  day  for  our 
subject  when  he  decided  to  leave  his  native  land 
and  emigrate  to  the  New  World.  In  the  earlier 
3'cars  he  had  difliculties  to  meet  and  obstacles  to 
overcome,  but,  considered  as  a  whole,  his  career 
has  been  a  successful  one,  and  he  has  here  found  a 
pleasant  home,  faithful  friends  and  prosperity. 


,?  iLLHNOlS 


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PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


233 


t  ^^EORGE 
•  (If  (-— -  iieiit  f.ii 
%^    ing  on  I 


^^EORGE  FALTER,  a  well-known  and  piom- 
farnier  of  Limestone  Township,  resid- 
section  22,  owns  one  of  tlie  excellent 
farms  of  llie  community,  comprising  Uiree  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  valuable  land  under  a 
higli  state  of  cultivation.  The  well-tilled  fieldsand 
neat  appearance  of  the  place  indicate  the  super- 
vision of  a  careful  manager.  He  has  good  build- 
ings and  all  the  accessories  of  a  model  farm,  and 
his  home  is  a  beautiful  residence,  pleasantly  situ- 
ated ai>out  six  miles  from  the  cit}"  of  Kankakee 
and  located  on  tlie  bank  of  the  Kankakee    River. 

jNIr.  Falter  was  born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt,  Ger- 
many, on  the  23d  of  February,  1845.  His  father, 
Louis  Falter,  was  also  a  native  of  that  locality. 
He  married  Gertrude  Luckliaupt  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four 
daughters,  of  whom  our  subject  is  fifth  in  order  of 
birth.  In  1818,  Louis  Falter  bade  good-bj'c  to  his 
old  home  and,  accompanied  by  his  famil}-,  crossed 
the  broad  Atlantic  to  America.  He  first  located  on  a 
farm  near  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  un- 
til 1865,  wlien  he  removed  to  Will  County,  111. 

AVe  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  the 
gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  record.  He  was 
a  child  of  but  two  j^ears  when  his  parents  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States,  and  upon  his  father's 
f.nrm  near  the  capital  city  of  Ohio  the  greater 
part  of  his  youthful  da3s  were  passed.  The  com- 
mon schools  of  the  neighborhood  afforded  him 
his  educational  privileges.  He  attended  school 
througli  the  winter  season  and  in  tlic  summer 
months  worked  at  home  upon  the  farm.  He  came 
with  his  parents  to  Illinois  when  twenty  years  of 
age,  and  on  attaining  his  majf)rity  he  left  the 
parental  roof  and  started  out  in  life  for  himself 
without  a  dollar  in  his  pockets.  He  immediately 
secured  emi)lo3ment  upon  a  farm,  where  he  re- 
mained for  about  a  j'ear,  when  he  rented  land  and 
embarked  in  farming  for  himself.  That  tract  he 
operated  for  a  period  of  thirteen  years, after  which 
he  purchased  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  in 
Limestone  Township,  tlien  comprising  two  hundred 
acres  of  land,  only  jjartially  imi)roved.  He  im- 
mediatel^'  began  its  further  development  and  now 
has  one  of  the  (inest  farms  in  this  locality. 

On  the  6th  of  January,   1867,  Mr.  Falter    wed- 

11 


ded  Miss  Mary  Ileil,  who  was  born  February  23, 
1847,  and  is  of  German  extraction.  By  their 
union  they  have  become  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren, five  sons  and  two  daughters,  and  the  family 
circle  yet  remains  unbroken,  although  Charles,  the 
eldest,  has  now  left  the  parental  roof.  The  latter, 
who  is  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Limestone  Township, 
was  born  September  14,  1867,  and  married  Miss 
Nettie  Lashuay  December  31,  1891,  and  they  have 
one  little  daughter,  Lora  Geneva;  Michael,  born 
September  23,  1868,  was  married  .January  18, 
1893,  to  Miss  Cora  E.  Bratton,  a  native  of  Illinois. 
They  were  married  by  the  Rev.  B.  F.  Eckley, 
pastor  of  the  Trinil}-  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Fully  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  guests  assem- 
bled at  the  hospitable  home  of  the  bride's  parents, 
and  beautiful  and  costly  presents  and  souvenirs 
were  presented  to  the  happy  couple.  The  younger 
children,  all  of  whom  are  yet  at  home,  are  as  fol- 
lows: George,  born  March  :il,  1870;  Anna,  February 
8,  1873;  Albert,  February  13,  1875;  Frank,  October 
29,1877;  and  Flora,  August  2, 1881.  Thechildren 
were  all  provided  with  guod  educational  advan- 
tages, such  as  would  fit  them  for  the  pr.actical 
duties  of  life. 

Mr.  Falter  and  family  are  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutiieran  Church  of  Kankakee.  In  his  polit- 
ical views  he  is  a  stanch  Democrat  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  politics,  doing  all  in  his  power 
for  the  growth  and  success  of  Democracy.  He  has 
held  the  olfice  of  School  Director  in  the  district  for 
nine  A'ears.  For  his  success  in  life,  he  certainly 
deserves  great  credit,  .as  it  is  entirely  the  result 
of  his  own  efforts,  and  the  prosperity  which  has 
crowned  his  labors  is  justl}-  deserved. 


"tS^^" 


■^  ACOB  B.  BALLY,  proprietor  of  the  lead- 
ing hotel  in  Bonfield,  is  a  native  of  the  Key- 
stone State.  He  was  born  September  28, 
1830,  in  Lancaster  County,  and  is  the  son 
of  Yost  and  Elizabeth  (Barr)  Ball^-.  His  parents 
were  both  natives  of  Germany.  The  mother  was 
born  in  that  country  December  16.  180().     The  fa- 


234 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ther  was  born  in  Bavaria  March  25,  1795,  and 
spent  tlie  days  of  liis  boyhood  and  youth  in  his 
native  land,  where  he  received  a  good  education, 
and  learned  the  trade  of  a  tailor.  In  1828  he 
came  to  America.  He  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  a 
sailing-vessel,  which,  after  a  voyage  of  forty-two 
days,  dropped  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  New  York. 
Mr.  Balh'  first  located  in  Lancaster  County,  Pa. 
He  was  a  poor  German  in  a  strange  land,  without 
capital,  but  he  determined  to  here  win  a  home  for 
himself.  In  1831,  he  removed  to  Ashland  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  purchased  a  small  farm,  and  througli- 
out  the  remainder  of  his  life  he  followed  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  The  year  1814  witnessed  his  ar- 
rival in  Woodford  County,  III.,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  daj'S.  His  death  occurred  Febru- 
ary 4,  1878.  The  mother  of  our  subject  survived 
him  about  five  years,  and  passed  awa}'  in  Living- 
ston County,  111.,  in  August,  1882. 

Jacob  B.  Bally,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
acquired  a  good  education  in  the  public  schools 
and  remained  at  home  until  twent3--five  years  of 
age,  when  he  left  the  parental  roof  and  started  out 
in  life  for  himself.  He  had  no  capital,  and  for  sev- 
eral 3'ears  rented  a  farm.  As  a  companion  and  help- 
meet on  life's  journey  he  chose  Miss  Catherine 
Verkler,  their  union  being  celebrated  on  the  10th 
of  March,  .1861.  The  lady  was  born  October  6, 
1838,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Jacobena 
(Engle)  Verkler,  of  Woodford  County,  III.  The 
parents  were  both  natives  of  France,  the  father 
born  in  1808,  and  the  mother  in  1814.  They  were 
married  in  1834,  in  Peoria  County,  III.,  where  the 
father  worked  for  a  short  time.  He  then  went  to 
Woodford  Count}-,  and,  purchasing  a  farm,  carried 
on  agricultural  pursuits  throughout  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  He  was  a  successful  and  prosperous 
farmer.  His  wife  died  in  Livingston  County, 
111.,  in  August,  1886,  and  two  weeks  from  the  day 
of  her  death,  Mr.  Verkler  was  called  to  the  home 
beyond. 

Five  children  were  born  of  the  union  of  our 
subject  and  his  wife,  one  son  and  four  daughters: 
Emma  H.,the  eldest,  was  born  September  11,  1864, 
and  married  George  Henry,  who  is  now  engaged 
in  carpentering  in  Kankakee;  Ida  May,  born  Jan- 
uary 13,  1865,  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Henry,  also 


a  carpenter  of  Kankakee;  Minnie  L.,  born  March 
26,  1868,  now  the  wife  of  Fred  F.  Hertz,  resides 
in  Chicago;  Frederick  R.,  born  March  29,  1871, 
and  Louisa  Caroline,  born  October  17,  1874,  are 
still  at  home.  Louisa  is  a  teacher  of  recognized 
ability  in  the  public  schools  of  this  count}'. 

Mr.  Bally  has  been  a  resident  of'  Kankakee 
County  since  1879.  On  locating  here  he  purchased 
a  farm,  which  he  operated  for  three  years.  On  the 
expiration  of  that  period  he  came  to  Bonfield  and 
embarked  in  his  present  business.  However,  he 
still  retains  the  ownership  of  a  farm  in  Salina 
Township.  He  owns  a  good  hotel,  keeps  every- 
thing in  first-class  order  and  is  a  popular  landlord, 
his  house  having  found  favor  with  the  traveling 
public.  His  career  has  been  a  successful  one,  ow- 
ing to  his  industrious  and  well-directed  efforts. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Bally  is  a  Republican. 
He  has  never  been  an  office-seeker,  however,  pre- 
ferring to  devote  his  entire  time  and  attention  to 
his  business  interests.  Himself  and  family  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  are  highly 
respected  people,  who  hold  an  enviable  position  in 
social  circles.  Mr.  Bally  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  valued  citizens  of  the  communit}'  in  which  he 
makes  his  home,  for  he  takes  an  active  interest  in 
all  that  pertains  to  its  welfare  and  improvement. 


'*y(  AMES  LILLIE,  contractor  and  builder,  man- 
ufacturer of  and  dealer  in  lumber,  and  a 
resident  of  Kankakee  since   1878,  also  the 

f^J  builder  of  the  Eastern  Illinois  Hospital  for 
the  Ins.ane  and  many  of  the  most  important  busi- 
ness blocks  in  Kankakee,  was  born  in  Berwickshire, 
on  the  Tweed,  Scotland,  May  16,  1835,  and  is  a  son 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Hume)  Lillie.  His  parents 
and  their  ancestors  were  natives  of  the  same  region 
of  "Scotland  as  our  subject. 

.James  Lillie  attended  school  in  his  native  town, 
and  when  seventeen  years  of  age  he  determined  to 
come  to  America.  His  father  gave  him  $50,  with 
which  he  set  out  for  the  New  World  to  seek  his 
fortune.     Arriving  in  this  country  in  1850,  he  lo- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIUC.U.   RECORD. 


235 


cated  at  Ft.  Wayne,  Ind.,  wliere  he  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  three  years  to  the  carpenter's  trade, 
at  the  munilicent  sahiry  of  ^50  per  year.  After 
completing  his  time  lie  worked  one  year  as  a 
journeyman  carpenter,  and  then  went  to  Kansas 
in  1854.  He  there  became  associated  witli  .John 
Hrown,  the  great  anti-slavery  agitator,  and  was 
witli  him  at  Lawrence  and  otlier  i)laces  in  his  con- 
tests with  the  jMissouri  border  rutHnns,  so  called, 
who  wore  trying  to  establish  slavery  in  Kansas. 
Mr.  Liilie  was  associated  with  .lohn  l>rown  tlirough 
1854,  1855  and  1856;  at  the  same  time  he  was  con- 
tracting and  building  in  Lawrence  and  Leaven- 
worth. Beginning  in  a  small  wa\'  in  1854,  he  con- 
tinued for  about  five  years,  increasing  his  business 
as  circumstances  permitted.  In  1859,  about  the 
time  John  Brown  made  his  fatal  raid  on  the  Har- 
per Ferr^'  arsenal,  Mr.  Liilie  returned  to  Ft. 
Wayne,  Ind.,  where  he  began  the  manufacture  of 
brick,  and  also  dealt  in  general  building  materials. 
He  was  also  extensively  engaged  in  contracting 
and  building,  and  carried  on  a  successful  business 
there  for  twenty-six  j'ears. 

In  the  spring  of  1878  our  subject  came  to  Kan- 
kakee and  took  a  contract  from  the  .State  for  build- 
ing the  Eastern  Illinois  Hospital  for  the  Insane. 
Beginning  in  April  of  that  3-ear,  JNIr.  Liilie  has  had 
the  contracts  as  appropriations  have  been  made 
for  the  purpose  by  the  State  Legislature,  aggre- 
gating up  to  this  time  (December,  1892)  81,500,000. 
At  present  he  is  working  under  contracts  amount- 
ing to  *140,000.  This  hospital  for  the  insane  is  the 
largest,  except  one,  in  the  United  States,  and  has 
accommodations  for  twenty-one  hundred  patients. 
(.See  history  of  the  institution.)  In  addition  to 
the  building  of  the  hospital  Mr.  Liilie  has  erected 
many  of  the  finest  business  buildings  and  resi- 
dences in  the  city  of  Kankakee,  including  the  Ar- 
cade. 

On  the  21st  of  November,  1859,  Mr.  Liilie  was 
united  in  marriage  at  Ft.  Wayne,  Ind.,  with  Miss 
•Julia  Fink,  a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Elizabeth 
Fink,  and  a  native  of  that  cit}'.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Liilie  have  four  living  children:  Minnie,  the  eld- 
est, is  the  wife  of  A.  H.  Butts,  of  Eseanaba,  Mich. 
P^dith  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Mattur,  of  this  city. 
Arthur  H.  is  a  student  at  Ft.  Wayne.    The  young- 


est, James  Oarfield,  now  at  school  in  Indiana,  was 
born  on  the  da3-  of  President  Garfield's  death. 

Mr.  Liilie  is  a  member  of  Ft.  Wa3nc  I^odge  No. 
14,  I.  O.  O.  F.  In  additicm  to  his  regular  con- 
tracting business  he  is  largel}'  interested  in  lumber- 
ing in  northern  Michigan,  having  a  sawmill  and 
lumber  yards  at  Talbot  and  Eseanaba.  At  the  lat- 
ter place  he  constructed  an  electric  street  railway 
system  in  1890. 

Politically,  he  was  a  stanch  Kepublican  till  1884. 
since  which  time  he  has  been  a  suppoiter  of  the 
Democrac}',  though  he  has  never  been  a  strong  par- 
tisan, seldom  ever  voting  a  straight  ticket.  Mrs. 
Liilie  and  all  the  children  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church. 


-^ 


-H — 


ILES  S.  TAYLOR  is  one  of  the  representa- 
tive and  well-to-do  farmers  of  Kankakee 
County,  and  also  one  of  its  early  settlers. 
He  resides  on  section  1,  Pilot  Township. 
A  native  of  New  Jersey,  he  w.as  l)orn  in  Atlantic 
County  March  20,  1829.  His  father,  Henry  Tay- 
lor, was  born  m  the  Empire  State  and  was  reared  at 
Saratoga  .Springs.  He  there  married  Hannah  Gid- 
Ie3',  daughter  of  Gasper  1\L  Gidley.  After  their 
marriage  they  removed  to  New  York  City,  thence 
to  Atlantic  County,  N.  J.,  where  Mr.  Taylor  worked 
at  his  trade  of  sliip-carpentering.  He  there  re- 
sided until  after  the  death  of  his  wife,  when  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  spent  the  last  ^-ears  of  his  life 
with  his  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  lie  was 
called  to  the  eternal  home  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eight3-six3-ears.  Ilighlv  respected  wherever  known, 
his  death  proved  a  loss  to  the  community  in  which 
he  lived. 

Miles  Ta3'lor  spent  his  boyhood  da3-s  in  the 
county'  of  his  nativity.  His  time  was  passed  in 
farm  work  or  as  a  sailor  upon  the  seas.  He  was 
for  three  3-ears  upon  the  water  ere  he  came  to  the 
AVest.  When  a  3'oung  man  he  removed  to  Miami 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  worked  at  the  cooper's  trade 
for  three  years,  after  which  he  came  to  Illinois. 
He    traveled    through   the   southern    and    central 


236 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


parts  of  the  State  in  search  of  a  location  an3  then 
took  up  his  residence  in  Kankalvce  Couut3'.  This 
was  about  185,5.  Tiie  county  was  tlien  an  almost 
unbroken  wilderness,  the  settlements  being  few, 
while  many  of  the  now  thriving  villages  had  not 
then  sprung  into  existence.  Mr.  Taylor  spent  five 
years  in  the  city  of  Kankakee,  which,  however, 
was  then  but  a  village,  containing  only  a  few 
houses,  and  devoted  his  energy  to  the  carpenter's 
trade. 

Ou  the  31st  of  January,  1860,  in  this  county, 
Mr.  Taylor  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Selinah  .J.  Bratton,  who  was  born  on  the  18th 
of  September,  1836,  in  Daviess  County,  Ind., 
near  Washington,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  L. 
Bratton,  who  died  when  his  daughter  was  only 
five  years  of  age.  The  young  couple  began  their 
domestic  life  upon  a  rented  farm  in  Bourbonnais 
Township,  which  our  subject  operated  for  four 
years.  He  then  rented  other  land  but  subsequently 
purchased  an  improved  farm  in  the  township  of 
Salina,  comprising  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres. 
There  he  made  his  home  for  the  long  period  of 
twenty-three  years.  It  was  in  1881  that  he  re- 
moved to  his  present  place  of  residence,  since 
which  he  has  sold  the  old  homestead.  He  now 
has  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-six 
acres  of  valuable  land,  which  is  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation  and  well  ira|)roved.  He  has  remod- 
eled the  home,  built  a  barn  and  outbuildings, 
and  otherwise  added  to  the  improvements  of  the 
place,  until  it  is  now  one  of  the  best  in  the  town- 
ship. There  is  also  a  fine  large  orchard.  In  fact, 
none  of  the  accessories  of  a  model  farm  are  want- 
ing, the  place  being  complete  in  all  its  appoint- 
ments. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  had  a  family  of  eleven 
children,  one  deceased,  .lulius  S.,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  thirteen  and  is  interred  in  the  Salina  ceme- 
tery; Eli  IL,  the  eldest,  is  a  farmer  in  McLean 
County;  Selinah  E.,  a  widow,  is  a  resident  of  this 
county;  John  L.  is  engaged  in  farming  with  his 
father;  Carrie  A.,  William  H.,  Eva  J.,  Jliles  S., 
Luther  B.,  Elmer  N.,  and  Bayard  E.,  the  youngest, 
are  still  under  the  parental  roof.  The  children 
have  all  received  good  educational  advantages, 
and  Miles  is  now  a  student  in  the  Onarga  Institute. 


The  family  is  widely  and  favorably  known  in  the 
community  and  its  members  rank  high  in  social 
circles.  Mr.  Taylor  exercises  his  right  of  franchise 
in  support  of  the  Republican  party,  with  which 
he  has  been  identified  since  its  organization  in 
1856,  casting  his  first  vote  for  Gen.  Fremont.  We 
see  in  our  subject  a  self-made  man,  who  began  life 
empty-handed,  but  by  his  industry,  enterprise  and 
good  management  he  has  accumulated  a  valuable 
property  and  is  now  recognized  as  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  the  community.  His  success 
is  well  deserved,  for  in  all  his  business  dealings  he 
has  pursued  a  uniformly  upright  and  honorable 
course. 


':--^- 


g^(  EDY  FREDERICK  BACHANT,  dealer  in 
all  kinds  of  agricultural  implements  and 
^  buggies  at  Nos.  74-76  East  Avenue,  Kan- 
kakee, is  a  native  of  Canada,  and  of 
French  descent.  He  was  born  in  the  parish  of  St. 
Hyacinthe,  Province  of  (Quebec,  on  the  7th  of 
March,  1843,  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Josephine 
(Chartier)  Bachant,  who  were  also  natives  of  Can- 
ada, and  of  French  extraction.  They  emigrated 
from  their  native  land  to  Illinois  in  1854,  and 
reached  Bourbonnais  Grove,  Kankakee  County,  in 
September  of  that  3'ear,  coming  from  Chicago  on 
the  first  train  on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
that  reached  Kankakee.  They  settled  in  Bour- 
bonnais Township  on  a  farm,  where  the  father 
and  husband  died  in  October,  1855.  The  follow- 
ing spring  the  mother  moved  to  Kankakee,  the 
better  to  educate  her  children.  Her  death  occurred 
in  July,  1884. 

Medy  F.  Bachant  attended  school  and  worked 
at  fanning  until  1863,  when  he  engaged  in  his 
present  business  in  company  with  Edwin  Kittell. 
That  connection  was  continued  until  the  fall  of 
1882,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent 
and  the  business  has  since  been  conducted  by  Mr. 
Bachant  with  marked  success,  notwithstanding 
that  he  sustained  a  loss  of  about  -^5,000  on  the  1st 
of  May,  1887,  by  being  burned  out.     Immediately 


\ 


0,' 


f'^^^mmy  of  Illinois 


^>V-.., 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


23? 


after  the  fire  he  opened  up  in  temporary  quarters, 
where  he  carried  on  business  until  new  buildings 
were  erected  on  his  old  stand,  when  he  resumed  ( 
trade  there.  ]\Ir.  Bachant  carries  a  full  line  of 
goods,  and  having  had  a  long  experience  is  en- 
abled to  meet  the  wants  of  his  customers  with  the 
best  and  most  improved  farm  tools  and  machinery, 
and  has  built  up  an  extensive  trade. 

On  the  nth  of  June,  1864,  Mr.  Bachant  was 
married  in  Springfield,  111.,  to  Miss  Mary  A. 
Caron,  daughter  of  Bernard  Caron.  She  was  born 
on  tiie  Isle  of  Quebec,  Canada,  and  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1856.  Four  children  were  born 
of  this  union,  three  sons  and  a  daughter.  Emma, 
the  only  daughter,  is  now  the  wife  of  Louis 
Lecour,  a  merchant  of  this  city;  George  died  at 
the  age  of  eight  years;  the  other  two  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Mr.  Bachant  and  family  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  he  having  been  Treasurer  ever 
since  the  society  was  organized.  He  uses  his  right 
of  franchise  in  favor  of  the  Republican  party,  but 
has  never  sought  public  office.  He  is  a  member  of 
Court  Canadian  No.  56,  C.  O.  F.,  of  Kankakee. 


•^^ 


^  W.  ALLISON,  M.  D.,a  leading  physician  of 
Essex,  has  been  engaged  in  practice  at  this 
place  for  a  period  of  eleven  consecutive 
_  .years.  He  was  born  on  the  21st  of  Novem- 
ber, 1853,  in  Shelby  County,  Ind.,  and  was  the 
ninth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren, numbering  five  sons  and  eight  daughters. 
His  parents  were  John  and  Elizabeth  (Zeigler)  Al- 
lison. The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  owned  a  large  plan- 
tation there.  John  Allison  was  born  in  that  Slate 
and  spent  his  early  days  at  his  father's  homo  in  the 
Old  Dominion.  When  lie  was  a  young  man  the 
family  emigrated  to  Indiana,  locating  in  Rush 
County.  This  was  in  1822.  At  that  time  Indiana 
was  a  new  country,  and  the3'  became  early  settlers 
of  that  commonwealth.  John  Allison  was  a 
highlj-  educated  man.     He  studied  medicine  when 


young  and  eng.iged  in  the  practice  of  that  profes- 
sion for  a  number  of  years,  but  later  in  life  he  de- 
voted his  energies  to  farming.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Zeigler,  a  native  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  wiio 
survived  until  1880,  her  husband  passing  to  his 
final  rest  in  1881. 

When  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  about  two 
years  of  age  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Illinois, 
where  they  lived  during  the  years  1855-56,  at  the 
expiration  of  which  time  tliey  returned  to  Indiana, 
and  there  remained  until  1861.  In  that  year  they 
removed  to  Decatur  County,  Iowa,  residing  there 
until  1865,  when  they  again  returned  to  Indiana. 
Our  subject  remained  with  his  parents  until  reach- 
ing his  majority,  and  acquired  a  good  education. 
After  completing  his  literary  studies  he  determined 
to  engage  in  the  practice  of  medicine  as  a  life 
work,  and  to  this  end  entered  the  Cincinnati  Col- 
lege of  Medicine  and  Surgery  in  1875.  After  pur- 
suing a  three-years  course  he  was  graduated  from 
that  institution  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.  and  re- 
ceived his  diploma. 

Dr.  Allison  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Forest  Hill,  Ind.,  where  he  remained 
for  a  number  of  years.  The  year  1882  witnessed 
his  arrival  in  Essex,  when  he  immediately  opened 
an  office  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  active 
practice.  He  possesses  excellent  ability,  which, 
combined  with  his  natural  ambition  and  talents, 
has  made  him  one  of  the  foremost  physicians  of 
this  community.  He  is  a  thorough  student  of  his 
profession,  and  keeps  abreast  with  all  of  the  dis- 
coveries and  theories  relating  to  the  science  of 
medicine. 

In  politics,  the  Doctor  is  a  stanch  Democrat, 
warmly  advocating  the  principles  of  that  party. 
In  1890,  he  was  elected  to  represent  the  Sixteenth 
Senatorial  District  in  the  Illinois  Legislature,  and 
on  the  expiration  of  his  term  was  re-nominated, 
but  as  he  was  not  able  to  leave  his  practice  and 
canvass  the  district,  his  o|)i)onent  won  the  election. 
He  is  one  of  the  inoniincnt  politicians  of  this 
county,  and  ably  represented  liis  district  in  the 
House.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  of  the  Knighls  of  Pythias  of  Essex.  His 
rule  has  been  to  do  unto  others  as  he  would  have 
them  do  unto  him,  and  his  honorable,  upright  c«- 


240 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


reer  has  won  liira  liigh  regard  and  universal  con- 
fidence, his  word  being  considered  as  good  as  his 
bond.  He  is  now  enjoying  a  lucrative  practice 
and  lias  a  large  circle  of  friends,  who  esteem  him 
highly. 


eHARLES  GOEPPER,  who  carries  on  general 
fanning  on  section  26,  Limestone  Town- 
ship, was  born  on  the  6th  of  May,  1841,  in 
Kork,  Germany,  and  is  the  eldest  child  in  the  fam- 
ily of  eleven  children,  numbering  five  sons  and 
six  daughters,  whose  parents  were  Charles  and 
Salma  (Soth)  Goepper.  The  father  was  born  in 
Korlc,  Germany,  in  1812,  and  acquired  a  good 
practical  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native 
land.  He  then  learned  tlie  baker's  trade,  which  he 
followed  in  Germany  until  thirty-eight  j'ears  of 
age,  when,  in  1850,  accompanied  by  his  family,  he 
sailed  for  the  United  States.  Immediately  after 
his  arrival  he  located  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and 
there  resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1881,  he  having  reached  the  allotted  age  of  the 
Psalmist,  three-score  years  and  ten.  His  widow, 
who  is  also  a  native  of  Kork,  Germany,  still  makes 
her  home  in  Cincinnati. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  spent  the  first  nine 
years  of  his  life  in  tlie  land  of  his  nativity  and 
then  crossed  the  brinj-  deep  witli  his  parents.  In 
the  public  schools  of  Cincinnati  he  acquired  a 
good  education.  He  remained  at  home  until  nine- 
teen years  of  age,  when  he  bade  good-bye  to  par- 
ents and  friends  and  started  out  to  make  his  own 
way  in  the  world.  His  capital  consisted  of  good 
health,  a  fair  education  and  a  determination  to 
succeed.  His  first  work  was  in  a  hotel  in  Louis- 
-  ville,  Ky.,  where  he  was  employed  as  clerk  for  a 
period  of  seven  j^ears.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
time  he  purcliased  a  half-interest  in  the  hotel  and 
thus  engaged  in  business  for  himself  for  fourteen 
years,  successfully  carrying  on  operations  in  that 
line  until  1881,  when  he  sold  his  liotel  in  the 
South  and  came  to  Kankakee  County,  111. 

Some   years  previous   to  this  Mr.  Goepper  was 
married,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Barbara 


Butz,who  was  a  resident  of  this  county  and  whose 
family  record  will  be  seen  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
Their  union  was  celebrated  on  the  29th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1868,  and  unto  them  has  been  born  one  child, 
a  son,  Albert  G.,  who  was  born  June  30,  1869. 
He  is  still  at  home  witli  his  parents.  He  received 
a  good  education,  his  primary  course  being  sujjple- 
niented  by  stud^y  in  the  commercial  school  of  Kan- 
kakee. 

On  coming  to  this  county,  Mr.  Goepper  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
partially  improved  land  and  has  since  carried  on 
agricultural  pursuits.  He  has  added  eighty  acres 
of  good  land  in  the  same  township,  which  gives 
him  a  total  of  two  hundred  acres.  His  fields  are 
well  tilled  and  yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute  in 
return  for  his  care  and  cultivation.  He  is  classed 
among  the  substantial  farmers  of  the  community, 
and  the  success  that  has  crowned  his  undertakings 
is  but  the  just  reward  of  his  labors.  Politicall}^, 
Mr.  Goepper  is  a  Republican,  having  voted  with 
and  supported  that  party  since  he  cast  his  first  bal- 
lot for  Abraham  Lincoln.  Socially,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  of  Louisville, 
Ky.,  and  he  and  his  famil3-  belong  to  the  Lutheran 
Church.  Mr.  Goepper's  residence  here  is  of  com- 
paratively short  duration,  but  in  the  years  which 
have  elapsed  since  his  arrival  he  has  become  widely 
and  favorably  known  among  the  best  citizens  of 
the  community. 


^i^S 


[U^ON.  THOMAS  PHILIP  BONFIELD  was 
born  in  Canton,  Ohio,  on  the  24th  of  April, 
1827,  and  is  a  son  of  Dr.  Thomas  S.  Bon- 
field,  a  native  of  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  Sarah 
(Troup)  Bonfleld,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania. 
His  father  was  a  well-known  practitioner  of  Can- 
ton, where  our  subject  completed  a  thorough 
course  of  academical  studies.  He  began  to  read 
law  in  1847,  in  the  office  of  Hons.  George  W. 
Belden  and  B.  F.  Loiter,  of  Canton,  Ohio,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  of  that  State  in  Springfield  in. 
1849.     He  commenced    the  practice  of   his  profes- 


I 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


241 


sion  in  tlie  town  of  his  birth,  and  there  remained 
until  iiis  removal  to  Illinois. 

The  11  til  of  August,  1853,  witnessed  his  arrival 
in  Kankakee  County,  which  had  ret-entl}'  been 
formed  and  its  county  seal  established  at  the 
present  city  of  Kankakee.  His  first  place  of  resi- 
dence was  in  tlie  village  of  Bourbonnais,  as  at  that 
time  there  were  no  buildings  in  Kankakee  with 
the  exception  of  a  log  cabin  situated  east  of  the 
site  of  the  Court  House,  and  known  as  the  Bour- 
bonnais House,  and  a  section  house  built  by  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  south  of  Soldier  Creek. 
The  railroad  was  then  only  completed  as  far  as 
Court  Street.  Since  he  came  to  this  county  Mr. 
Bonfield  has  devoted  himself  assiduousl}-  to  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  and  his  success  has  been 
steady  and  marked  by  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
law  and  a  judicious  handling  of  his  casts.  At  the 
fust  term  of  court  held  in  the  old  freight  depot 
in  Xoveinber,  18.')3,  he  was  appointed  Master  in 
Chancery  by  the  Hon.  Hugh  Henderson,  Judge  of 
this  circuit.  In  the  session  of  1854-55  the  Legis- 
lature granted  Kankakee  a  charter  as  a  town,  and 
Mr.  Bonfield  was  elected  President  in  Ajjril,  1855, 
being  the  first  elected  to  that  office  in  Kankakee; 
he  was  subsequently  elected  Ma^'or  of  the  city. 
He  has  also  served  as  County  Superintendent  of 
Schools,  and  in  1876  was  elected  to  the  State  Sen- 
ate on  the  Republican  ticket,  and  served  for  two 
sessions. 

Mr.  Bonfield  has  always  taken  an  active  inter- 
est in  public  improvements;  he  drafted  and  as- 
sisted in  the  passage  of  the  charter  of  the  Kanka- 
kee iV:  Illinois  River  Railroad,  which  is  now  a 
portion  of  the  Indiana.  Illinois  it  Iowa  Railroad; 
also  drafted  the  charter  of  the  Kankakee  it  Indi- 
ana Railroad,  was  one  of  the  Directors  that  built 
the  road,  and  since  its  consolidation  with  the  Cin- 
cincinnati.  La  Fayette  &  Chicago  Railroad  Com- 
pany has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 
He  was  active  in  the  oiganization  of  the  Kankakee 
&  Seneca  Railroad,  and  was  President  of  it  during 
its  construction,  and  has  been  ever  since.  During 
his  service  in  the  State  Senate  the  Legislature  cre- 
ated another  State  Asylum  for  the  Insane.  Mr. 
Bonfield  was  an  active  and  earnest  supporter  of 
that  measure,  rendering  important  services  in  the 


passage  of  the  law  and  securing  the  location  of 
the  institution  at  Kankakee.  It  is  known  as  the 
Illinois  Eastern  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  and  for  a 
sketch  of  it  we  refer  the  reader  to  another  page  of 
this  work.  He  .assisted  in  the  reorganization  of 
the  Cairo,  Vincennes  it  Chicago  Railroad  Com- 
pany, now  one  of  the  branches  of  the  "Big  Four," 
in  1889,  and  was  elected  its  President,  which  po- 
sition he  still  holds. 

Mr.  Bonfield  w.as  one  of  the  incorporators  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Kankakee,  and  has 
since  been  its  Vice-president  and  a  member  of  its 
Board  of  Directors.  In  1889  he  caused  to  be 
erected  and  put  in  operation  a  tile  and  brick  fac- 
tory' at  St.  Anne,  Kankakee  County,  which  is  doing 
a  prosperous  and  increasing  business  under  the 
supervision  of  his  son,  Thomas  E.  Bonfield,  resi- 
dent manager.  Our  subject  is  the  owner  of  a 
stock  ranch  in  Pembroke  Township,  this  county, 
comprising  eighteen  hundred  acres,  which  he  leases. 

On  the  13th  of  March,  1856,  Mr.  Bonfield  was 
united  in  marriage  at  Aurora,  111.,  with  Miss  Maria 
Eastman,  a  native  of  that  city,  and  a  daughter  of 
Dr.  Eastman,  now  deceased.  Mrs.  Bonfield's  par- 
ents were  of  English  birth,  and  removed  from 
Bristol,  England,  to  Canada  in  earl^'  life.  They 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  at  Aurora,  where  they 
passed'  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Nine  chil- 
dren were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bonfield,  of  whom 
four  are  living.  Thomas  E.,  the  eldest,  resides  at 
St.  Anne,  of  this  county,  where,  as  before  men- 
tioned, he  has  charge  of  the  Bonfield  Tile  and 
Brick  Works;  Annie  resides  with  her  parents; 
Allie  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Hemstreet,  of  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio;  and  Frederick,  the  3'oungest  of  the 
famil}',  is  employed  at   the  tile  works  at  St.  Anne. 

In  his  religious  views  Mr.  Bonfield  is  a  Uui- 
versalist,  but  is  a  liberal  contributor  to  St.  Paul's 
Episcopal  Church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  member. 
In  the  history  of  the  Bar  of  eastern  Illinois  he  is 
an  acknowledged  leader.  His  record  dates  back 
to  the  pioneer  days  of  this  region,  w^hen  Kanka- 
kee County  was  being  organized,  and  before  the 
now  flourishing  and  important  city  of  Kankakee 
had  a  recognized  existence.  Of  a  studious  habit, 
he  is  well  grounded  in  the  law,  his  opinions  and 
views    having    more   than    ordinary    weight  with 


242 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


court,  bar  and  jnry,  while  his  well-known  fair- 
ness and  uprightness  command  universal  respect. 
He  possesses  keen  perceptive  faculties  and  the 
power  of  rapid  analysis  and  quick  application,  so 
essential  to  a  successful  trial  lawyer,  while  his  pa- 
tience and  perfect  self-command,  supported  by  a 
habit  of  thorough  preparation,  go  far  to  make 
him  master  of  the  situation  in  a  general  way.  As 
an  advocate  he  talks  in  a  decisive,  plain  and  direct 
way,  which  conveys  his  full  meaning  in  a  com- 
prehensive and  convincing  manner  without  super- 
fluity of  words  or  loss  of  time.  He  has  been  a 
potent  factor  in  the  improvement  and  develop- 
ment of  Kankakee  Count}^  and  its  county  seat, 
and  by  his  enterprise  and  public  spirit  has  done 
much  not  only  directly,  but  indirectly,  by  advising 
and  encouraging  others  in  the  good  cause.  He 
is  of  a  quiet,  retiring  disposition,  devoid  of  h\\  os- 
tentation, yet  possessing  a  warm,  genial  nature, 
which,  with  his  high  sense  of  honor  and  unim- 
peachable integrity',  has  won  for  him  the  highest 
respect  and  warm  friendship  of  the  best  of  his 
fellow-citizens. 


(^^  AMUEL    N.    CALKIN,    farmer,    Superin- 
^^^    tendent   of    the   Illinois   Eastern  Hospital 
\£-M  ^'^^'^^  since  May,  1881,  or  covering  a  period 
of  twelve  years,  was  born  in   AVill   Count}', 
111.,  on  the  lOth  of  August,  1842.     He   is  the  son 
of  James  M.  and   Persis  F.    (Harris)    Calkin,   the 
former  a  native  of  Sullivan   County,  N.  Y.,  and 
the    latter  claiming    Lowell,   Mass.,  as   her   birth- 
place.    His  father  emigrated   to   Illinois   in    1836, 
and  his  mother  came   two  years  previous.     They 
were   married   here  and   became   pioneers  of  Will 
County. 

Samuel  Calkin  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  re- 
ceived the  primitive  educational  advantages  of 
those  early  days  in  the  West.  When  eighteen 
years  of  age  he  enlisted  in  the  defense  of  his 
country,  the  date  of  his  enlistment  being  August 
2,  1861,  when  he  became  a  member  of  the  inde- 
pendent cavalry  company  known  as   the  McClel- 


lan  Dragoons.  On  entei'ing  the  service  this  com- 
pany was  attached  at  first  to  the  Second  United 
States  Cavalry,  with  which  they  served  one  year. 
After  this  they  were  enrolled  in  the  Twelfth  Illi- 
nois Cavalry  and  were  in  active  service  until  mus- 
tered out  August  4,  1864.  His  company  was  a 
part  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  was  in  all 
the  battles  and  engagements  participated  in  by 
that  army,  including  the  great  battles  of  Gettys- 
burg, Antietam  and  many  lesser  engagements. 
Having  been  blessed  with  good  health,  it  fell  to 
the  dut}'  of  our  subject  to  do  picket  dul^'  more 
than  he  might  have  done  otherwise,  and  he  never 
failed  to  respond  cheerfully  to  the  demands  upon 
him.  So  frequent  were  the  calls  upon  him  for 
such  service  that  he  probably  enjoys  the  distinction 
of  having  done  picket  dutj-  as  many  times  as  any 
man  in  the  army  whose  term  of  service  was  of  like 
duration. 

On  the  flth  of  March,  1865,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Calkin  and  Miss  Adelaide  George, 
the  ceremony  being  performed  in  Chicago.  Mrs. 
Calkin  is  a  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Nancy  (Dal- 
rymple)  George,  and  was  born  January  10,  1843, 
in  Lycoming  County,  Pa.  Ten  children  blessed 
their  union,  of  whom  three  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters are  now  living:  Minnie,  the  eldest,  died  in 
infancy;  Samuel  A.  married  Carrie  Conniac,  and 
is  a  farmer  of  Iroquois  Township,  Irocjuois  County. 
The  other  members  of  the  family  are  Gertie  Marie; 
Henry  R.,  who  died  in  infancy;  Ilarrj'  A.,  Jacob 
E.,  Mamie  E.,  Rosa,  Persis  F.  and  Nancy. 

Immediately  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Calkin  lo- 
cated in  Iroquois  Township,  Iroquois  County, 
upon  a  farm  which  he  had  purchased,  and  there 
he  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  and  stock-rais- 
ing successfully  until  appointed  to  the  position  he 
now  holds  in  May,  1881.  He  still  owns  his  fine 
farm  consisting  of  two  hundred  acres  in  Iroquois 
Township,  which  he  leases. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Calkin  was  allied 
to  the  Republican  part}'  until  the  year  1872,  when 
he  joined  the  so-called  liberal  movement,  and  later 
became  identified  with  the  Greenback  party.  He 
is  now  independent  in  politics,  preferring  to  use 
his  right  of  suffrage  in  favor  of  the  man  who  in 
his  estimation  is  best  qualified  to  fill  a  given  posi- 


HNtVtRiiliy  OF  ILLINOIS 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


245 


tion.  While  engaged  in  farming  in  Iroquois 
County  he  represented  iiis  township  for  eight 
years  as  Supervisor  on  the  County  Board.  So- 
cially, Mv.  Calkin  is  a  member  of  Howard  Lodge 
Ko.  218,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  Whipple  Post  No. 
414,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Kankakee.  He  and  his  family 
hold  membership  with  (rrace  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Kankakee.  The  hospital  fai'm,  of  which 
our  subject  is  a  most  efficient  Superintendent, con- 
tains about  eight  hundred  and  fort}'  acres  of  cul- 
tivated land,  meadow  and  pasture,  of  which  see 
full  mention  in  sketch  of  the  Illinois  Eastern  Hos- 
pital, given  elsewhere  in  this  work. 


-^^— ^ 


^i^EORGEV.  HULING,  capitalist,  has  been  a 
if  ^w"  i'^*'"^^"^  "^f  Illinois  since  September,  1850, 
^^^g)  and  of  Kankakee  since  the  year  of  its  birth, 
1853.  He  was  born  in  Shaftsburj',  Bennington 
County,  Vt.,  on  the  22d  of  September,  1827,  and 
is  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Henrietta  (Vaughn)  Huling. 
The  father  was  born  in  Shaftsbury  also,  on  the 
18th  of  August,  1782.  He  was  descended  from 
one  of  the  oldest  Colonial  families  of  Rhode 
Island,  and  was  a  son  of  Capt.  Alexander  Huling, 
who  sailed  for  many  years  between  Providence, 
R.  I.,  and  New  York  City.  The  latter  was  also  a 
son  of  a  sea-captain  and  the  male  members  of  the 
family  were  sea-faring  people.  The  Huling  fam- 
ily was  founded  in  Providence  in  1644,  and  was 
of  English  origin.  The  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject removed  to  Bennington,  Vt.,  on  the  day  of 
the  battle  at  that  point,  and  his  four  sons,  John, 
Daniel,  Paul  and  George,  joined  the  Colonial 
forces  at  that  time  and  served  throughout  the  war. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  was  of  Welsh  descent, 
her  family'  also  being  among  the  early  colonists, 
having  settled  in  Providence  prior  to  1640.  Dan- 
iel Huling  was  a  man  of  large  means,  and  as  early 
as  1838  lie  came  to  Illinois  and  invested  exten- 
sively in  land,  becoming  the  owner  of  about  six 
thousand  acres.  He  never  became  a  resident  of 
this   State,  but    returned    to    Vermont,    where  his 


death  occurred  in  November,  1861.  His  wife  sur- 
vived her  husband  and  died  at  the  old  homestead 
in  that  State  in  April,  1875. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  a  family  of  seven  sons 
and  one  daughter.  The  two  eldest  sons,  Daniel 
and  Alexander,  are  now  deceased.  Truman  mar- 
ried Miss  Maggie  Tulloh,  and  is  a  resident  of 
Kankakee;  Columbus  lives  in  Bennington,  Vt. 
Annie  M.  is  the  wife  of  Franklin  Blackstone,  of 
the  same  place;  George  V.  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Alonzo  died  in  November,  1876,  in  Kansas 
Cit3%  Mo.;  Miles  C.  is  a  resident  of  Bennington. 

George  Huling  was  reared  to  manhood  on  his 
father's  farm  in  the  Green  Mountain  State  and  re- 
ceived a  good  common-school  education.  In  his 
early  manhood  he  engaged  in  teaching  school. 
He  came  to  Illinois  in  1850,  and  three  ^-ears  after 
his  arrival  settled  in  Bourbonnais,  Kankakee 
County,  which  was  about  the  time  of  the  county's 
organization  and  the  beginning  of  the  settlement 
of  Kankakee.  For  one  year  he  carried  on  a  large 
mercantile  business  there,  and  also  bought  and 
sold  farm  land,  but  subsequently  devoted  his  at- 
tention to  the  real-estate  and  loan  business  en- 
tirely. He  has  bought  and  sold  upwards  of  two 
hundred  thousand  acres  of  land.  Since  the  year 
18(50,  he  has  principally  carried  on  a  brokerage 
business,  but  still  owns  farms  in  the  county  aggre- 
gating twelve  hundred  acres. 

On  the  12th  of  August,  1867,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Huling  with  Miss  Ellen  L.  Knight. 
The  lady  was  born  in  Loda,  Cattaraugus  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Lee  and  Lu- 
cina  Lambert  (Parker)  Knight,  and  a  sister  of 
Solon  Knight,  of  this  city.  (See  the  sketch  of  her 
parents  and  brother  in  another  portion  of  this 
volume.)  Mrs.  Huling  is  a  member  of  the  Episco- 
pal Church,  which  her  husband  also  attends. 

In  politics,  our  subject  is  a  confirmed  Democrat 
and  his  Republican  friends  have  no  hopes  of  con- 
verting him  to  their  faith.  As  he  has  never  de- 
sired public  office,  he  has  been  able  to  enjoy  his 
political  opinions  in  peace,  notwithstanding  his 
residence  in  a  Republican  county.  He  has,  how- 
ever, served  as  Supervisor  at  various  times  on  the 
County  Board.  Several  3'ears  ago  Mr.  Huling 
made  a  tour  of  Europe,  accompanied  by  his  wife, 


246 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  was  present  at  Windsor  Castle  during  the  cel- 
ebration of  the  anniversary  of  Queen  Victoria's 
birthday,  an  occasion  on  which  they  were  en- 
abled to  witness  much  of  tlie  court  splendor  of 
modern  Europe  and  to  see  many  representatives, 
crowned  heads  and  others,  of  the  various  European 
governments.  Mr.  Huling  is  a  gentleman  of  gen- 
ial disposition,  who  evidently  takes  the  world 
eas3'  and  never,  figuratively  speaking,  makes  the 
mistake  of  rubbing  tlie  fur  the  wrong  way  in  his 
contact  with  iiis  fellow-men,  consequently  he  en- 
joys life  and  has  many  friends.  Possessed  of  a 
powerful  and  rol)Ust  physique,  large  means  and 
broad  views,  he  never  allows  himself  to  get  an- 
noyed at  trifles,  getting  solid  enjoj'mentas  he  goes 
along  and  commanding  universal  respect  b}'  his 
integrity  and  business-like  habits. 


OSEPH  GELINO  is  one  of  the  leading  mer- 
chants and  enterprising  business  men  of 
Kankakee,  lie  is  also  numbered  among  the 
earlj'  settlers  of  the  city,  dating  his  resi- 
dence from  1855.  He  has  been  continuously  en- 
gaged in  business  for  himself  since  1860,  covering 
a  period  of  nearly  a  third  of  a  century,  and  from 
a  small  beginning  his  trade  and  business  have  con- 
stautl}'  increased  until  he  is  now  enjoying  a  liberal 
patronage  which  yields  him  a  good  income. 

Mr.  Gelino  is  a  native  of  Canada;  he  was  born 
in  Beloeil,  about  eighteen  miles  below  Montreal, 
April  13,  1835,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  Gelino,  Sr. 
The  father  emigrated  from  Richelieu,  Canada,  to 
the  United  States  in  1855,  locating  in  Kankakee 
Count}',  III.,  but  he  made  no  permanent  settle- 
ment, for  two  years  after  his  arrival  he  returned 
to  his  native  land.  There  were  five  children  who 
accompanied  the  parents  to  this  Stale.  Of  these, 
Charles  died  in  Chicago  in  1878,  where  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  he  had  been  engaged  in  business  as  a 
salesman  in  a  mercantile  house;  William  left  this 
Stale  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Wilmington,  Kan., 
where  he  is  engaged  in  the  hardware  business.    He 


was  formerly  in  business  in  Kankakee.  Louise 
died  at  the  age  of  about  twenty  years;  and  Alice 
departed  this  life  when  a  maiden  of  sixteen  sum- 
mers. Of  the  Gelino  family,  which  was  once  a 
large  one,  numbering  thirteen  children,  only  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  and  his  brother  William  are 
now  living. 

Joseph  Gelino,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  Can- 
ada. He  acquired  his  education  in  the  public 
schools,  and  at  the  early  age  of  fourteen  years  he 
entered  upon  his  business  career  in  the  line  of 
mercantile  life,  becoming  a  clerk  in  St.  John's, 
Canada.  This  was  in  1849.  He  was  employed  in 
that  city  from  that  time  until  the  spring  of  1854, 
when  he  went  to  Montreal,  Canada,  where  he  spent 
a  year.  In  the  fall  of  1855  he  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  Illinois.  Since  that 
time  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Kankakee.  During 
the  first  five  years  after  his  arrival  he  held  a  posi- 
tion as  salesman  in  the  store  of  Dr.  Knott,  of  this 
city,  and  on  the  expiration  of  that  period,  with 
the  capital  he  had  acquired  through  industry  and 
economy,  he  bought  out  his  employer.  For  thirty- 
two  years  he  has  been  continuously  engaged  in 
business,  and  during  this  long  interval  his  store 
has  been  alwa3'S  located  in  the  block  where  he  now 
carries  on  operations.  He  purchased  his  present 
building  in  1864.  Mr.  Gelino  is  a  man  of  excel- 
lent business  ability,  sagacious  and  far-sighted,  en- 
terprising and  industrious,  qualities  which  always 
insure  success. 

Our  subject  was  married  September  30,  1863,  the 
lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Phillomiue  Lecour, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Lecour,  Sr.  By  their  union 
were  born  nine  children,  but  they  lost  four  in 
childhood.  Those  still  living,  including  three 
sons  and  two  daughters,  are  as  follows:  Arthur, 
Charles,  Alexander,  Bertha  and  Blanche.  They 
are  still  under  the  parental  roof.  In  the  spring  of 
1892,  our  subject  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  wife,  who  was  called  to  her  final  home 
on  the  3d  of  A|)rii.  She  was  a  most  estimable  lady 
and  had  a  large  circle  of  warm  friends  throughout 
the  community.  Her  death  was  deeply  regretted 
by  many  outside  of  her  immediate  family. 

Mr.  Gelino  is  a  leading  and  representative  eiti- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


247 


zen  of  Kankakee,  who  has  been  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  moral  and  educational  growth  of 
the  community  in  which  he  resides  for  many  3'ears. 
Politically,  he  is  a  Democrat.  For  a  period  of 
twelve  years  he  has  been  a  memher  of  the  School 
Board  of  Kankakee,  and  for  five  years  has  been  its 
President,  occupying  that  position  at  this  writing. 
He  has  certainly  done  a  great  service  for  the  cause 
of  education,  which  ever  finds  in  liim  a  friend, 
and  the  present  excellence  of  the  Kankakee  schools 
is  largely  due  to  his  earnest  efforts  in  their  behalf. 
Mr.  Gelino  h.as  been  President  of  St.  Joseph's  Mu- 
tual Society  for  thirteen  years,  or  ever  since  its 
organization.  Himself  and  family  are  all  commu- 
nicants of  the  Catholic  Church.  From  a  financial 
standpoint,  also,  his  life  has  been  a  successful  one. 
His  business  career  has  ever  been  marked  by  strict 
integrity-  and  fair  dealing,  which  have  secured  for 
him  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow-citi- 
zens in  a  high  degree. 


J^^ 


^^^.^OEL    LE   VASSEUR,  a    French-Canadian 
pioneer  of  Illinois,  is  said  to  have  been  the 

first  white  settler  of  what  is  now  Kankakee 

County.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1820,  and  was  for 
man\'  years  a  well-known  resident  of  Bourbonnais. 
He  was  born  in  a  log  cabin  at  St.  Michel  D'Yam- 
aska.  Province  of  Quebec,  Canada,  on  Christmas 
night  of  the  3'ear  1799.  His  parents,  who  were 
French-Canadians,  were  poor  and  unlettered  and 
lived  in  a  rude  way  in  the  wilds  of  a  sparsely  set- 
tled region.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  spent  the 
days  of  his  childiiood  and  youth  on  his  father's 
farm,  with  no  advantages  of  education.  In  May, 
1817,  he  astonisiied  his  parents  by  announcing 
that  he  had  entered  the  service  of  one  Roche  Blave 
in  company  with  eighty  other  }"Oung  men,  who 
were  hired  to  go  into  the  West  to  trade  with  the 
Indians. 

Contrary  to  the  wishes  of  his  parents,  without  a 
penny  and  possessed  of  only  tiie  clothes  he  wore, 
Mr.  Le  Vasseur  in  his  seventeenth  year  set  out  to 
seek  his  fortune  in  the  world.     In  May,  1817,  the 


partj'  left  Montreal  with  a  two-yeai-s  supply  of 
food  and  clothing.  They  started  on  the  St.  Law- 
rence River,  traveling  much  of  the  way  b}^  water. 
They  reached  Mackinac  some  time  in  the  following 
summer.  'I'liere  tliey  found  a  trading-post  of  the 
American  Fur  Company  (.lohn  Jacob  Astor's),  and 
to  the  agent  there  Roche  Blave  sold  all  his  rights 
to  the  service  of  his  men  and  his  outfit  of  supplies. 
These  Canadian  voyageurs  soon  found  that  all  was 
not  gold  that  glittered.  The  labor  was  severe  and 
oftentimes  perilous  and  the  fare  coarse  and  fre- 
quently scanty. 

Actuated  hy  a  spirit  of  adventure  which  seems 
almost  foolhardy',  young  Le  Vasseur  and  a  com- 
panion accepted  the  invitation  of  an  Indian,  and 
abandoning  tlie  fur  company  set  out  for  the  Great 
West  in  a  frail  canoe.  With  their  Indian  guide 
and  friend  they  followed  the  west  shore  of  Lake 
Michigan  until  they  reached  Green  Bay.  From 
there  tiiey  went  up  the  Fox  River  and  the  Lakes, 
following  the  river's  course  to  the  portage  on  the 
Wisconsin  River,which  is  the  present  site  of  Portage 
City,  Wis.  Making  the  crossing,  they  floated  down 
the  AVisconsin  to  the  place  where  is  now  located  the 
city  of  Prairie  du  Chien.  He  and  his  companion 
became  the  guests  of  Chippewa  Indians,  who  had 
a  large  village  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  near 
the  junction  of  the  two  rivers.  Mr.  Le  Vasseur 
found  the  Indians  very  friendly  and  he  soon  in- 
gratiated himself  into  their  favor  by  teaching  them 
some  Canadian  devices  and  tricks  in  fishing  and 
hunting.  He  accompanied  them  in  their  annual 
fall  hunts  and  became  a  favorite  of  the  chief  of 
the  tribe. 

The  following  spring  our  subject  decided  to  re- 
turn to  Mackinac,  but  was  refused  permission  by 
the  chief,  who  claimed  to  have  adopted  him  as  a 
member  of  the  tribe.  By  this  time  Mr.  Le  Vasseur 
and  his  companion  had  learned  much  of  the  lan- 
guage of  the  Indians,  though  the  latter  had  been 
unable  to  master  the  difficult  French,  which  was 
their  language.  Wliilc  appearing  to  be  willing  to 
remain,  they  freely  discussed  some  plan  of  escape. 
Supplying  themselves  with  dried  venison,  they  took 
advantage  of  a  favorable  opportunity  and  stole 
away,  following  the  course  of  the  Wisconsin  and 
Fox  Rivers  on  foot.     They  succeeded  in  reaching 


248 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Green  Bay,  but  by  this  time  were  in  rags  and  nearly 
starved.  Thoy  found  fish  abundant  and  .  had  to 
depend  largely  on  their  hooks  and  lines  for  their 
means  of  subsistence. 

At  Green  Bay  they  were  fed  and  clothed  at  a 
temporary  camp  of  the  American  Fur  Company 
and  were  sent  to  Mackinac,  where  they  were  again 
employed  by  that  company.  During  this  and  the 
succeeding  year,  Mr.  Le  Vasseur  was  sent  to  dis- 
tant points  to  trade  with  the  Indians,  his  experi- 
ence at  Prairie  du  Chien  and  knowledge  of  the 
Indian  tongue  proving  of  much  service  to  him. 
In  the  fall  of  1818,  he  first  made  the  acquaintance 
of  Gurdon  S.  Hubbard  at  jMackinac,  which  led  to  a 
life  of  long  friendship  and  intimate  business  and 
social  relations. 

In  the  spring  of  1820,  young  Le  Vasseur,  under 
the  direction  of  the  agent  of  tiie  American  Fur 
Company,  started  up  Lake  Michigan  for  the  pur- 
pose of  establishing  a  fur  trading-post  in  the  in- 
terest of  the  company  among  the  Pottawatomie 
Indians  of  Illinois,  a  tribe  who  were  very  successful 
in  securing  furs.  Sailing  in  batteaux  manned  by 
French-Canadians  and  laden  with  provisions  and 
a  stock  of  goods  for  their  post,  they  wended  their 
way  along  the  west  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  and 
after  considerable  hardship  and  danger,  reached 
Ft.  Dearborn,  now  Chicago.  They  proceeded  up 
the  Chicago  River  as  far  as  they  could  go,  and  then 
made  ])ortage  to  the  Desplaines  River,  from  there 
down  that  river  to  its  junction  with  the  Kankakee; 
up  the  Kankakee  they  went  to  the  Iroquois,  and 
up  that  stream  to  a  point  in  what  is  now  Iro- 
quois County.  This  station  was  known  as  Bunkum, 
but  is  now  called  Iroquois.  There  Mr.  Le  Vas- 
seur established  a  trading-post  and  the  site  proved 
a  very  favorable  one.  This  was  fully  a  year 
in  advance  of  the  advent  of  Gurdon  Hubbard, 
by  thatgentleman'sadmission.  Subsequently  he  was 
joined  by  John  and  Robert  Kinzie,  of  Chicago, and 
Mr.  Hubbard,  all  agents  of  the  American  Fur  Com- 
pany, and  together  they  carried  on  an  extensive 
trade  with  the  Indians. 

While  unable  to  read  or  write,  our  subject  proved 
one  of  the  most  expert  and  successful  bookkeepers 
in  the  company's  service,  for  he  adopted  the  Indian 
pictorial  plan  of  record.     For  instance:  the  Indians 


all  bore  the  name  of  some  familiar  animal  or  ob- 
ject and  Mr.  Le  Vasseur  would,  if  dealing  with  Mr. 
Beaver,  open  his  account  by  a  picture  of  that  ani- 
mal, and  having  let  that  Indian  have  a  blanket  on 
time  would  draw  a  square  representing  that  article, 
in  which  he  would  cop}'  the  woven  brand  that  a 
blanket  of  that  grade  bore  to  show  its  value,  while 
the  time  for  which  credit  was  given  would  be  rep- 
resented by  the  picture  of  the  moon  repeated  so 
many  times,  equaling  the  number  of  months.  The 
same  plan  he  would  use  in  picturing  a  shirt  or 
other  garment,  a  hatchet  or  knife.  AVhen  Mr.  In- 
dian brought  his  furs  to  settle  he  could  be  shown 
his  account,  which  he  fully  understood  and  never 
disputed.  Tlie  ordinary  entries  in  handwriting 
being  unintelligible  to  the  Indians,  often  proved 
unsatisfactory-. 

After  a  term  of  years  Mr.  Le  Vasseur,  in  company 
with  Mr.  Hubbard  and  the  Kinzie  brothers,  left  the 
American  Fur  Company  and  formed  a  partnership, 
doing  business  for  themselves  very  successfully. 
According  to  the  recollection  of  Hon.  George  R. 
Letourneau,  an  old  and  intimate  friend  of  Le  Vas- 
seur, the  partnership  was  formed  at  the  time  of 
starting  a  post  at  Bunkum,  so  that  the}-  must  have 
been  together  in  the  service  of  the  American  Fur 
Company  previous,  at  some  other  point  in  Illinois. 
Le  Vasseur  purchased  three  reservations  of  the 
Indians,  all  located  in  what  is  now  Kankakee 
Count}';  one  was  known  as  the  Mesh-Ke-Ta-No,  a 
second  as  the  Le  Vie,  and  the  third  as  the  Gacquie 
Janveau  Reservation.  Tliey  all  lay  along  the  Kan- 
kakee River  and  were  contiguous,  so  he  owned  at 
one  time  several  miles  of  fine  timber  land.  Later 
in  life  he  sold  it  by  small  tracts  and  at  his  death 
left  comparatively  little. 

It  is  a  well-known  historical  fact,  that  Mr.  Hub- 
bard married  a  comely  Indian  maiden  named 
Watseka,  a  daughter  of  a  prominent  man  of  the 
tribe.  She  was  his  faithful  wife  for  several  years. 
Subsequent! }',  on  his  removal  from  that  section  of 
the  country,  he  was  divorced  from  her  according  to 
the  Indian  custom.  Three  children  were  born  to 
them,  two  sons  and  a  daughter.  They  received  a 
fair  education  and  the  sons  engaged  in  business, 
but  both  died  while  still  in  their  youth.  The 
daughter  continued  to  make   her  home    with    her 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


249 


father  after  a  separation  had  taken  place  between 
her  parents,  and  lier  father  had  married  a  woman 
of  Ills  own  race.  Watseka  was  a  true  woman, 
faithful  to  her  white  husband  and  his  interests,  and 
alwaj-s  commanded  respect.  Her  name  is  i)erpet- 
uated  in  history  as  the  name  of  a  tiiriving  city, 
whicli  is  the  county  seat  of  Iroquois  County,  the 
home  of  her  early  life.  She  removed  to  the  West- 
ern Reservation  of  her  tribe  and  subsequently  be- 
came the  wife  of  one  of  her  own  people.  When 
she  was  quite  advanced  in  years,  Watseka  traveled 
on  horseback  from  Kansas  to  Bourbounais  to  see 
her  daughter  at  the  home  of  Mr.  Le  Vasseur.  She 
was  most  kindly  received  by  her  former  husband, 
and  returning  to  her  tribe  in  the  West,  died  there 
at  an  advanced  age. 

In  1837,  Mr.  Le  Vasseur  married  Miss  Ruth  Bull, 
of  Danville,  111.,  b}'  whom  he  had  eight  children, 
four  sons  and  four  daughters.  Edward,  the  eldest, 
was  a  member  of  the  Twelfth  Illinois  Cavalry  in 
the  late  war  and  died  in  the  serviceof  his  country; 
George  died  in  Memphis  of  j-ellow  fever  in  1871; 
AVilliam  died  in  childhood,  and  Alfred  in  1876. 
The  daughters  all  lived  to  mature  jears  but  only 
one  is  now  surviving,  Mrs.  Dr.  Monast,  who  now 
makes  her  home  in  Chicago.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  some  time  in  the  '50s  and  in  1861 
Mr.  Le  Vasseur  was  married  in  Chicago  to  Miss 
Elenore  Franchere,  who  survives  her  husband  and 
lives  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Le  Vasseur  made  several  trips  from  Illinois 
to  Mackinac,  superintending  the  shipment  of  furs 
and  the  selection  of  goods  suitable  for  the  Indian 
trattic.  Having  a  good  knowledge  of  the  Indian 
language,  hs  was  emplo3'ed  with  Mr.  Hubbard  by 
the  United  States  Commissioners  as  inter|)reters  in 
the  negotiations  of  the  treaty  of  Camp  Tippecanoe, 
conducted  on  the  20th  of  October,  1832,  and  rati- 
fied on  the  20th  of  .January  in  the  following  year. 
By  this  treaty  came  into- the  possession  of  the 
United  States  a  magnificent  territor}'  which  has 
since  become  one  of  the  richest  agricultural  regions 
in  the  world. 

Messrs.  Hubbard  and  Le  N'asseur  enjoj-ed  the 
firm  friendship  of  the  two  leading  Pottawatomie 
chiefs,  Shabbonee  and  Shawanasee,  and  no  doubt 
exercised  a  strong  influence   in   preventing  their 


tribe  from  uniting  with  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  in  the 
Black  Hawk  AVar.  Our  subject  was  appointed  the 
agent  of  the  United  States  to  take  cliarge  of  the 
removal  of  the  Indians  to  their  reservation  at 
Council  Bluffs,  Iowa.  The  Indians  were  loath  to 
leave  their  old  lumting-grounds,  rich  in  game,  fish 
and  furs,  and  the  task  of  effecting  a  peaceable  re- 
moval was  a  difficult  one  and  required  much  tact 
and  skill.  The  task  was  not  accomplished  until 
1836,  but  it  was  done  without  any  acts  of  violence 
and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Government. 

Mr.  Le  Vasseur  during  his  residence  in  this  vi- 
cinity purchased  land  at  Bourbonnais  Grove,  where 
St.  Viateur's  College  now  stands,  in  what  is  now 
Kankakee  County.  In  March,  1832,  it  is  said  by 
Gurdon  S.  Hubbard  that  Mr.  Le  Vasseur  made  his 
home  at  Bourbonnais,  and  that  he  was  the  first  ac- 
tual white  settler  of  the  territorj'  now  embraced  in 
this  county. 

Through  the  influence  of  our  subject,  many  of 
his  countrymen  were  induced  to  settle  in  this 
county.  He  gave  his  aid  to  them  in  the  selection 
of  land,  often  bu3nng  tracts  for  them  and  giving 
long  time  for  pa3'raent,  as  man  j'  came  here  short  of 
means.  His  influence  was  strong  and  was  always 
exerted  for  the  best  interests  of  those  who  deserved 
his  friendship.  He  also  assisted  in  building  the 
first  church  in  the  county,  the  Catholic  Church  of 
Bourbonnais,  and  to  many  others  he  was  a  liberal 
contributor.  He  was  a  man  of  large-hearted  lios- 
pitality  and  his  stories  of  his  early  days  among  the 
Indians  were  always  of  deep  interest  to  his  hearers. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Le  Vasseur  occurred  at  his 
home  in  Bourbonnais  on  Friday  night,  December 
15,  1879.  Had  he  lived  but  ten  days  longer  he 
would  have  been  eighty  years  of  age.  He  was  a 
man  of  strong  individualitj',  a  warm,  true  friend, 
and  won  the  respect  and  confidence  of  those  with 
whom  he  was  associated  by  his  integrity  and  fidel- 
itv.  The  secret  of  his  success  with  and  popularity 
among  the  Indians  lay  in  his  honest^'  and  simple 
dealings  with  them.  He  never  used  double  deal- 
ings with  the  simple  sous  of  the  forest  and  they  re- 
cognized this  quality  in  him  with  their  customary 
shrewdness  of  judgment.  His  love  of  adventure 
was  a  passion  born  in  him.  He  knew  no  fear  and 
his  confidence  in  himself  was  unbounded.    Serious 


1 


250 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


obstacles  and  conditions  fraught  with  danger  only 
nerved  him  to  greater  effort,  but  never  disheart- 
ened him.  His  life  experience  would  have  afforded 
material  for  a  romance  of  thrilling  interest  in  the 
hands  of  a  Cooper. 


>|<^i^^ 


ENRY  OSBORN  VAN  METER  is  an  enter- 
prising farmer  of  section  24,  Otto  Town- 
*f    ship.     He  is  a  native  of   Illinois,  and  was 

^j  born  on  the  12th  of  June,  1841,  in  Kan- 
kakee Count_y.  His  father,  James  W.  Van  Meter, 
was  a  native  of  Ohio,  his  birth  having  occurred  on 
the  26th  of  November,  1808,  in  Pickaway  County. 
The  family  is  of  Dutch  descent,  and  settled  on 
the  south  branch  of  the  Potomac  River  in  Vir- 
ginia, where  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  Jo- 
seph Van  jSIeter,  was  born.  He  removed  to  Ohio 
in  the  early  history  of  that  section  and  settled  in 
Pickaway  County  when  it  was  a  wilderness  and 
but  little  inhabited.  James  Van  Meter  was  a  man 
of  fair  education  and  was  a  teacher  in  the  Buck- 
e3'e  State.  He  married  in  Pickaway  County  Lu- 
cinda  Brown,  who,  like  her  father,  James  Brown, 
was  a  native  of  Vii'ginia,  the  latter  being  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  the  county  in  which  his 
daughter  was  married. 

After  his  marriage  the  father  of  our  subject  con- 
tinued to  live  in  Ohio  for  a  few  j'ears,  but  in  the 
fall  of  183!)  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Kanka- 
kee County,  near  the  city  of  that  name,  which  at 
that  time  contained  but  a  log  house.  Mr.  Van 
dieter  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  this  county, 
which  was  then  a  part  of  Will  County.  He  en- 
tered land,  proceeded  to  develop  his  farm,  and 
also  engaged  in  the  stock  business.  He  was  the 
first  to  bring  thorough-bred  stock  to  this  county, 
and  for  many  years  did  an  extensive  business  in 
stock-breeding.  He  drove  his  cattle  to  Chicago 
yearl}',  where  he  sold  them  in  the  stock  markets 
of  that  cit3'.  His  death  occurred  in  July,  1875, 
and  that  of  his  wife  occurred  three  months  pre- 
vious. Their  last  resting-place  is  in  Van  Meter 
Cemetery,  in    North    Kankakee,    and    there    has 


been  erected  to  their  memory  a  suitable  monument. 
Their  family  consisted  of  three  sons  and  two 
daughters,  who  grew  to  mature  years.  Our  sub- 
ject is  the  eldest  of  the  family;  Sarah  is  the  wife 
of  Edward  Wilkinson,  of  La  Porte,  Ind.;  Jesse  B. 
carries  on  a  farm  in  Iroquois  County;  Albert  T.  is 
a  farmer  of  Indiana;  Ella  is  the  wife  of  John  Bur- 
rill,  of  Chebanse,  111. 

Mr.  Van  Meter  remained  with  his  father,  help- 
ing him  in  the  care  of  his  farm,  until  after  attain- 
ing his  majority.  He  had  good  school  advantages 
in  Kankakee.  After  arriving  at  man's  estate  he 
bought  a  farm  in  Iroquois  County,  consisting  of 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  raw  prairie 
land  situated  in  Chebanse  Township.  After  farm- 
ing there  for  several  years  he  sold  the  property 
and  bought  a  farm  in  Martinton  Township,  of  the 
same  county,  where  he  remained  for  about  eight 
years  engaged  in  improving  and  cultivating  the 
pro  pert}'.  In  1883,  selling  this  farm,  he  bought 
the  one  where  he  now  resides,  which  is  located 
about  three  miles  south  of  Kankakee.  Here  he 
has  some  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  all  of 
which  is  fertile  and  arable  land.  Upon  this  are 
good  substantial  buildings,  comprising  his  pleas- 
ant residence,  commodious  barns,  and  other  neces- 
sary farm  buildings.  His  place  bears  evidence  of 
a  thrifty  and  enterprising  owner,  and  as  an  agri- 
culturist he  has  been  most  successful. 

Mr.  Van  ISIeter  was  united  in  marriage  in  Kan- 
kakee to  Lucinda  M.  Corliss,  the  ceremonj'  being 
performed  on  the  13th  of  August,  1872.  Mrs. 
Van  Meter  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  was  born, 
reared  and  educated  in  C4eauga  County,  where  for 
many  years  she  was  a  successful  teacher.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  E.  G.  and  Mary  (Tyler)  Corliss,  the 
former  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  New 
York.  One  daughter,  Bertha  E.,  graces  the  union 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Meter.  She  is  now  attend- 
ing the  Kankakee  High  School,  and  will  graduate 
in  the  Class  of  "93. 

The  first  ballot  of  Mr.  Van  Meter  was  cast  for 
Hon.  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1864,  and  since  that 
date  he  has  been  a  warm  advocate  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  Though  taking  an  active  interest  in 
local  and  general  politics,  our  subject  has  never 
desired  to  give  much  of  his  time  to  the  filling  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


251 


public  positions,  but  on  the  contrary  has  devoted 
liis  entire  attention  to  bis  farming  interests.  He 
and  his  estimable  wife  are  members  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church  of  Chebanse.  His  entire  life  has 
been  spent  in  this  State,  and  in  this  and  ad- 
joining counties  lie  is  known  as  a  man  of  strict 
integrity  and  is  highly  esteemed  and  respected  by 
all. 


JRESTON  SAXASACK  is  the  senior  meni- 
)  ber  of  the  firm  of  P.  Sanasack  &  Son,  of 
Kankakee.  These  gentlemen  are  propri- 
etors of  the  leading  li  ver>'  and  undertaking 
establishments  in  this  city  and  are  well-known  and 
prominent  business  men.  Our  subject  is  a  repre- 
sentative of  one  of  the  early  Canadian  families  of 
IJourbounais  Township,  and  for  long  years  has 
been  a  witness  of  the  growth  and  development  of 
this  county.  He  was  born  on  the  14th  of  August, 
1833,  in  St.  George,  Province  of  Quebec,  Canada. 
His  f.Tther  was  Daniel  Sanasack  and  his  mother's 
maiden  n.ame  was  Amelia  Lague.  His  parents 
were  both  natives  of  Canada.  In  1848,  when  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  about  fifteen  years  of 
age,  the}^  emigrated  from  Canada  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Kankakee  County  among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  the  above-mentioned  township. 

Preston  Sanasack  spent  the  early  years  of  his 
life  in  the  land  of  his  birth  and  there  began  his 
education.  When  slill  quite  young  he  left  home 
and  began  workingat  whatever  honorable  employ- 
ment he  could  find  to  do  in  order  to  provide  for 
his  own  maintenance.  In  1855,  when  the  excite- 
ment attending  the  discovery  of  gold  at  Pike's 
Peak  was  at  its  height,  Mr.  Sanasack,  who  was  then 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  resolved  to  join  the  vast 
throng  that  was  journeying  to  that  land  of  wealth. 
He  accordingly-  started  westward,  and  after  travers- 
ing a  large  part  of  the  mining  region,  he  decided 
to  locate  on  Platte  River,  where  he  remained  for 
two  years.  During  that  time  he  engaged  in  trad- 
ing with  the  Indians.  He  then  continued  the 
journey  across  the  plains  until  he  re.ached  Idaho. 
There,  in  company  with  others  of  his  own  nation- 


ality, he  discovered  and  named  French  Gulch.  At 
that  place  he  located  a  claim  and  in  a  few  days  se- 
cured ,as  his  share  |i2,500  in  gold  liy  placer  mining. 
In  the  spring  of  1858,  he  built  the  first  house  on 
the  site  of  the  future  town  of  Boise  City,  which 
was  to  become  one  of  the  leading  cities  and  the 
capital  of  the  State.  On  leaving  Idaho,  Mr.  Sana- 
sack  made  his  way  to  Oregon  and  thence  journeyed 
to  Utah.  He  finally  returned  home,  where  he  ar- 
rived in  October,  1865. 

On  again  reaching  Kankakee  County,  Mr.  Sana- 
sack  purchased  a  farm  located  on  section  10,  Bour- 
bonnais  Township.  He  there  settled  and  engaged 
in  its  cultivation  for  some  time.  He  also  bought 
another  farm,  comprising  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  on  section  8  in  the  same  township. 
For  manj'  j'ears  before  coming  to  Kank.akee,  he  en- 
gaged in  general  merchandising  at  Bourbonnais 
and  did  a  successful  business.  It  was  in  1883  that 
he  removed  to  this  city,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home.  In  August,  1887,  he  purchased  alivery 
stable,  succeeding  Napoleon  Bergeron,  and  has 
since  carried  on  operations  in  that  line.  In  1891, 
he  also  embarked  in  the  undertaking  business  and 
in  the  same  year  admitted  to  partnership  in  both 
lines  of  trade  liis  son,  Alfred  H. 

On  the  Uth  of  July,  1866,  Mr.  Sanasack  was 
joined  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Alinira  Goltra.  She 
was  born  in  Plattsburg,  N.  Y.,  January  1,  1838, 
and  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Almira  Paro.  They 
have  two  sons:  Capt.  William  F.  Goltra  and  Alfred 
H.  Sanasack.  The  latter  was  born  in  Bourbonnais 
Grove  June  20,  1869,  began  his  education  at  the 
college  of  that  pl.ace  and  completed  his  school  life 
in  the  Indianapolis  Business  University.  He  re- 
ceived thorough  training  in  bookkeeping  and  sten- 
ography, and  was  graduated  from  the  commercial 
department  of  that  institution  in  June,  1890.  He 
married  June  26,  1892,  Miss  Nelda  Bernier.  a  na- 
tive of  Papineau,  Iroquois  County,  and  they  have 
a  plea.sant  home  in  this  city. 

The  members  of  the  firm  of  P.  Sanasack  &  Son 
are  courteous,  genial  gentlemen,  and  the  business 
experience  and  mature  judgment  of  the  elder,  com- 
bined with  the  wide-awake  enterprise  and  progress- 
ive spirit  of  the  younger,  make  the  firm  a  success- 
ful one.     In  both   departments  of    their  business 


252 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


they  have  every  facility  and  accessory  found  in 
first-class  establishments  of  their  kind,  and  the  gen- 
tlemen receive,  as  they  deserve,  a  fair  share  of  the 
public  patronage. 


1 OBERT  WILDMAN,  who  for  many  years 
i^  has  been  connected  with  the  farming  inter- 
<x>\  ests  of  this  county,  is  now  practically  liv- 
'^S)  ing  a  retired  life  on  his  farm  on  section  14, 
Limestone  Township.  He  is  a  native  of  the  Em- 
erald Isle,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  County 
Loutli  on  the  22d  of  July,  1821.  His  parents, 
John  and  Susan  (Bingham)  Wildnian,  were  also 
natives  of  the  same  country  and  tiiere  spent  their 
entire  lives.  Both  are  now  deceased.  Tliey  liad 
a  family  of  eleven  children,  seven  sons  and  four 
daughters. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  the  fifth  in 
order  of  birth,  spent  the  days  of  his  bo3'hood  and 
youth  in  the  land  of  his  nativity  and  in  its  com- 
mon schools  acquired  a  good  education.  He  was 
married  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  the  lady 
of  his  choice  being  Miss  Fannie  Lee,  of  Drogheda, 
Ireland,  who  was  born  December  8,  1822.  They 
began  their  domestic  life  in  their  native  land  and 
there  resided  for  about  seven  j^ears.  AVishing  to 
try  his  fortune  in  the  New  World,  Mr.  Wildman, 
accompanied  by  his  family,  crossed  the  broad  At- 
lantic to  the  United  States  and  imraediatel}'  after 
landing  made  his  way  Westward  to  Kankakee 
County,  III.,  where  he  has  since  engaged  in  farming. 

Three  sons  and  three  daughters  have  been  born 
of  the  union  of  our  subject  and  ins  estimable  wife 
and  the  three  eldest  are  natives  of  Ireland.  Rob- 
ert, born  on  the  25th  of  February,  1848,  is  now 
married  and  resides  in  Kansas,  wliere  he  follows 
farming;  Allen,  born  February  19,  1850,  is  also 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Kansas;  Mar- 
garet, born  September  23,  1851,  died  at  the  age  of 
twenty-nine  3'ears;  Fannie,  born  August  1,  1855,  is 
now  the  wife  of  Maurice  Vetter,  a  well-known  and 
enterprising  farmer  of  Wisconsin;  Susan,  born  in 
1857,  was   married  to  Robert  Scott,  a  resident  of 


this  county;  Lee,  born  Januar}'  8,  1863.  completes 
the  famil}'.  The  latter  is  now  married  and  resides 
at  home,  operating  the  old  home  farm. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Wildman  is  a 
Republican,  but  has  never  been  a  politician  in  the 
sense  of  office-seeking.  However,  he  has  faithfully- 
served  his  district  as  School  Director  for  a  period 
of  twelve  years.  In  1859,  he  purchased  from  the 
railroad  company  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land,  which  was  then  in  a  raw  state.  He  at  once, 
however,  began  its  development  and  his  labors 
have  transformed  the  barren  tract  into  one  of 
great  fertility.  Eveiy  improvement  ui)on  the  place 
is  as  a  monument  to  his  thrift  and  enterprise.  Mr. 
Wildman  is  a  practical  and  progressive  farmer, 
and  the  prosperity  which  has  crowned  liis  efforts 
is  well  deserved.  In  tlie  long  years  of  his  resi- 
dence here  he  has  formed  a  wide  acquaintance  and 
has  gained  the  good-will  and  respect  of  all  with 
whom  business  or  social  relations  have  brought  hira 
in  contact.  He  well  deserves  representation  among 
the  early  settlers  and  leading  farmers  of  his 
adopted  county. 


-^^- 


'REDERICK  E.LEGRIS,  a  prominent  broker 

;  of  Kankakee,  was  born  in  Bourbonnais,  on 
._  the  7th  of  September,  1860,  and  is  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  Cleophe  (Sylvester)  Legris.  (See  sketch 
of  father  on  another  page  of  this  work.) 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his  na- 
tive town,  and  received  his  education  at  St.  Via- 
teur's  College.  On  the  2d  of  February,  1886,  he 
married  Miss  Mary  Joubert,  who  was  born  in  Kan- 
kakee, and  whose  father,  Joseph  .Joubert,  was 
among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this  place.  Four 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Legris, 
a  daughter  and  three  sons:  Marietta  was  born 
November  28,  1886;  Joseph  was  born  on  the  7th 
of  September,  1888;  Ralph  on  the  9th  of  February, 
1891;  and  P'rederick  Grover,  November  9,  1892. 

Mr.  Legris  left  college  when  eighteen  years  of 
age,  and  engaged  in  farming  for  the  succeeding 
seven  years.     At  that  time  he  married  and  moved 


"'■■'  jf  Hums 


-^:^Z££ 


/. 


!''0\S 


PORTRAIT  AXD  PJOnnAPITTfAL  RECORD. 


2:.  7 


to  Kankakee,  ■where  he  has  one  of  the  lim-si  ^o!^i- 
dences  in  the  city.  Since  locating  here  Mr.  Legris 
has  been  engaged  in  the  real-estate  business,  and 
lias  had  charge  of  his  father's  estate,  which  has 
been  converted  into  cash  and  is  being  loaned  out 
under  his  direction.  Politically,  he  affiliates  with 
the  Democratic  party,  and  he  and  his  farail3-  hold 
membership  with  the  Catholic  Church  of  this  city. 


^R4,OBERT  0.  DANFORTII  is  a  prominent 
llHcT  f-'*'''™'''"  living  on  section  10,  Aroma  Town- 
(li\V  ship,  where  he  has  made  his  home  since 
^^four  years  of  age.  His  birth  occurred  in 
Dearborn  County,  Ind.,  on  the  27lh  of  January, 
l«l;3.  Ik'  is  a  son  of  Peasley  P.  and  JIaria  (Os- 
good) Daiiforth,  the  former  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  who  removed 
from  his  native  Slate  to  Dearborn  Count}-,  Ind.,  at 
an  early  day,  and  there  was  married.  He  was  a 
painter  by  trade,  and  was  quite  a  successful  man 
in  a  financial  way.  In  1842  he  removed  to  Kan- 
kakee County  and  purchased  between  four  luin- 
dred  and  five  hundred  acres  in  Aroma  Township, 
forty  acres  of  this  tract  being  near  the  present 
site  of  the  Illinois  Central  depot.  At  that  time 
the  country  was  very  wild,  and  occasional  bands 
of  Indians  passed  through  this  section.  But  few 
houses  were  to  be  seen  in  any  direi^tion,  and  he 
was  obliged  to  haul  his  grain  to  Chicago  in  order 
to  dispose  of  it.  His  first  residence  was  a  frame 
house.  Though  never  an  office-seeker,  Mr.  Dan- 
forth  took  an  interest  in  politics  and  was  a  stanch 
Republican.  He  was  highly-  respected  through- 
out the  communitj-,  and  was  one  of  the  worthy 
and  honored  pioneers  who  did  so  much  for  the 
development  and  prosperity-  of  this  county.  His 
death  occurred  on  the  l.'Uli  of  November,  1884. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were  passed 
upon  the  same  farm  which  he  now  operates.  He 
received  a  good  common-school  education,  attend- 
ing the  district  schools  at  intervals  until  nineteen 
years    of  age.     As   he    was    the   only  son   in   his 

12 


father's  family,  he  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  twenty-five  years  of  age,  helping  to 
carry  on  the  homestead,  and  to  this  propertj'  he 
succeeded  on  his  father's  death.  He  can  remem- 
ber when  there  was  only  one  house  in  the  present 
thriving  city  of  Kankakee,  and  in  his  early  years 
he  often  picked  blackberries  where  Court  Street  is 
now  located.  Thus  he  has  been  an  eye-witness  of 
great  changes  during  his  residence  of  about  half  a 
centurj'  in  this  portion  of  the  State. 

In  18G8  Mr.  Dauforth  married  jNIiss  Cora  Buch- 
ner,  a  daughter  of  Richard  and  Lydia  (Sherman) 
Buchner.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Canada, 
and  the  mother  of  the  Empire  State.  To  OHr  sub- 
ject and  his  wife  have  been  born  three  children: 
Charles  R.,  now  assisting  in  the  care  of  the  home- 
stead; f^ugene,  who  is  attending  school  at  Onarga, 
111.;  and  Helen  E.,  at  home. 

Mr.  Danforth  has  been  vcr^-  successful  in  a 
bu.siness  way  and  has  shown  much  ability  and  en- 
terprise. His  property  now  consists  of  three  hun- 
dred and  seventy-three  acres,  all  of  which  is  in 
Aroma  Township  and  is  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation. He  carries  on'  general  farming  and 
stock-raising.  Like  his  father,  Mr.  Danforth  is  a 
Republican  in  politics  and  has  alwa.ys  aided  in  all 
public  enterprises,  though  he  has  never  accepted 
ofljeial  positions.  He  is  numbered  among  the  pro- 
gressive and  practical  farmers  of  the  county,  and 
uses  the  latest  appliances  and  ideas  in  carrying  on 
his  agricultural  pursuits.  He  is  held  in  the  high- 
est regard  by  the  many  friends  and  acquaintances 
whom  he  has  made  during  his  long  residence  in 
this  county. 


♦^^ 


E^ 


ENNINOTON  SMALL  is  the  proprietor  of 
the  Kankakee  County  Xursery,  and  is  a 
leading  dairyman  of  Kankakee  Township, 
residing  on  section  31.  We  wish  to  add  to  the 
record  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this  county  the 
name  of  one  of  her  native  sons,  and  one  of  the  en- 
terprising and  public-spirited  business  men  of  this 
c(<inmunity.     Our   subject   was   born    on    the  old 


253 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


homestead,  near  the  corporate  limits  of  Kankakee, 
on  the  16th  of  June,  1862.  His  father.  Dr.  A. 
Small, is  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  tliis  count)-, 
and  a  sketch  of  his  life  appears  elsewhere  in  this 
volume. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject  were 
passed  upon  his  father's  farm,  where  his  attention 
was  early  turned  to  the  branch  of  business  which 
he  now  follows.  He  received  good  educational 
advantages  in  Kankakee,  which  he  supplemented  by 
a  course  at  the  Valparaiso,  (Ind.)  Normal  School. 
After  completing  his  studies,  Mr.  Small  engaged 
in  teaching,  and  for  about  two  years  was  one  of 
the  successful  teachers  of  Kankakee  County.  He 
then  determined  to  adopt  the  nursery  business,  and 
establisiied  himself  on  the  place  where  he  now  re- 
sides. His  father,  Dr.  Small,  who  was  the  origi- 
nal nurseryman  of  this  county  and  established  the 
business  here  in  1852,  turned  over  to  his  son  his 
retail  trade  in  that  line.  Mr.  Small  planted 
twenty-five  acres  in  young  trees  and  shrubber}' 
and  has  been  extensively  and  successfully  engaged 
in  business  since  undertaking  this  line.  He  has 
built  a  pleasant  and  substantial  residence,  barns 
and  other  buildings,  and  has  greatl)^  improved  his 
farm,  which  is  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  river, 
just  outside  of  the  city  limits,  and  which  is  a  val- 
uable and  improved  piece  of  propeity.  In  1890 
Mr.  Small  also  engaged  in  the  milk  and  dairy  busi- 
ness, and  now  supplies  several  iiundrcd  families  in 
Kankakee. 

Our  subject  has  always  taken  a  lively  interest  in 
the  growing  of  fruit,  and  was  elected  Secretary  of 
the  Kankakee  ^'alley  Horticultural  Society  when 
a  j'oung  man,  and  has  acted  in  that  capacity  for 
several  years.  In  1883  he  was  elected  Secretary 
of  the  Illinois  State  Horticultural  Society,  and 
served  for  one  term.  Politically  Mr.  Small  since 
becoming  a  voter  has  affiliated  with  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  cast  his  first  Presidential  ballot  for 
James  G.  Blaine.  He  has  never  thirsted  for  polit- 
ical honors  or  office,  but  has  preferred  to  devote 
his  time  to  his  many  business  interests.  Our  sub- 
ject was  elected  President  of  the  old  Fair  Associa- 
tion in  1890,  and  since  that  time  has  reorganized 
the  society,  which  is  now  known  as  the  Kankakee 
Fair   Association,   and  is  established  on  a  sound 


financial  basis.  The  last  fair  speaks  well  for  the 
present  efficient  board  of  managers,  and  the  so- 
ciety and  people  at  large  give  to  Mr  Small  great 
credit  for  his  labors  in  bringing  the  old  association 
into  its  present  good  condition.  Socially,  he  is  a 
member  of  Kankakee  Lodge  of  Modern  AVoodmen, 
which  is  in  a  flourishing  condition  and  numbers 
about  one  hundred  and  fift}-  members. 

In  Limestone  Township,  on  tlie  21st  of  Novem- 
ber, 188.3,  occurred  the  wedding  of  Mr.  Small  and 
Miss  Ida  Moore,  who  is  a  native  of  this  county  and 
was  here  reared  and  educated.  Previous  to  her 
marriage,  Mrs.  Small  was  a  successful  teacher.  She 
is  a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Leona  (Powell)  Moore, 
the  former  an  enterprising  farmer  of  Limestone 
Township.  Tiiree  children  have  come  to  bless 
the  home  of  our  subject  and  his  wife:  Budd  L., 
Leslie  C.  and  Ida  May. 

Mr.  Small  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county 
during  his  whole  life,  and  is  well  and  favorably 
known  in  this  and  adjoiniivg  counties.  He  is  a 
young  man  of  superior  business  capacity,  and  has 
been  most  successful  in  his  efforts.  Personally,  he 
is  worthy  the  confidence  and  friendship  of  all,  by 
his  many  qualities  of  honor,  industry  and  upright- 
ness. 


ALPH  H.  SAWYER,  the  efficient  Superin- 
tendent of  the  County  Farm  of  Kanka- 
kee, succeeded  Mr.  Dana  in  March,  1891. 
^^  The  County  Farm,  which  contains  forty- 
three  acres,  is  very  pleasantl)'  located  within  the 
corporation  limits  of  the  city  of  Kankakee. 

Mr.  Sawyer  was  born  in  the  township  of  Kent, 
in  Litchfield  County,  Conn.,  on  the  19th  of  No- 
vember, 1835.  His  father,  Elam  C.  Sawj^er,  was 
also  a  nalive  of  the  Nutmeg  State  and  was  de- 
scended from  one  of  its  early  families.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  before  her  marriage 
Elizabeth  H.  Holly  and  was  also  born  in  Connecti- 
cut. In  1844  the  famil)^  removed  from  their  na- 
tive State  to  Jefferson  County,  N.  Y.,  and  nine 
yeais  later  emigrated  to  Kendall  Count)',  111-, 
where  they  were  among  its  pioneer  settlers.    For 


ILLINOIS 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


259 


two  years  after  his  arrival  in  the  AVest,  the  father 
rented  land  and  then  purchased  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  wliich  was  located  in  La 
Salle  County.  After  a  three-years  residence  on 
this  place  the  family  returned  to  Lisbon,  in  Ken- 
dall County,  and  still  later  removed  to  Grundy 
County.  After  living  there  some  time  thej'  went 
to  Newton  Count}-,  Ind.,  where  the  father  resided 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  March,  1890,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  Tiie  mother  of  our 
subject  had  been  called  from  this  life  the  second 
year  after  her  removal  to  Illinois.  lu  her  famil}' 
were  four  children,  of  whom  our  subject  was  the 
only  son.  The  father  was  again  married,  and  Ed- 
win M.,  a  son  of  this  union,  died  near  Goodland, 
Newton  County,  Ind.,  in  March,  1892. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject  were 
passed  upon  his  father's  farm,  and  when  thirteen 
years  of  age  he  came  West  with  his  parents  to  Ill- 
inois, where  he  grew  to  manhood.  On  the  22d  of 
Januai}',  1855,  Mr.  Saw3-er  was  married  in  Cuba, 
Alleganj'  County,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss  Margaret  Hel- 
mer,  who  was  born  in  Montgomery  County,  N.  Y., 
and  is  a  daughter  of  G.  W.  and  Margaret  (Wal- 
rodt)  Ilelraer.  Mrs.  Sawyer  belonged  to  a  famil}' 
of  seven  children,  comprising  two  sons  and  five 
daughters.  A  brother  and  a  sister  are  now  de- 
ceased. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sawyer  lived  in  the  East 
a  j'ear  after  their  marriage  and  then  came  to  Mor- 
ris, Grundy  County,  III.,  where  he  farmed  a  num- 
ber of  years,  subsequently  removing  to  Pulaski 
County,  Ind.  In  1879  they  came  to  Chebanse, 
III.,  making  their  home  in  the  village  just  across 
the  county  line  dividing  Kankakee  and  Iroquois 
Counties.  AVhile  their  home  was  in  the  latter 
county  their  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  was  in  the  former  county.  In  their  familj' 
were  three  children:  AValter  H.  is  in  the  grocery 
business  in  Kankakee;  Nettie  died  when  four 
years  of  age;  Lottie  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Arm- 
strong, of  Roselawn,  Ind. 

Mr.  Sawyer  is  still  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm  sit- 
uated two  miles  north  of  Chebanse,  in  Iroquois 
Count}\  Both  he  and  his  wortliy  wife  have 
shown  by  their  judicious  management  of  the  un- 
fortunates placed  under  their  charge  their  adapta- 
bility to  the  positions  they  hold.    Both  thecount}- 


at  large  and  the  inmates  of  the  institution  are  in- 
deed fortunate  in  securing  its  present  supervisor. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sawyer  during  their  long  residence 
in  Kankakee  County  have  ever  had  the  I'cspect 
and  esteem  of  their  fellow-citizens  and  most  thor- 
oughly do  the}'  deserve  it.  Politically,  Mr.  Saw- 
yer is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  while  in  Chebanse 
served  several  terms  on  the  Village  Board. 


EWIS  H.  MILLER,  who  sujjerintends  the 
motive  power  and  rolling  stock  of  the  In- 
diana, Illinois  &  Iowa  Railway,  which  lias 
its  headquarters  at  Kankakee,  has  supervision  of 
the  entire  line  and  its  branches.  The  main  line 
extends  from  Streator,  111.,  to  Knox,  Ind.,  a  dis- 
tance of  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  and  its 
branches  extend  from  Wheatfield,  Ind.,  to  New 
Buffalo,  Mich.,  fifty  miles,  and  from  Kankakee  to 
Seneca,  111.,  forty  miles,  making  a  total  of  two 
hundred  and  ten  miles. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  in  the  town  of  Dauphin, 
Dauphin  County,  Pa.,  on  the  1st  of  November, 
1844.  His  parents,  John  P.  and  Lydia  Miller, 
Mere  also  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  the  father's 
birth  occurring  in  Dauphin  and  tlie  inotlier's  in 
Lancaster  County.  Both  are  now  deceased.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  and  educated  in 
his  native  State  and  in  his  early  youth  began 
learning  the  machinist's  trade  in  the  shops  of  the 
Northern  Central  Railroad  Company, at  Baltimore, 
Md.  In  August,  1865,  coming  West,  he  entered 
the  service  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad  Com- 
pany at  Bloomington,  III.,  and  for  a  short  time 
was  engaged  as  fireman  on  a  locomotive.  Later, 
he  worked  for  about  four  years  in  the  different 
shops  of  the  company  at  Bloomington  and  was 
then  emploj'ed  as  an  engineer,  running  on  the 
main  line  of  the  Chicago  &  Alton.  Afterward  he 
was  placed  in  charge  of  the  roundliouse  at  Joliet, 
remaining  there  three  j-ears.  lie  was  then  pro- 
moted to  be  Master  Mechanic  of  the  Kansas  City 
and  St.  Louis  Division,  with  headquarters  at  Slater, 
Mo.     On  the  4th  of   July,    1887,  he  accepted  his 


260 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


present  position  with  the  so-called  "Three  I's"  Rail- 
road and  has  held  it  up  to  this  date,  the  winter  of 
1802-03. 

Mr.  Miller  was  married  in  Bloomington,  111., 
May  11,  1868,  to  Miss  Sarah  .J.  Ewiug,  a  daughter 
of  William  and  Margery  Ewing.  The  lady  was 
born  in  Newton  Hamilton,  Mifflin  County,  Pa. 
The}'  have  four  children,  three  sons  and  a  daugh- 
ter: Charles  E.,  John  B.,  Lulu  M.  and  William  R. 
Charles  E.,  a  graduate  of  the  Bloomington  ward 
schools,  has  been  an  engineer  on  the  "Three  I's" 
Railroad  for  four  years,  having  taken  charge  of 
an  engine  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  John  B.,  who 
graduated  from  the  Kankakee  High  School  in  the 
Class  of  '02,  is  chief  clerk  at  Kankakee  in  the  gen- 
eral storekeeping  department  of  the  "Three  I's" 
Railroad. 

In  politics,  ]Mr.  Miller  is  a  positive  Republican 
and  firm  believer  in  the  elHcacj^  of  a  high  protec- 
tive tariff.  He  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason,  hold- 
ing membership  with  Perseverance  Lodge  No.  21, 
A.  F.  &  A.  iSI.,  of  Ilarrisburg,  I'a.;  a  member  of 
Bloomington  Chapter  No.  24,  R.  A.  M.,  of  Bloom- 
ington, 111.;  and  of  DeMolai  Commandery  No. 
26,  K.  T.,  of  Bloomington.  Mr.  Miller  has  had  a 
wide  experience  in  all  departments  of  mechanical 
railroading,  is  recognized  as  a  skilled  and  expert 
mechanic,  and  has  proved  a  most  trustworthy  and 
able  officer. 


^^,  EORGE  COOPER,  one  of  the  extensive  land- 
[||  ^-j  owners  of  Aroma  Township  and  a  leading 
^^Jj  agriculturist,  resides  on  section  36,  where 
he  has  long  made  his  home.  Among  the  honored 
pioneers  of  Kankakee  County  he  is  numbered,  for 
the  year  1845  witnessed  his  arrival  here.  The 
township  in  which  he  is  now  located  was  not  then 
organized,  the  count}-  was  then  all  wild  and  un- 
improved, and  in  the  work  of  developmentand  up- 
building our  subject  has  borne  an  important  part. 
A  debt  of  gratitude  which  can  never  be  repaid  is 
certainly  due  the  early  settlers  who  laid  the  foun- 
dation for  the  county  and  built  thereon  its  present 


prosperity;  however,  we  can  perpetuate  their  lives 
by  written  record  and  we  gladly  give  to  Mr.  Cooper 
a  place  in  this  volume. 

On  the  10th  of  February,  1821,  our  subject  was 
born  near  Cleveland,  Cuyahoga  County,  Ohio.  His 
father,  Dennis  Cooper,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut 
and  was  of  English  extraction.  He  served  in  the 
War  of  1812,  being  called  out  to  repel  the  British 
at  New  London  in  1814.  Shortly  afterwards  he 
came  to  Ohio  with  a  surveying  party,  making  the 
trip  westward  with  ox-te.ams.  He  purchased  a 
tract  of  unimproved  land  and  in  the  midst  of  the 
forest  liewed  out  a  farm.  He  was  among  the  early 
settlers  of  the  Buckeye  State.  For  many  years  he 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and  also  preached 
as  a  local  minister  of  the  Methodist  Church.  He 
married  Beulah  Peltou,  who  was  born  in  Connect- 
icut and  was  of  French  and  English  descent. 
They  became  parents  of  nine  children:  Jonathan, 
who  died  in  infancy;  Samuel  W.,  a  farmer  residing 
in  Will  County,  III.;  Dennis  who  died  in  1832; 
Harriet  L.,  who  died  in  1882;  Setli  P.,  a  farmer 
of  Iowa,  who  died  in  1800;  Mercy  Y.,  who  died 
in  1840;  AVilliam  E.,  a  farmer  residing  in  Repul)lic 
County,  Kan.;  and  Sarah,  whose  death  occurred  in 
18o0.  The  father  of  this  family  was  called  to  his 
final  rest  in  1841.  In  politics  he  was  an  old-line 
Whig  and  held  the  otlice  of  Justice  of  the  Peace 
and  other  local  positions.  His  widow  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1853  and  died  in  1856. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  Mr.  Cooper 
of  this  sketch  spent  the  d.ays  of  his  boyhood  and 
youtli.  He  acquired  a  good  education  and  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  seventeen  years  of 
age.  He  then  left  home  and  came  to  the  West  to 
try  his  fortune  on  tlie  broad  prairies  of  Illinois. 
In  company  with  a  friend  he  walked  all  the  way 
from  Ohio  to  Will  County,  where  he  secured  a 
claim  for  his  brotlier  and  worked  as  a  farm  hand 
by  the  montli  for  two  years.  In  1840  he  returned 
to  the  State  of  his  nativity,  where  he  spent  the 
four  succeeding  years  of  his  life,  engaged  in  teach- 
ing school  througli  the  winter  season,  while  in  the 
summer  months  he  continued  his  work  at  farm  la- 
bor. 

As  before  stated,  it  was  in  1845  that  Mr.  Cooper 
came  to  Kankakee  County.     He  at  once  located  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


261 


wliat  is  now  Aroma  Township,  purcliasing  forty 
acres  of  Government  land  on  section  36  at  $1.25 
per  acre.  His  first  land  patent  was  signed  by  Pres- 
ident Zacliary  Taylor.  With  characteristic  energy 
he  began  tiie  development  of  his  tract  of  wild 
prairie,  upon  which  he  turned  the  first  furrows,  and 
in  course  of  time  the  entire  amount  was  placed  un- 
der cultivation.  In  those  first  years  Mv.  Cooper 
bore  all  the  experiences  and  hardships  of  frontier 
life,  hut  with  the  passing  of  time  he  surmounted 
the  difficulties  in  his  path.  As  his  financial  re- 
sources were  increased  he  extended  the  boundaries 
of  his  farm  from  time  to  time  until  it  now  com- 
prises three  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  valuable 
land  in  a  state  of  great  fertility.  He  has  placed 
many  improvements  upon  it,  all  of  which  indicate 
his  thrift  and  enterprise.  He  successfully  carries  on 
general  farming,  and  his  success  has  been  well  de- 
served. 

Mr.  Cooper  has  been  twice  married.  In  1819, 
he  wedded  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  Grove  and 
Keturah  Case.  One  child  was  born  unto  them: 
Alice,  now  the  wife  of  IMarion  II.  Kenaga,  a  farmer 
of  Kansas,  who  is  now  serving  as  Recorder  of  his 
county.  Mrs.  Cooper  died  August  22,  1863,  and 
her  remains  were  interred  in  a  private  burying- 
ground  on  the  farm.  Mr.  Cooper  was  again  mar- 
ried, in  September,  1866,  bis  second  union  being 
with  Mrs.  Emma  I.  Bandle,  widow  of  Asahel  Bandle, 
and  a  daughter  of  Francis  F.  and  Hannah  (Miles) 
Foote.  By  her  first  marriage  she  had  one  son, 
Henry  L.,  who  is  now  a  carpenter  in  Chicago.  Un- 
to Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooper  have  been  born  two  sons: 
George  F.,  who  aids  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of 
the  home  farm;  and  Bert,  who  is  attending  school 
in  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  and  is  also  studying  law. 

During  the  late  war,  Mr.  Cooper  manifested  his 
lo}ality  to  the  Government  and  patriotism  by  en- 
tering the  service  of  his  country  as  one  of  the  boys 
in  blue.  He  joined  Companj'  F,  Seventy-sixth 
Illinois  Infantry,  as  a  private,  but  b3'  hiscompau3' 
was  elected  Captain.  The  first  active  engagement 
in  which  he  particiiiated  was  the  siege  of  Vicksburg. 
He  also  led  his  men  in  the  battle  of  .Jackson  and  in 
Sherman's  campaign  and  was  under  fire  at  the  en- 
gagements at  Meriden,  Benton,  ^'aughn  Station, 
Jackson  Cross  Roads,  the  siege  and  capture  of  Mo- 


bile, Ala.,  and  in  manv  others  of  lesser  importance. 
He  was  a  brave  commander,  beloved  b3"  his  men,  and 
of  his  army  record  he  may  well  be  proud.  He 
faithfully  served  his  country  until  the  22d  of  .Tuly, 
1865,  when  he  was  mustered  out.  On  the  4th  of 
August  following  he  was  honorably  discharged  and 
immediately  returned  to  hi^  home.  On  one  oc- 
casion he  was  struck  in  the  foot  by  a  piece  of  ex- 
ploded shell,  but  the  wound  was  not  serious  and 
otherwise  he  escaped  uninjured. 

Mr.  Cooper  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  Republican  party.  He  takes  great 
interest  in  political  affairs  and  alwa3S  keeps  him- 
self well  informed  on  the  issues  of  the  day.  He 
has  been  called  upon  to  fill  several  public  offices, 
having  served  as  .Justice  of  the  Pe.ace  for  two  terms, 
as  Road  Supervisor  for  several  terms,  and  was  the 
first  Coroner  of  Kankakee  Count}^  Socially  he  is 
a  member  of  AVhip|)le  Post  No.  414,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
Kankakee.  His  life  has  been  a  busy  and  useful 
one,  yet  he  has  found  time  to  devote  to  public  in- 
terests. He  has  aided  in  the  building  of  chuiches 
and  schools,  and  his  support  is  never  withheld  from 
any  worth 3'  enterprise  calculated  to  prove  of  pub- 
lic benefit.  Loyal  in  timcof  war,  he  isalst)a  valued 
citizen  in  the  days  of  peace. 


-^^ 


— S- 


^\  YRON  H.  VAN  RIPER,  physician  and 
surgeon,  has  been  a  resident  of  Kankakee 
County,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  since  1865.  He  was  born  in 
the  village  of  Mt.  Morris,  Livingston  County,  N. 
Y.,  on  the  17th  of  .July,  1833.  His  father,  .lohn 
Van  Riper,  was  a  native  of  Long  Island,  where  he 
was  born  in  1758.  He  was  in  the  direct  line  of 
descent  from  Abraham  Van  Riper,  who  was  born 
in  Holland  and  was  one  of  the  early  Dutch  set- 
tlers of  Manhattan,  now  New  York.  It  will  be 
observed  that  our  subject,  though  not  an  old  man, 
is  the  son  of  one  who  was  born  but  little  beyond 
the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century  and  whose 
birth  antedates  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution- 
ary War  by  about  seventeen  years,  in   fact  John 


2G2 


POKTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Van  Riper  was  a  soldier  in  that  struggle.  He 
studied  law  in  New  York  afterward  and  became  a 
well-known  lawyer,  practicing  in  those  early  days 
in  various  portions  of  tlie  Empire  State.  He  mar- 
ried for  his  second  wife  Mrs.  Delia  Henderson,  nee 
Mead,  who  became  the  mother  of  our  subject,  when 
the  father  had  attained  tiie  age  of  about  seventy- 
five  3'ears.  He  passed  the  last  years  of  his  life  at 
Mt.  Morris,  N.  Y.  In  1848,  while  on  a  trip  West- 
ward to  see  the  countr}-  he  had  visited  in  earlier 
days,  he  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years, 
his  wife  having  died  in  1842. 

I'pon  the  death  of  his  mother,  Dr.  Van  Riper, 
then  but  a  lad,  weut  to  New  York  City,  where  he 
lived  in  tlie  family  of  his  father's  sister.  He  re- 
ceived his  literary  education  at  Rose  Hill  Serai- 
nary  and  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Prof. 
Thomas  Cock,  who  was  the  professor  of  the  theory 
and  practice  of  medicine  in  the  University  of 
New  York.  Dr.  Van  Riper  took  his  first  course  of 
lectures  at  Believue  Medical  College  of  New  York. 
Later  he  attended  Jefferson  Medical  College  in 
Philadelphia  and  again  returned  to  Believue, 
where  he  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  with 
his  preceptor.  For  a  short  time  he  was  located  in 
Detroit,  Midi. 

At  the  Ineaking  out  of  the  Civil  "War,  Dr.  Van 
Riper  entered  the  army,  August  9,  1861,  as  a  pri- 
vate in  Company  C,  Sixteenth  Michigan  Regi- 
ment, known  as  Col.  Stockton's  Independent  Reg- 
iment of  Michigan  Volunteers.  He  was  promised 
the  appointment  to  the  position  of  Assistant  Sur- 
geon, but  .although  he  served  in  that  capacity  until 
he  was  wounded,  he  never  received  his  commission. 
Dr.  Van  Riper  was  terribly  wounded  at  the  battle 
of  Malvern  Hill.  The  command  to  which  he  was 
attached  was  charging  Magruder,  who  had  made 
an  assault  on  the  large  battery.  The  Doctor  was 
in  the  advance,  but  orders  being  given  to  about 
face  and  return  from  the  charge,  was  tliereby 
thrown  to  the  rear.  Seeing  the  man  who  bore  the 
medicine  case  had  left  it,  he  ran  back  for  it.  Just 
about  as  he  again  caught  up  with  his  regiment,  a 
shell  from  one  of  the  enemy's  guns  passed  so  near 
him  that  the  concussion  tlirew  him  about  six  rods. 
Striking  first  on  his  head,  then  on  his  feet,  some- 
what in  the  manner  of  an  acrobat,  he  broke  both 


legs,  his  left  arm  and  his  right  shoulder  blade, 
and  received  a  large  hernia  of  the  right  side.  He 
was  so  scverel3'  injured  that  several  weeks  elapsed 
before  lie  recovered  consciousness  sufficiently  to 
realize  his  condition.  He  was  first  conveyed  to 
the  Marine  Hospital  at  Annapolis,  Md.,and  thence 
to  Washington,  where  he  was  placed  in  a  hosi)ital 
improvised  in  a  portion  of  the  Patent  Office,  and 
from  there  was  finally  taken  to  Believue  Hospital, 
New  York.  On  December  4,  1862,  he  received  an 
honorable  discharge  in  that  city.  When  he  had  suffi- 
ciently recovered.  Dr.  Van  Riper  returned  to  De- 
troit, where  he  was  induced  by  Prof.  Gunn,lateof 
Chicago,  to  return  to  the  sei'vice.  He  was  com- 
missioned Surgeon  and  placed  in  charge  of  Church 
Hospital  at  City  Point.  The  result  of  the  wounds 
received  at  Malvern  Hill  was  a  large  lumbar  ab- 
cess,  which  discharged  for  over  six  months  and 
which  has  practically  made  him  a  cripple  for  life. 
He  found  the  duties  of  his  new  position  too  labor- 
ious, resulting  in  failing  health,  and  in  consequence 
of  this  he  was  made  inspector  of  the  wounded  who 
arrived  at  City  Point.  He  continued  in  that  po- 
sition until  near  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was 
brave  and  patriotic  and  did  all  in  liis  power  to 
alleviate  the  sufferings  of  his  brothers  and  to  carry 
the  old  flag  on  to  victory. 

Having  previously  graduated  from  the  medical 
department  of  the  Michigan  State  University,  Dr. 
Van  Riper  was  for  a  time  demonstrator  in  the 
chemical  laboratory-  of  that  institution.  In  1865, 
he  came  to  Kankakee  County  and  located  at  Mo- 
meuce,  where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  for  two  years,  at  the  expiration  of 
which  time  he  removed  to  Kankakee,  which  he 
has  made  his  home  up  to  the  present  time. 

Our  subject  was  first  married  in  1855,  to  Miss 
Jane  Shout,  who  died  in  1862,  while  her  husband 
was  in  the  army.  In  1865,  Dr.  Van  Riper  married 
Ann  Rogers,  a  niece  of  the  eminent  sculptor  of 
that  name.  In  1872  he  was  again  married,  this 
time  to  his  present  wife,  who  in  her  maidenhood 
was  Margaret  Wilking.  The  Doctor  has  become 
the  father  of  four  children,  a  daughter,  Dellie,  the 
child  of  his  first  wife,  and  three  sons  by  his  second 
marriage,  Myron,  (iarrett  and  Marcus.  He  has  a 
large  practice  but  still  suffers  severely  from  the 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


263 


effects  of  liis  army  life.  The  many  friends  he  has 
made  dining  the  quarter  centiir}'  of  liis  residence 
in  this  city  hold  him  in  the  highest  esteem. 

Our  subject  is  serving  his  tliird  term  as  Surgeon 
of  Whipple  Post  No.  414,  G.  A.  K.,  of  Kankakee. 
For  some  five  years  he  w.as  County  Pli3sician  and 
Surgeon.  He  was  the  first  and  only  medical  man 
who  served  as  Health  Officer,  and  be  it  said  to 
his  credit  that  for  once  the  citj'  received  a  thor- 
ough cleansing.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Kankakee 
County  Medical  Society,  of  which  he  was  Presi- 
dent for  a  number  of  years. 


m^  ENRY  CLAY  KONKLIN,  of  Kankakee, 
Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Police  Justice,  is 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  county,  the  date 
of  his  arrival  here  being  March,  1856.  He 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  ]\Iarch  13,  1821.  His 
father,  Henry  Konklin,  died  when  his  son,  our  sub- 
ject, was  about  seventeen  years  of  age.  The  latter 
is  the  j'oungest  of  a  family  of  five  children,  all  of 
whom  are  living.  George,  who  has  now  reached 
quite  an  advanced  age,  is  a  resident  of  Philadel- 
phia; Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Stackhouse  owns  a  portion 
of  the  old  homestead  in  the  township  of  Haver- 
ford,  Delaware  County,  Pa.,  but  is  a  resident  of  New 
York  Citv;  Mrs.  Eliza  Sharpless  is  the  wife  of  "Will- 
iam Sharpless,  of  West  Chester,  Chester  County-,  Pa.; 
William  makes  his  home  in  Philadelphia.  The 
mother  of  this  family,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Margaret  Moore,  died  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Pennsylvania,  at  the  extreme  old  age  of  ninety- 
three  years. 

H.  C.  Konklin  was  about  seventeen  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  his  father's  death,  and  w^as  thus 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources  early  in  life.  Soon 
afterward  he  left  the  old  home  and,  going  to  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  engaged  as  clerk  for  Oliver  Town- 
send,  with  whom  he  continued  for  one  year.  From 
there  he  went  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  which  was  his 
home  for  fourteen  years.  For  a  number  of  3'ears 
Mr.  Konklin  w-.as  engaged  in  the  clothing  business, 
and  was  connected  with    the    Courier  newspaper 


ofHce  in  the  cap.acity  of  bookkeeper  and  hill  clerk 
for  a  period  of  five  years.  That  eminent  editor 
and  writer,  George  D.  Prentice,  was  at  that  time 
also  connected  with  the  Courier,  and  with  him  Mr. 
Konklin  became  well  acquainted. 

Soon  after  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  with 
Mexico,  our  subject  decided  to  enter  the  arm^-, 
and  on  the  lltli  of  Maj',  184(!,  he  enlisted  for  one 
3"ear  and  fought  under  Gen.  Zachary  Tayloi' in  the 
famous  I)attle  of  IJuena  A'ista.  He  h.as  ever  pos- 
sessed a  great  admiration  for  "Old  Hough  and 
Ready,"  and  though  a  life-long  Democrat,  es- 
teemed it  a  great  ple.asure  to  have  the  privilege  of 
voting  for  his  old  commander  in  the  Presiden- 
tial election  of  1848.  At  tlie  close  of  his  term  of 
service  our  subject  returned  to  Louisville. 

Mr.  Konklin  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Elizabeth  Stylle,  daughter  of  Thomas  St^'lle,  for- 
merly of  Richmond,  Va.  The  wedding  ceremony 
was  performed  in  Louisville,  Ky.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  bj-  five  children,  two  sons  and  three 
daughters,  as  follows:  Emma  is  the  wife  of  Gustav 
Olson;  Henry  Clay  is  a  railroad  engineer  and  a 
resident  of  Chicago;  Walter  is  also  an  engineer, 
but  makes  his  home  in  Kankakee;  Hattie  is  the 
wife  of  John  Page,  of  Chicago;  and  Elizabeth,  the 
youngest  of  the  family,  is  at  home. 

Mr.  Konklin  came  to  Kankakee  County'  through 
the  advice  of  a  friend,  Edwin  liristow,  who  had 
visited  this  portion  of  the  State  and  was  favorablj' 
irapiessed  with  the  country.  He  accordingly,  af- 
ter viewing  the  county,  purch.ased  the  whole  of 
section  11),  in  F^ssex  Township,  the  northern  half 
for  himself  and  the  southern  part  for  his  friend, 
Mr.  Bristow.  This  property  he  purchased  of  Will- 
iam Short.  Mr.  Bristow  never  became  a  resident 
of  the  county-,  his  purchase  being  onl^-  for  specula- 
tion, Init  he  however  stocked  his  farm  with  cattle 
and  made  some  improvements  upon  it.  His  death 
occurred  in  April  of  the  following  year,  1857.  Mr. 
Konklin  owned  his  land  for  thirty  years,  and  con- 
tinued to  reside  upon  it  until  December,  1884, 
when  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Kankakee.  The 
land,  which  had  cost  liira  but  -i^.)  per  acre  in  1856, 
he  sold  to  James  Mix  for  $60  per  acre.  Our  sub- 
ject accidentally  discovered  that  his  farm  was  un- 
derlaid with  a  valuable  coal  bed.     Sinking  a  shaft, 


264 


POiiTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  EECORD. 


he  struck  coal  at  a  depth  of  seventy-two  feet  be- 
low the  surface,  the  vein  being  two  feet  in  thick- 
ness and  ten  feet  in  width.  Coal  is  now  being' 
mined  successfully  on  the  place  and  rich  veins  are 
being  worked.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  this 
mine  is  covered  with  a  laj'cr  of  soapstone,  var}'- 
ing  from  thirt^^-five  to  forty-five  feet  in  thickness. 
Mr.  Konklin  has  seen  Kankakee  County  develop 
from  a  wilderness  to  its  present  advanced  condi- 
tion of  prosperit3-.  When  he  settled  with  liis  fam- 
ily in  Essex  Township,  there  was  no  house  to  the 
north  of  liis  farm  for  a  distance  of  six  miles,  and 
onl3'  two  houses  were  to  be  seen  in  his  vicinitj^, 
tliose  of  Dr.  Philander  Underwood  and  George 
Spencer,  the  latter  in  Greenfield  Township,  Grundy 
County.  Mr.  Konklin  was  prominently  identified 
with  the  growth  of  Essex  Township,  where  he  was 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  twenty-three  j'ears,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  for  five  years  in  Kanka- 
kee. In  his  political  faith,  he  is  an  unswerving 
Democrat,  having  voted  with  that  party  for  fifty 
years,  the  onl3'  exception  being  in  1848,  when  he 
voted  for  Gen.  Taylor.  He  is  well  known  through- 
out Kankakee  County,  where  he  has  lived  so  long. 
As  an  official,  his  career  has  been  attended  with 
the  confidence  and  respect  of  the  eommunitj-,  and 
as  a  citizen  lie  has  ever  iiad  the  regard  and  esteem 
of  all.  Mr.  Konklin  is  a  Deacon  in  the  First  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Kankakee  City. 


ft  FRANK  LEONARD,  of  Kankakee,  is  Clerk 
of  the  Circuit  Court  and  ex-officio  Recorder 
of  this  county.  He  has  served  efficiently  in 
the  double  capacity  just  mentioned  for  the 
long  period  of  twelve  years  and  is  a  well-known 
and  popular  citizen  of  Kankakee.  He  was  born  in 
Bennington  County-,  Vt.,  on  the  16th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1847.  His  father,  John  T.  Leonard,  was 
also  a  native  of  the  Green  Mountain  State  and 
came  from  an  old  family  of  that  State.  In 
1858,  witli  his  family,  he  emigrated  to  Illinois  and 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Aroma  Township,  this  county. 


There  he  continued  to  reside  until  1869,  when  he 
removed  to  Kankakee  to  spend  his  remaining 
days.  His  death  occurred  in  August,  1872.  His 
wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Catherine 
Woodard,isa  sister  of  Edwin  AVoodard,one  of  the 
pioneers  of  this  county.  Mrs.  Leonard  still  sur- 
vives and  makes  her  home  in  Kankakee. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  only  child  of 
his  parents.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm,  his 
educational  privileges  being  such  as  were  af- 
forded b3'  the  district  schools.  He  attended 
school  both  in  Vermont  and  in  Kankakee  County'. 
In  those  days  there  were  but  two  terms  dur- 
ing the  year,  one  of  three  months  during  the 
winter  and  one  of  the  same  length  daring  the  A 
summer.  In  1867,  when  he  had  attained  his  " 
twentieth  year,  he  started  in  business  for  himself. 
His  first  venture  was  in  the  liver3'  business  in 
Kankakee,  in  which  line  he  continued  for  about 
two  j-ears.  For  nearl3'  the  same  length  of  time 
he  was  emplo3'ed  b3'  the  month  in  the  same 
vocation.  His  first  official  position  was  that  of 
Constable,  in  which  capacity  he  served  for  eight 
years.  He  was  elected  City  Marshal  and  from  the 
3-ear  1869  until  1872  was  Deput3'  Sheriff.  He  also 
served  as  Supervisor  of  the  town,  and  was  the  last 
City  Collector  of  Kankakee.  In  the  winter  of 
1878-79,  Mr.  Leonard  was  one  of  the  Senate 
Clerks.  In  the  next  fall  he  was  made  Supervisor 
of  tlie  Illinois  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  which  is 
located  at  Kankakee.  In  the  spring  of  1880,  he 
was  nominated  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  and  was 
elected  at  the  annual  election  in  November  of  that 
year,  and  has  served  in  that  capacity',  as  alread3' 
stated,  for  twelve  consecutive  years. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Leonard  is  an 
ardent  supporter  of  the  Republican  partj-  and  is 
active  and  influential  in  its  councils.  He  is  at 
present  Chairman  of  the  Republican  County  Cen- 
tral Committee  and  also  of  the  Congressional  Com- 
mittee. At  present  he  is  representing  the  First 
Ward  of  the  city  on  the  Board  of  Aldermen.  He 
is  an  active  and  prominent  Mason  and  has  oc- 
cupied the  chair  of  Master  of  the  Blue  Lodge.  He 
was  High  Priest  of  the  Chapter  and  has  been 
Commander  in  the  Commander3'.  He  endeavors 
in  his  daily  life  to  be  guided  b3'  the  teachings   of 


■  ■  vr  \ium\s 


jS*^^ 


'i^^^ 


'1 


<U/^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPfflCAL  liECORD, 


2(w 


MasoniT,  wliich,  if  complied  with,  make  men  truer 
friends  and  better  citizens.  In  disposition,  Mr. 
Leonard  is  cordial,  genial  and  courteous  to  all 
witli  whom  he  has  business  or  social  relations. 
Hence  he  is  a  popular  and  esteemed  citizen  and 
has  won  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  who 
know  hini.  lie  is  independent  and  pronounced  in 
his  oi>inions  as  to  right  or  wrong,  and  has  tiie 
courage  of  his  convictions.  He  is  intelligent  and 
well  read,  and  keei)S  fully  posted  on  all  the  lead- 
ing political  and  other  issues  of  the  da}'. 


-.^..{..{.^..^^.{.^.^.^j-- 


■•j-***^^****" 


jf_^  ON.  HAMILTON  K.  WHEELER, attorney- 
)V,  at-law  and  Congressman-elect,  representing 
■  the  Ninth  Congressional  District  of  Illi- 
((£))  nois,  was  born  in  IJallston ,  Saiatoga  Count\-, 
N.  Y.,  August  5,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of  Andrew  P. 
and  Sarah  (.lewett)  Wheeler,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  ShaflSbury  and  the  latter  in  Benning- 
ton, Vt.  The  father  died  at  his  home  in  Grant 
Park,  Kankakee  County,  111.,  which  had  been  his 
home  for  thirty  ^ears.  His  good  wife  survives 
him  and  resides  at  the  old  homestead. 

In  presenting  the  facts  pertaining  to  the  life 
history  of  our  subject,  we  quote  the  following  ex- 
tract from  the  Kankakee  Gazette  ot  Maj^  12,  1892: 
"  H.  K.  AVheeler  was  born  in  New  Yoik,  August 
5,  1848.  His  parents  moved  to  Yellowhead  Town- 
>liip,  Kankakee  County,  111.,  in  18.52,  and  settled 
on  a  farm  in  that  township.  Like  most  pioneers 
thej-  were  poor,  and  our  subject  had  only  such  ad- 
vantages for  schooling  as  the  frontier  furnished, 
a  matter  of  three  months'  education  each  year. 
Being  the  eldest  of  four  boys,  the  duties  of  assist- 
ing his  parents  in  their  new  home  fell  on  him,  such 
work  as  herding  cattle,  driving  oxen  with  break- 
ing-plow, etc.,  falling  to  his  share.  Added  to  his 
school  advantages,  his  mother  had  a  few  well-se- 
lected books,  such  as  Franklin's  "  Poor  Richard," 
Addison's  "Spectator"  and  a  few  works  of  his- 
torv.  These,  with  such  books  as  she  could  borrow 
in  the  neighborhood  from  the  earliest  settlers, 
constituted  the  library.     At  nineteen  years  of  age 


he  was  without  education  except  such  as  he  had 
acquired  in  the  common  schools,  his  parents,  while 
very  desirous  that  he  should  have  educational  ad- 
vantages, being  still  unable  to  send  him  to  school. 

"  Leaving  home  he  came  to  Kankakee  and  suc- 
ceeded in  securing  a  place  witli  A.  II.  True,  then 
living  on  a  farm  on  the  outskirts  of  Kankakee, 
and  here  he  worked  mornings  and  evenings  and 
attended  school  during  the  day.  The  following 
year  he  entered  St.  Paul's  Academy,  a  nourishing 
school  at  Kankakee,  and  for  four  succeeding  years 
his  time  was  divided  between  attending  and  teach- 
ing school  and  studying  law.  His  legal  educa- 
tion was  obtained  prineii<ally  at  the  Law  Hniver- 
sitj-  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  from  which  institution 
he  was  graduated  in  the  year  1872.  At  that  time 
the  law  required  that  a  student  should  stud}'  two 
years  before  he  could  be  admitted  to  the  Bar,  and 
as  our  subject  had  studied  only  eighteen  months 
he  could  not  be  admitted.  He  commenced,  how- 
ever, to  practice  at  once  and  was  admitted  tlie  fol- 
lowing September.  Since  that  time  he  has  prac- 
ticed law  in  Kankakee  and  has  had  an  extensive 
practice,  including  all  cases  of  litigation  except 
criminal  cases,  which  he  has  rarely  undertaken. 

"For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Wheeler  has  been 
engaged  in  bitter  litigation  against  the  Illinois 
Central,  Chicago  iV-  Eastern  Illinois,  and  the  Chi- 
cago, Cleveland,  Cincinnati  &  St.  Louis  Railroad 
Companies,  which  cases  are  still  pending  in  the 
Apijcllate,  Supreme  and  Federal  Courts. 

"In  1884  our  subject  was  elected  to  the  State 
Senate  from  Iroquois  and  Kankakee  Counties.  On 
the  organization  of  the  Senate,  he  was  given  the 
chairmanship  of  the  Committee  on  .Judiciary,  that 
being  the  second  committee  in  rank  in  the  Senate. 
He  also  served  on  the  Committees  on  Agriculture, 
Appropriations,  Insurance,  Municipalities,  Finance, 
Education,  Military  Affairs  and  Elections.  Mr. 
Wheeler  was  one  of  the  one  hundred  and  three  who 
made  the  gallant  light  lesulting  in  the  election  of 
Gen.  Logan  to  the  United  States  Senate,  and  took 
an  active  part  in  the  contest.  In  the  Thirty-fifth 
General  Assembly  he  was  again  assigned  to  the 
same  committees,  and  at  that  session  was  one  of 
the  special  committee  appointed  by  the  Senate  to 
investigate  the   '  State  Printing  Combine,'  which 


268 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


committee  made  a  report  finding  that  the  State 
printing  had  been  uulawf  iilly  let  at  too  high  a  price 
and  recommending  the  annulment  of  that  con- 
tract, which  decision  was  afterward  sustained  by 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  and  a  new  con- 
tract made  at  a  much  lower  price,  thus  saving 
thousands  of  dollars  to  the  State. 

"In  1888  Mr.  Wheeler  closed  out  his  farming 
interests  in  this  county,  which  he  had  prior  to 
that  time  carried  on  under  his  own  supervision, 
and  since  then  has  devoted  his  attention  exclu- 
sively to  his  profession.  His  practice  is  an  exten- 
sive one,  including  some  of  tlie  most  important 
cases  handled  at  the  Bar.  Our  subject  is  not  an 
orator  but  has  the  faculty  of  concise  and  lucid  ex- 
pression, stating  his  points  clearly  and  briefly.  He 
is  quick  to  see  a  point,  forms  his  conclusions  rap- 
idly and  acts  promptly.  His  practical  knowledge 
of  men  and  business  makes  him  a  valuable  advo- 
cate in  litigation,  and  in  presenting  the  issues  of 
the  forthcoming  campaign  he  will  be  found  a 
ready  and  effective  speaker.  He  is  a  hard  worker, 
and  as  a  member  of  Congress  his  energy  will  be 
felt  in  the  committee-room.  Personally,  Mr. 
Wheeler  is  the  most  genial  of  men,  with  a  hearti- 
ness of  manner  which  makes  a  friend  of  whomso- 
ever he  meets.  His  fund  of  anecdotes  is  one  of 
the  pleasant  features  of  his  conversation,  and  he 
has  a  story  to  embellish  everj'  subject  under  dis- 
cussion. He  is  not  by  an}-  means  rich,  but  his  fine 
practice,  unremitting  attention  to  business,  and 
judicious  investments  have  placed  liim  in  com- 
fortable circumstances." 

In  1890  the  Ninth  Congressional  District  of  Illi- 
nois was  carried  b}'  the  Democrats,  who  elected 
Mr.  Snow  over  Mr.  Payson,  a  popular  Republican, 
then  the  Congressman  from  that  district.  In  No- 
vember, 1892,  Mr.  Wheeler,  in  spite  of  the  great 
political  landslide  that  swept  the  countrj'  in  favor 
of  the  Democrats  that  year,  was  elected  over  Mr. 
Snow  by  five  hundred  and  twent}'  pluralitj-,  thus 
demonstrating  his  great  personal  popularity. 

In  1884  Mr.  Wheeler  was  appointed  general  so- 
licitor of  the  Indiana,  Illinois  A'  Iowa  Railroad 
Companj-  and  has  held  .that  position  ever  since, 
covering  a  period  of  eight  years.  He  was  instru- 
mental in  securing  the  right  of  way  through  east- 


ern Illinois  almost  without  litigation,  and  in  a  fair 
and  just  manner  to  the  land-owners  and  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  company.  He  has  conducted 
some  very  important  cases  against  other  lines  of 
railways  with  marked  success.  For  ten  years  past 
Mr.  Wheeler  has  been  the  acknowledged  leader  of 
the  Kankakee  County  Bar  and  has  made  important 
cases  of  civil  litigation  the  principal  feature  of  his 
practice,  in  which  he  has  been  eminently  suc- 
cessful. 

On  the  loth  of  October,  1883,  Mr.  Wheeler  was 
married  in  Kankakee  to  Miss  Mar}'  A.  Braley,who 
was  born  in  Hamilton,  N.  Y.,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  They  have  three 
sons:  Lester  AV.,  Everett  S.  and  Hamilton  H.  Our 
subject  is  a  stockholder  and  director  in  the  City 
National  Bank  of  Kankakee,  and  is  a  stockholder 
and  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Kan- 
kakee Electric  Street  Railroad  Compan}%  He  is 
the  principal  owner  of  the  Kankakee  Ice  Com- 
pany, in  which  his  eldest  son,  Lester,  is  his  partner 
and  local  manager.  In  the  summer  of  1892,  Mr. 
Wheeler  entered  into  law  partnership  with  Will- 
iam R.  Hunter,  the  present  States  Attorney  for 
Kankakee  County,  under  the  firm  name  of  Wheeler 
&  Hunter. 


4^ 


^p^  HARLES  HOLT,  editor  and  proprietor  of 
[if^.^  the  Kankakee  Oazelte,  has  made  his  home 
■^^z  in  this  city  for  a  period  of  twenty-four 
years,  dating  his  residence  from  1868.  No  man 
has  done  more  to  mold  public  opinion  in  this  lo- 
cality or  to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the 
people  tiian  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
record,  and  it  is  but  meet  that  he  should  be  duly 
represented  in  this  volume. 

Mr.  Holt  is  a  native  of  New  York.  He  was  born 
in  Herkimer,  on  the  5th  of  March,  1817,  and  his 
family  were  a  family  of  printers.  His  father 
learned  the  trade  of  printing  in  the  New  London 
(Conn.)  Bee  office  with  his  brother  Charles  be- 
tween the  year  1790  and  1800.  He  was  aferward 
connected  with  one  of  the  earliest  New  York  City 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL   RECORD. 


269 


dailies,  and  in  1801  published  a  paper  in  Herkimer. 
At  later  periods  he  also  did  editorial  work  in  that 
place.  Thus  it  was  not  strange  that  our  subject 
should  enter  the  journalistic  field.  In  January, 
183(1,  when  thirteen  years  of  age,  he  entered  an 
anti-Mason  printing  otiice  and  between  the  years 
of  1836  and  18l()  he  w.is  employed  at  newspajier 
work  in  tlie  cities  of  Albany  and  New  York,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  wasenipkncd  upon  the  Trtbune. 
under  Horace  Greeley  and  the  Journal  under 
Thurlow  Reed.     lie  also  worked  in  book  offices. 

It  was  in  1816  that  ]\Ir.  Holt  emigrated  west- 
ward, locating  in  Madison,  Wis.  The  State  had 
not  then  been  admitted  to  the  Union.  In  1848 
he  purchased  a  half  interest  in  the  Jancsville 
Gazelle,  and  in  company  with  Levi  Alden  estab- 
lished the  second  daily  paper  in  Wisconsin  outside 
of  Milwaukee.  Mr.  Holt  reported  for  the  Milwa\i- 
kee  Sentinel  the  proceedings  of  the  first  Constitu- 
tional Convention,  which  was  held  in  184C,  and  in 
1848,  after  the  adoption  of  the  State  Constitution, 
he  performed  a  similar  service  for  the  same  paper 
in  reporting  the  proceedings  of  the  first  State  Leg- 
islature. For  a  considerable  number  of  years  Mr. 
Holt  acted  as  reporter  for  the  Milwaukee  Sentinel 
at  all  the  political  State  conventions  held  in  Wis- 
consin and  in  this  way  formed  a  wide  acquain- 
tance with  men  of  prominence,  both  in  political 
and  journalistic  lines.  He  also  made  many  warm 
friends  among  these  gentlemen.  On  leaving  Wis- 
consin he  was  fourth  in  seniority'  among  the  men 
then  activeljf  connected  with  the  press  of  the 
State,  Mr.  Cramer,  still  of  Milwaukee  Wis.,  Col. 
Robinson,  of  the  Green  Bay  Advocate,  and  Gen.  : 
Atwood,  of  the  Madison  Journal,  both  now  de- 
ceased, being  his  seniors. 

Mr.  Holt  left  the  Badger  State  and  became  a 
resident  of  Quincy,  111.,  where  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  J.  J.  Langdon,  an  old-time  Chicago 
printer  and  fireman,  formerly  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Langdon  <&  Rounds.  For  four  j^ears  Mr. 
Holt  and  JMr.  Langdon  were  associated  in  the  pub- 
lication of  the  Quincy  Whig.  He  then  sold  his  in- 
terest in  that  paper  and  in  1868  came  to  Kankakee, 
where  he  has  since  continued  to  reside.  During 
the  long  years  that  have  passed  he  has  contin- 
uously   published   the   Kankakee  Gazette,   one   of 


the  leading  and  well-known  papers  of  northern 
Illinois.  For  over  sixty  years  Mr.  Holt  lias  been 
in  a  printing  oflice  and  his  experience  as  a  news- 
paper editor  and  imblisher  covers  a  period  of 
forty-four  years.  Tliis  experience  and  marked 
ability  have  won  him  signal  success,  and  it  is  no 
(lattery  to  say  that  he  occupies  a  high  position 
among  newspaper  men.  He  was  one  of  the  ear- 
liest members  of  the  Wisconsin  Press  Association, 
which  claims  to  be  the  earliest  State  Press  Associa- 
tion in  the  United  States.  He  became  a  member 
of  the  Illinois  Press  Association  in  1869,  and  was 
elected  its  President  in  1881.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  committee  that  prepared  the  platform  of 
the  Republican  party  on  the  organization  in  Wis- 
consin, and  has  since  been  a  warm  advocate  of 
the  principles  of  that  body. 


-^ji  RTHUR  SWANNELL  is  junior  member  of 
AJll  the  firm  of  C.  E.  &  A.  Swannell,  dry-goods 
merchants  of  Kankakee.  (For  mention  of 
business,  see  sketch  of  C.  E.  Swannell.) 
He  was  born  in  the  city  of  Kankakee  on  the  14th 
of  November,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  Frederick  and 
Eliza  (Paddon)  Swannell,  whose  sketch  is  given 
on  another  page  of  this  volume. 

Arthur  Swannell  first  attended  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  citv  and  then  became  a  student  in 
the  State  University,  which  is  located  at  Cham- 
paign, 111.,  from  which  he  graduated  in  the  Class 
of  '79,  after  completing  a  four-years  course. 
Thereupon  he  began  his  mercantile  career  as  a 
salesman  in  his  father's  store,  and  in  August  of 
the  following  year  he  entered  into  the  existing 
partnership  with  his  brother,  Charles  E.,  they  hav- 
ing purchased  their  father's  interest  in  the  old 
established  and  well-known  dry-goods  house  of 
Frederick  Swannell  ife  Co. 

In  Brush  Creek,  Fayette  County,  Iowa,  on  the 
loth  of  January,  1885,  occurred  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  Swannell  and  Miss  Florence  Misoner,  who  is  a 
daughter  of  D.  W.  Misener,  and  was  born  in  Can- 


270 


i-ORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ada.  Four  childreu  have  been  born  to  our  subject 
and  his  wife,  three  sons  and  a  daughter,  all  of 
whom  claim  Kankakee  as  the  place  of  their  birth. 
They  are  as  follows:  Frederick  W.,  Jeannette, 
Horace  C.  and  William  Laurence. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swannell  hold  membership  with 
the  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Kanka- 
kee. On  the  question  of  politics  our  subject  is  a 
Republican.  In  social  and  all  other  circles  Mr. 
Swannell  is  well  and  favorably  known,  and  has  the 
well-merited  regard  of  all  his  fellow-citizens. 


>,  ■  >  I  >  >  p  fa    y  h 


»     I    r    .    f     -r^. 


^R.  CHARLES  TRUE,  No.  240  Dearborn 
Avenue,  Kankakee,  is  a  native  of  Indi- 
ana, and  was  born  at  South  Bend,  on  the 
28th  of  August,  1843.  His  parents,  Gly- 
don  and  Eliza  (Lowr}')  True,  were  natives  of  New 
England,  the  father's  birth  occurring  in  southern 
Maine,  and  the  mother's  in  Burlington,  Vt.  They 
were  married  in  South  Bend,  hid.,  and  in  the  win- 
ter of  1843-44  removed  with  their  children  to  Pal- 
estine, Crawford  County,  111.  Soon  afterward 
they  went  to  Carroll  County,  in  the  same  State, 
where  the  father  died  in   1848. 

Deprived  of  a  father's  care  at  a  tender  age,  our 
subject  early  learned  the  lesson  of  self-reliance. 
His  education  was  received  in  the  public  schools. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  Mr.  True,  then 
but  eighteen  3'ears  of  age,  entered  the  military 
service  of  the  United  States  in  August,  1861,  as  a 
member  of  Companj'  K,  First  Illinois  Cavalry, 
and  served  until  the  last  of  October,  1862,  when, 
on  account  of  physical  disabilit}',  he  received  an 
honorable  discharge. 

On  returning  from  the  army.  Dr.  True  made  his 
home  in  Prairie  du  Chien,  Wis.,  where  he  entered 
upon  the  study  of  medicine  nnder  the  preceptor- 
ship  of  Dr.  B.  D.  Eastman,  a  prominent  physician 
of  that  city.  During  the  winter  of  1864-65,  Dr. 
True  took  a  course  of  lectures  at  Rush  Medical 
College,  of  Chicago,  after  which  he  was  employed 
as  surgeon  in  the  Government  Hospital  at  Prairie 
du  Chien  for  six  months.     The  following  winter 


he  resumed  his  studies  at  Rush  Medical  College, 
and  was  graduated  therefrom  in  the  Class  of  '65-66. 
lie  then  established  himself  in  practice  in  Lan- 
sing, Iowa,  subsequentl3'  removing  to  Winnebago 
County,  111.  From  there  he  went  to  Chicago  in 
the  f.Tll  of  1869,  and  after  getting  fairly  estab- 
lished in  tliat  cit}'  was  burned  out  in  the  great 
fire  of  1871,  after  which  he  removed  to  Chats- 
worth,  III.,  where  he  pursued  the  practice  of  his 
profession  until  May  1,  1887,  when  he  came  to 
Kankakee,  and  has  since  been  in  successful  prac- 
tice in  this  cit3% 

In  September,  1865,  in  Prairie  du  Chien,  Wis., 
Dr.  True  and  Miss  Enelie  Brisbois  were  married. 
Mrs.  True  was  born  in  that  city,  where  her  par- 
ents. Col.  Bernard  B.  and  Theresa  (Lachapelle) 
Brisbois,  were  also  born,  their  families  having  been 
among  the  old  historic  French  residents  of  AVis- 
consin  territory.  The  maternal  grandfather  of 
Mrs.  True  was  one  of  the  Territorial  Governors  of 
AVisconsin.  The  Doctor  and  his  wife  are  the  par- 
ents of  three  children,  two  daughters  and  a  son: 
Jessie  Theresa,  Bernard  B.  and  Agnes  J. 

Politicallj',  Dr.  True  is  a  Republican.  He  is  a 
member  of  AVhipple  Post  No.  414,  G.  A.  R.,  and 
of  the  Kankakee  County  Medical  Society.  He  has 
had  an  extensive  practice  for  many  3'ears  and 
takes  rank  as  an  experienced  physician  and  sur- 
geon. He  is  frequeutl3'  called  in  counsel  in  criti- 
cal cases,  where  his  thorough  knowledge  and  skill 
in  his  profession  command  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  his  fellow-practitioners. 


— <gi 


:>^^<^=^-> 


^IRST  NATIONAL  BANK  of  Kankakee  was 
incorporated  April  23,  1871,  with  an  au- 
thorized capital  of  $200,000,  and  a  paid-up 
capital  of  $50,000.  The  first  otlicers  were  the  same 
as  the  present  and  have  held  their  respective  posi- 
tions uninterruptedly  for  twenty-one  3'ears.  Emor3' 
Cobb  is  President;  T.  P.  Bonfleld,  Vice-President; 
H.C.Clarke,  Cashier;  and  Thomas AV.  Adams,  As- 
sistant Cashier.  The  following-named  gentleman 
compose  the  present  Board  of  Directors:     Emory 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


L'71 


Cobb,  T.  P.  Bonfield,  L.  TV.  Cobb,  George  R. 
Lctourneau  and  II.  C.  Clarke.  The  former  char- 
ter expired  April  23,  1891,  and  was  renewed  for 
twenty  years  from  that  date. 

This  bank  has  done  a  large  and  increasing  busi- 
ness from  the  start  and  has  been  ably  and  safely 
managed.  Its  present  surplus  capital  amounts  to 
$22,000.  Its  otticers  and  directors  are  well-known 
citizens  of  the  highest  reputation  in  business  cir- 
cles. They  are  enterprising,  yet  conservative,  and 
by  their  judicious  and  correct  business  methods 
have  won  for  the  bank  a  foremost  place  among 
tlie  financial  institutions  of  the  State. 


^il\  A.J.  RICHARD  J.  HANNA,  of  Kankakee, 
//  i\\  is  one  of  the  well-known  pioneers  of  this 
county.  His  parents  were  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  (Bird)  Ilanua.  The  birth  of 
Maj.  Ilanna  occurred  at  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.,  on 
the  24th  of  October,  1835.  He  received  a  good 
education  in  the  city  schools  and  learned  tlie  car- 
penter's trade  in  New  York  Citj'. 

Mr.  Ilanna  was  married  on  tlie  7th  of  August, 
1854,  to  Miss  Ann  Frith,  a  native  of  England, 
and  to  thoni  liave  been  born  five  cliiidrcn.  Two 
•sons,  William  I>.  and  George  E.,  died  in  infancy. 
The  only  surviving  son  is  Isaac  Bird  Ilanna,  a 
prominent  business  man  of  Kankakee.  The  daugh- 
ters are  Carrie  E.  and  Lizzie  M. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion 
Maj.  Ilanna  enlisted  in  the  defense  of  his  country, 
and  was  made  Orderly-Sergeant  of  Company  H, 
One  Hundred  and  Thirteenth  Illinois  Infantry'. 
He  participated  in  many  of  the  fierce  and  leading 
battles  of  the  war,  among  which  we  mention 
Chickasaw  Bayou,  Arkansas  Post,  siege  of  Mcks- 
burg,  Milliken's  Bend,  Spanish  Fort  and  Mobile. 
In  June,  1863,  our  sul)jeet  was  promoted,  for 
braver}'  and  fidelity,  to  a  captaincy  in  the  Fiftj'- 
first  United  States  Colored  Infantry,  and  in  April, 
1865,  was  commissioned  ]\Iajor.  He  was  honorably 
discharged   in   June,    1866.     In    the    time   of  his 


country's  peril  he  was  ever  at  the  post  of  duly 
and  was  one  of  the  Union's  brave  defenders. 

In  the  year  1855,  Maj.  Ilanna  became  a  citizen 
of  Kankakee  County,  at  wliicli  time  he  settled  in 
Otto  Township,  and  the  year  following  engaged 
in  merchandising  in  the  village  of  Chebanse.  On 
returning  from  tiic  war  he  came  to  Kankakee, 
whither  his  family  had  removed  in  his  aijsence. 
He  embarked  in  the  grocery  trade  and  soon  built 
up  a  thriving  and  successful  business. 

The  Major  lias  served  his  fellow-citizens  in  var- 
ious official  capacities  and  in  1H82  was  appointed 
Postmaster  of  Kankakee,  and  served  in  that  office 
for  a  number  of  years.  In  1880,  lie  was  elected  as 
a  delegate  to  the  Chicago  National  Convention 
and  was  one  of  the  famous  three  hundred  and  six 
who  stood  to  the  last  for  the  nomination  of  Gen. 
Grant.  "Slnj.  Hanna  has  ever  been  an  ardent  Re- 
publican and  has  always  possessed  mucii  intluence 
in  the  councils  of  the  Republican  part}-.  He  is 
liighly  respected  as  a  citizen  and  business  man  for 
Ills  integrity  and  progressive  public  spirit.  For 
nearly  forty  years  he  has  been  actively  identified 
with  tlie  welfare,  growth  and  prosperit}'  of  this 
vicinity  and  has  ever  used  all  means  in  his  power 
to  advance  the  welfare  of  his  fellow-citizens.  A 
devoted  patriot  in  the  time  of  his  ciiuii try's  need, 
he  has  carried  the  same  spirit  tlirough  the  days  of 
peace  and  prosperit}'  which  have  succeeded  and 
discharges  his  duties  as  a  citizen  with  faithfulness 
and  zeal. 


ROE.  FRANK  N.  TRACY  is  the  efficient 
Superintendent  of  the  schools  of  Kan- 
kakee. To  the  public  schools  of  our 
country  wc  are  indebted,  as  a  nation,  for 
the  general  intelligence  that  pervades  the  masses 
of  the  people.  If  the  safely  of  our  institutions 
and  the  permanence  of  the  Republic  depend  upon 
the  education  of  the  masses,  as  is  often  asserted, 
and  of  which  there  can  be  no  doubt,  how  impor- 
tant it  is  that  the  best  efforts  of  our  best  educators 
be  devoted    to    the    development   of    the    public 


272 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


school  s^'Stem  and  to  a  more  thorough  investiga- 
tion of  the  most  approved  methods  for  advancing 
the  cause  of  general  education.  Daniel  Webster 
said  that  the  prosperity  and  success  of  New  Eng- 
land was  due  to  her  free  public  schools. 

The  public  schools  of  Kankakee  have  attained 
a  high  order  of  excellence  and  can  compare 
favorably  with  the  best  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 
For  their  excellence  the  public  is  indebted  in  a 
large  degree  to  the  efflcieul  Superintendent,  Prof. 
B>ank  N.  Tracy,  whose  management  dates  from 
the  beginning  of  the  school  year  in  1881. 

Mr.  Tracy  is  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
his  birtli  having  occurred  in  Schuj-ler  County  in 
1849.  The  daj^s  of  bis  b03'hood  and  youth  were 
spent  in  the  county  of  his  nativity  in  the  usual 
manner  of  farmer  lads.  During  the  summer  months 
he  worked  in  the  fields  and  performed  other  parts 
of  farm  labor,  while  in  the  winter  season  he  at- 
tended tlie  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood. 
Thus  was  his  time  passed  until  he  reached  his  sev- 
enteenth year,  when,  having  obtained  sufficient 
education  to  enable  him  to  teach  a  country  school, 
he  secured  such  a  position.  From  that  time  for  a 
number  of  years  Mr.  Tracy  alternately  taught  and 
attended  school.  Not  content  with  the  educa- 
tional privileges  he  had  hitherto  received,  as  soon 
as  possible  he  entered  upon  a  course  of  study  in 
the  Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary  and  College,  lo- 
cated in  Lima,  N.  Y.  These  schools  were  among 
the  most  noted  institutions  of  learning  in  the 
western  part  of  the  Empire  State.  The  college  is 
now  known  as  the  Syracuse  Universit3%  having 
been  removed  from  Lima  to  Sj'racuse,  N.  Y.,  and 
re-christened  a  number  of  years  ago. 

Prof.  Tracjr  was  married  in  tlie  State  of  his  na- 
tivity August  11,  1875,  the  lady  of  his  choice 
being  IMiss  Adella  Boothe.  Mrs.  Tracy  was  Princi- 
pal of  the  High  School  of  Kankakee  for  four  years. 
Our  subject  has  thus  far  made  teaching  his  life 
work.  He  made  a  permanent  location  in  the  West 
in  1876,  and  in  the  years  which  have  since  elapsed 
has  resided  continuously  in  Illinois.  He  secured 
a  position  as  Principal  of  the  schools  of  George- 
town, where  he  remained  for  four  j^ears,  and  for 
one  year  he  held  a  similar  position  in  Danville. 
From  the  latter  place   he  came  to  Kankakee  about 


eleven  years  ago.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  active 
members  of  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of 
Kankakee. 

This  city  has  made  a  substantial  growth  in  pop- 
ulation, industries,  wealth  and  importance  since 
1880,  but  in  no  direction  lias  the  improvement 
j  been  more  marked  than  in  its  public  schools.  In 
that  year  the  High  School  dei)artment  had  l)ut 
about  forty  enrolled  members.  It  now  has  nearly 
one  hundred  and  twenty-four,  while  the  entire 
enrollment  in  the  public  schools  is  about  fourteen 
hundred.  Prof.  Tracy  is,  as  all  know,  a  well- 
educated  man,  and  he  has  the  excellent  faculty  of 
easily  imparting  his  knowledge  to  others.  Wher- 
ever known  he  is  recognized  as  an  able  instructor, 
and  the  citizens  of  Kankakee  may  indeed  feel  grate- 
ful to  him  for  the  work  he  has  done  in  promoting 
the  excellence  of  her  public  schools.  Socially,  he 
is  connected  with  the  Royal  Arcanum,  Modern 
Woodmen,  Kankakee  Club  and  Round  Table  Club. 


^^^-i^^^ 


ellARLES  E.  VOSS,  an  enterprising  citizen 
and  a  well-known  photographer  of  Kanka- 
kee, established  his  present  business  in  this 
place  in  the  year  1879,  but  became  a  resident  of 
this  city  two  years  previous  to  that  time.  He  is 
now  located  at  No.  207  Court  Street,  where  he' 
has  a  pleasant  gallery. 

Mr.  Voss  claims  Indiana  as  the  State  of  his  na- 
tivity, his  birth  having  occurred  in  Bloomington, 
on  the  26th  of  February,  1853.  He  is  a  son  of 
Emery  Voss.  His  father  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Bloomington,  but  is  now  deceased.  His 
mother  was,  prior  to  her  marriage,  Miss  Rachel 
Pitts.     She  also  has  departed  this  life. 

Our  subject  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  quietly  in  his  parents'  home,  and  the  public 
schools  afforded  him  his  educational  privileges. 
When  a  young  man  he  began  learning  the  trade 
of  a  marble  cutter  in  the  shop  of  T.  H.  Sudbury, 
of  Bloomington,  Ind.  Having  mastered  the  busi- 
ness, he  determined  to  come  to  Kankakee,  111.,  and 
in  1877  he  carried  out  this  resolution.     Soon  after 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


273 


his  arrival  here  he  secured  work  with  the  firm  of 
Riddle  Bro.,  and  was  an  employe  in  their  shop 
for  about  two  years.  lie  tben  took  uji  his  present 
art,  and,  as  before  stated,  establislied  liimself  in  busi- 
ness in  1879.  He  has  since  carried  on  operations 
in  the  line  of  photograpiiy  witli  good  success,  for 
he  possesses  a  thorough  knowledge  of  his  business 
and  lias  ever  aimed  to  keep  abreast  with  the  times 
and  the  great  advancement  that  is  being  con- 
stantly made  in  the  photographic  art.  His  operat- 
ing room  is  furnished  with  the  most  approved  ap- 
pliances pertaining  to  photograph}'. 

On  the  23d  of  December,  1880,  in  this  city, 
Mr.  Voss  was  married  to  IMiss  Josie  Babel,  who 
is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  early  families 
of  tliis  community.  Her  fatlier.  Christian  Babel, 
came  to  Kankakee  in  1854,  but  died  three  years 
later,  in  18.57.  Two  children  grace  the  union  of 
our  subject  and  his  wife:  Harr}-  and  Emory.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Voss  are  well-known  citizens  of  Kanka- 
kee who  hold  an  enviable  position  in  social  circles. 
The  success  which  has  crowned  his  business  efforts 
is  justly  deserved,  being  the  reward  of  earnest  and 
untiring  labor.  He  now  receives  a  liberal  share  of 
the  public  patronage  and  he  is  esteemed  as  one  of 
the  progressive  and  enterprising  citizens  of  Kan- 
kakee. 


^RGAILOUS    B.    NICHOLS,    one   of   the 

(C'"*:£Ji  earliest  pioneers  of  Kankakee  County,  has 
resided  within  the  territory  embraced  in 
this  county  for  half  a  century,  and  settled 
therein  some  eleven  years  prior  to  its  formation, 
or  the  beginning  of  the  settlement  of  Kankakee. 
He  was  born  in  Pultneyville,  Waj'ne  Count}', 
N.  Y.,  March  27,  1824,  and  is  the  eldest  of  a  fam- 
ily of  seven  sons  and  two  daughters,  the  children 
of  Roswell  C.  and  Mary  (Durfee)  Nichols,  all  of 
whom  are  now  living,  with  the  exception  of  one 
daughter.  (See  sketch  of  Roswell  Nichols  else- 
where in  this  work.) 

The  subject  of    this  sketch   removed   with   his 
parents  when  a  child  of  four  years  to  a  farm  a 


mile  and  a-half  distant  from  Palmyra,  Ontario 
County,  N.  Y.  lie  attended  school  in  Palmyra, 
and  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits.  In  June, 
1842.  he  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  and 
made  his  home  with  them  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Kankakee  River,  in  what  is  now  Limestone  Town- 
ship, Kankakee  Count}',  then  a  part  of  Iroquois 
County.  There  he  and  his  brothers  helped  their 
father  make  a  home  and  improve  a  farm.  Their 
first  winter's  work  consisted  in  making  several 
thousand  fence  rails,  with  which  to  enclose  fields 
for  cultivation.  The  father's  original  farm  com- 
prised six  hundred  and  forty  acres,  but  this  he  in- 
creased by  subsequent  purchase  until  he  had  some 
fifteen  hundred  acres. 

The  fall  before  becoming  of  age,  A.  B.  Nichols,  as 
our  subject  is  usually  called,  was  married  to  Miss 
Cynthia  Elmira  Hawkins,  a  daughter  of  Alenson 
Hawkins.  Mrs.  Nichols  was  born  in  Ashtabula, 
Ohio,  December  17,  1824,  and  died  in  Kankakee 
.June  11,  1860,  leaving  three  children,  two  daugh- 
ters and  a  son.  Burton  E.,  the  eldest,  born  April  1, 
1846,  in  Limestone  Township,  married  Miss  Anna 
Dennis,  and  resides  in  .Sioux  City,  Iowa,  where  he 
is  serving  as  commercial  agent  for  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  Company,  in  charge  of  the 
freight  and  passenger  business;  socially  he  is  a 
Knight  Templar.  Mary,  widow  of  Joseph  Whit- 
more,  resides  in  Dubuque,  Iowa.  Cynthia  Ellen  is 
the  wife  of  John  Dugan,  of  AValdron,  Kankakee 
County.  On  the  1st  of  November,  I860,  Mr. 
Nichols  married  Miss  Sarah  Graham,  eldest  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Mary  (Nichols)  Graham,  of 
Momeuce,  111.  Mrs.  Nichols  was  born  February  9, 
1837,  in  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  and  came  to  this 
county  with  her  parents  in  1838. 

Soon  after  taking  a  wife,  Mr.  Nichols  settled  in 
a  log  cabin  on  a  place  his  father  had  given  him 
and  began  to  develop  a  farm.  About  three  years 
later  he  started  a  small  store  on  his  farm,  this  be- 
ing the  first  established  between  Wilmington  and 
Old  Middleport.  He  also  ran  an  eiglit-horse  power 
circular  saw  that  would  cut  about  twenty-five  hun- 
dred feet  of  lumber  per  day.  These  industries  made 
others  necessary.  He  accordingly  secured  a  black- 
smith, cooper  and  two  shoemakers,  all  of  whom  he 
furnished  shops  to  work  in.  The  collection  of  build- 


274 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ings  took  on  the  appearance  of  a  village,  and  as 
most  of  the  houses  were  constructed  of  slabs,  the 
place  was  called  Slabtown. 

Business  in  those  days  was  done  almost  wholly 
on  credit,  and  this  not  being  satisfactory  to  Mr. 
Nichols,  he  loaded  his  goods  into  a  wagon  and 
sold  them  out  to  settlers  on  the  Iroquois  River, 
Spring  Creek,  Vermillion,  Ambraw  and  Okaw 
Rivers.  He  made  the  round  trip  everj'  four 
weeks,  and  in  addition  to  selling  goods  bought 
furs  and  hides.  Having  continued  this  business 
for  four  3'ears,  he  sold  out,  moved  to  Kankakee 
and  conducted  a  very  large  meat  market,  shipping 
live  stock  extensively  as  well.  His  next  venture 
was  to  establish  an  auction  store,  selling  dry  goods 
and  notions.  For  nine  years  he  was  in  the  furni- 
ture business  in  partnership  with  his  brother,  J. 
D.  Nichols.  As  an  auctioneer  our  subject  has  had 
an  extended  experience  and  enjo3-s  a  remarkable 
popularity.  In  1846  he  began  to  cry  sales,  and 
without  interruption  has  followed  auctioneering 
since.  For  sixteen  ^-ears  he  auctioned  off  goods  at 
fairs.  Chromos  that  now  sell  at  from  seventy-five 
cents  to  ¥l,  he  sold  at  from  $G  to  88.  He  is  one 
of  the  best-known  and  most  successful  auctioneers 
in  eastern  Illinois,  his  business  extending  over 
this  and  adjoining  States. 

Since  1853  Mr.  Nichols  h.as  been  a  resident  of 
Kankakee,  though  at  the  time  of  his  moving  here 
it  was  beginning  its  exisLence  as  a  station  on  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad.  He  took  an  active  paYt 
in  the  organization  of  the  county,  and  has  since 
been  identified  with  its  growth.  Our  subject  sold 
his  farm  several  years  ago  and  invested  in  Kanka- 
kee city  propertj',  at  the  present  time  being  the 
owner  of  nine  dwelling  houses  besides  his  fine  re- 
sidence and  twenty-four  cit}'  lots.  He  is  a  thor- 
ough business  man,  possessed  of  good  executive 
ability  and  a  quick  and  correct  judgment  as  to 
values.  He  has  been  eminently  successful  in  all 
his  undertakings. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Nichols  is  a  Republican,  and 
while  living  in  Limestone  Township  was  Town 
Clerk  and  held  other  town  offices.  He  is  liberal 
in  his  vievvs  regarding  religion  and  does  not  affili- 
ate with  any  especial  denomination.  His  experi- 
ence in  the  world   has  been  extensive  and  varied 


and  his  course  in  business  such  as  to  command  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens.  Mr. 
Nichols  took  an  active  part  in  the  formation  of 
Kankakee  County. 


^ 


<|i  felLTJAM  A.  MoGILLIS  has  been  a  resident 
\/iJ//  ^^  Kankakee  since  1882.  He  is  a  con- 
W^  tractor  by  occupation  and  has  had  a  large 
experience  in  the  construction  of  railroads  and  in 
Stale  and  Government  contracts. 

Mr.  McGillis  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Canada,  in 
1838,  and  is  of  Scotch  ancestry.  His  father,  An- 
gus McGillis,  was  a  native  of  Canada,  but  the 
father  of  the  latter,  Donald,  emigrated  to  the  New 
World  from  Inverness  in  the  Highlands  of  Scot- 
land, a  land  made  immortal  by  the  gallant  deeds 
of  a  noble  race.  The  mother  of  our  subject,  who 
was  in  her  maidenhood  Janet  McRae,  was  born  in 
Scotland.  Of  the  immediate  famil3'  of  Mr.  Mc- 
Gillis but  one  brother  and  a  sister  yet  survive, 
Findley,  who  resides  in  Canada,  as  does  also  the 
only  sister. 

Mr.  McGillis  grew  to  manhood  upon  a  farm  but 
began  railroading  at  an  early  age.  When  a  youth 
he  commenced  in  an  humble  capacity'  in  the  serv- 
ice of  the  Grand  Trunk  Railroad  in  Canada.  In 
1859  he  went  to  ]\Iichigan  and  engaged  as  a  con- 
tractor on  the  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  Railroad. 
Going  thence  to  Indiana  in  the  same  capacity  he 
became  a  resident  of  Kankakee,  as  already  stated, 
in  1882.  For  the  ten  years  previous  Mr.  McGillis 
was  connected  with  the  Indianapolis,  Bloomington 
&  Western  Railroad,  now  known  as  the  "Big  Four." 
Since  coming  to  Kankakee  he  has  been  largely  in- 
terested and  engaged  in  the  business  of  drainage. 
He  has  the  honor  of  having  placed  in  successful 
operation  the  first  steam  dredge  for  the  purpose  of 
drainage  in  this  State.  This  machine,  manufact- 
ured by  the  Bucyrus  Steam  Dredge  Company, 
has  revolutionized  and  made  comparatively  simple 
the  drainage  and  reclamation  of  large  areas  of 
hitherto  worthless  swamp  land.     One  of  our  sub- 


iLLiiVP 


i^L 


-n^tZ'7■^^^^^ 


II:. 


lZ  A--^  f 


Ui 


Or   .- 
HHlVERSriY  Of  ILLINOIS 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


279 


jeet's  largest  contracts  was  for  the  drainage  of  an 
area  of  sixt^'-five  hundred  acres  of  State  land  in 
the  soiiUiwestern  part  of  Illinois.  This  gigantic 
undertaking  involved  the  construction  of  a  ditch 
eighteen  miles  in  length,  ten  feet  in  depth  and 
sixtv  feet  in  width.  At  jjresent  Jlr.  McGillis  is 
engaged  upon  a  Government  contract  on  the  Cal- 
umet River,  south  of  Chicago. 

In  Indiana  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Mc- 
Gillis to  Miss  Mary  Dolan,  who  is  a  native  of  Can- 
ada. They  have  one  of  the  most  beautiful  homes 
in  the  city  of  Kankakee,  it  being  located  on  Hour- 
bonnais  Street  and  Chicago  Avenue.  In  business 
life  Mr.  McGillis  has  been  very  successful,  having 
risen  b3'  his  own  unassisted  efforts  from  a  most 
humble  position  to  his  present  condition  of  pros- 
perity and  influence. 

Socially,  Mr.  McGillis  is  a  member  of  the  Cath- 
olic Order  of  Foresters.  He  is  one  of  the  nine 
men  wlio  platted  North  Kankakee,  and  brought  the 
factories  there,  and  wlio  have  done  moie  to  de- 
velop the  city  of  Kankakee  than  an^'  others. 


il  RA  A.  SERENE,  who  resides  on  section  30,  is 
II  one  of  the  thrift}-  and  substantial  farmers  of 
'li  Pilot  Township.  He  now  owns  and  oijerates 
two  hundred  and  fortj'  acres  of  good  land,  consti- 
tuting one  of  the  best  farms  in  this  locality.  His 
fields  are  well  tilled  and  yield  to  him  a  golden 
tribute  in  return  for  the  care  and  labor  he  bestows 
upon  them.  He  has  good  improvements  upon  the 
place,  and  the  neat  and  orderly  appearance  of  his 
farm  indicates  the  owner  to  be  a  man  of  practical 
and  progressive  ideas.  His  home  is  pleasantl}-  sit- 
uated about  two  miles  from  Ilerscher. 

Tlie  life  record  of  Mr.  Serene  is  as  follows:  He 
was  born  in  Dutchess  Count}-,  N.  Y.,  Januaiy  24, 
1845,  and  is  a  son  of  Absalom  and  Helen  (Brinker- 
hoff)  Serene.  The  paternal  graudfatlier  of  our 
subject,  James  Serene,  was  also  a  native  of  the 
Empire  State.  The  famil}-  is  of  French  origin  and 
was  established  in  America  during  the  early  daj's 
of  New  York.     Absalom  Serene  was  born  in  Wor- 

13 


cester  County,  that  State,  and  there  grew  to  man- 
hood and  was  educated.  When  a  young  man,  he 
went  to  Dutchess  County,  and  was  there  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Brinkerhoff,  a  native  of  that 
count}-,  and  a  daugliter  of  Derrick  Brinkerhoff. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  that  State,  and  came  of 
a  family  which  located  on  Long  Island  in  1638. 
After  iiis  marriage,  Mr.  Serene  was  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business  in  Dutcliess  Count}-  for  about  twenty- 
one  years.  He  then  determined  to  seek  a  home  in 
the  West,  and  in  18.55  made  his  way  to  Illinois,  lo- 
cating in  La  Salle  County,  wliere  he  purchased  an 
improved  farm  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits. He  was  thus  employed  for  fourteen  years, 
after  which  he  sold  out  and  came  to  Kankakee 
County.  Here  he  purciiased  the  farm  on  which 
our  subject  now  resides,  and  continued  to  make  it 
his  home  until  his  deatli,  wliich  occurred  Au- 
gust 2,  1884,  at  the  very  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
three  years.  His  remains  were  interred  in  Pilot 
Cemetery,  where  a  suitable  monument  has  been 
erected  to  his  memory.  In  his  early  life  Mr.  Ser- 
ene was  a  Jackson  Democrat,  but  on  tlie  organiza- 
tion of  the  Republican  party  joined  its  ranks  and 
continued  to  be  one  of  its  stanch  supporters 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life.  In  religious 
belief,  he  was  a  Presbyterian.  Mrs.  Serene  still 
survives  her  husband,  and  now  makes  her  home 
with  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Ira  Serene  is  the  only  surviving  member  of  a 
family  of  three  children  who  grew  to  mature  years. 
The  first  ten  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  the 
State  of  his  nativity,  after  which  he  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Illinois.  He  was  reared  to  manhood 
in  La  Salle  County  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer 
lads.  He  received  good  school  privileges,  and  af- 
ter attending  the  common  schools,  he  became  a 
student  in  Jennings'  Seminary.  Some  years  prior 
to  his  father's  death,  he  took  charge  of  the  home 
farm  and  has  since  devoted  his  time  and  attention 
to  agricultural  pursuits. 

September  22,  1869,  in  Morris,  Grundy  County, 
III.,  Mr.  Serene  was  united  in  marriage  with  Elma 
Jones,  who  was  a  nativej  of  La  Salle  County, 
and  a  daughter  of  William  L.  F.  and  Lucj-  (Daven- 
port) Jones,  the  former  one  of  the  lionored  pio- 
neers of  La  Salle  County.     With  his  family  he  re- 


280 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


moved  to  that  place  in  1836.  He  was  a  native  of 
Rutland  County,  Vt.,  and  when  a  young  man  left 
the  Green  Mountain  State  for  the  West.  By  trade 
he  was  a  blacksmith,  and  was  one  of  the  first  to 
follow  that  business  in  La  Salle  County.  Later  in 
life  he  engaged  in  farming.  This  worthy  gentle- 
man was  called  to  the  home  beyond  in  1882.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Serene  have  been  born  two  children, 
a  son  and  daughter,  Benton  and  Stella.  Tlie  for- 
mer is  now  attending  school  in  Herscher. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Serene  hold  membership  with  no 
religious  organization,  but  attend  and  give  ttieir 
sup])ort  to  tiie  Presbyterian  Church.  Socially,  he 
is  connected  with  the  Masonic  order,  belonging  to 
Cabery  Lodge.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Republican, 
having  voted  with  that  party  since  he  cast  his  first 
Presidential  ballot  for  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant  in  1868. 
The  honors  and  emoluments  of  public  olllce  have 
had  no  attraction  for  him  however,  he  preferring 
to  keep  out  of  the  political  arena  and  devote  his 
attention  to  his  business  interests.  Mr.  Serene  lias 
passed  almost  his  entire  life  in  this  State,  and  for 
twenty-four  years  has  resided  in  Kankakee  County. 
He  is  now  widely  and  favorably  known,  and  he 
and  his  estimable  wife  well  deserve  representation 
in  this  volume. 


'^  OSHUA  GRAY,  who  devotes  his  time  and 
attention  to  farming,  owning  a  good  tract 
of  land  on  section  2,PilotTownsliip,  is  one 
of  the  honored  pioneers  of  Kankakee 
Connty.  He  here  located  in  1854,  since  which 
time  he  has  witnessed  the  growth  and  upbuilding 
of  the  county,  and  has  also  borne  his  share  in  its 
development  and  advancement.  He  has  seen  and 
known  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  and  has  also 
watched  the  strides  of  progress  which  have  trans- 
formed this  county  from  a  pioneer  settlement  to 
one  of  the  foremost  counties  in  the  commonwealth 
of  Illinois.  As  one  of  the  early  settlers,  our  sub- 
ject certainly  deserves  representation  in  this  vol- 
ume. 

Mr.  Gray  is  a  native  of  New  York.    He  was  born 


in  Albany  County,  December  14,  1844,  and   is  the 
youngest  son  in  a  family  of  nine   children.     His 
parents.  Christian  and  Barbara  (Ostrander)    Gray, 
were  both  natives  of  the  same  county.     Tlie  ma- 
ternal grandfatlier,  Samuel  Ostrander,  was  born  in 
the  Moliawk  Valley,  where  liis  ancestors  located  at 
an  early  day.    The  Gray  family  is  of  English  origin, 
their  first  settlement  being  in   the  Mohawk   Val- 
ley.    After  his  marriage,  Christian  Gray  engaged 
in  farming  in  Albany  County,  N.  Y.,  for  a  number 
of  years.     It  was  in  1854   that  he  turned  his  face 
toward  the  setting  sun,  having  resolved  to   seek  a 
fortune  on   the    prairies  of  the  West.     He  chose 
Kankakee  County  as  the  scene  of  his  future  labors, 
and  located  in  Salina  Township,  near  the   present 
town    of   Bonfleld.     The  county  was   then    in   its 
earl}-  infancy.     Wild  game  of  all  kinds  was  found 
in  abundance,  including  deer,  and  wolves  were  also 
frequently  killed.     Mr.  Gray    purchased   a  small 
tract  of  eighty  acres,  on  which  was  a  little   house, 
but  to  this  farm  he  added  from  time  to  time.    Tlie 
land  he  placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
and  the    imjirovements  he  made  transformed  the 
place  into  a  desirable  home.     He  there  spent   the 
remaining  years  of  his  life,  his  death  occurring  in 
1861.     His   wife   still  survives  him  and   has  now 
reached  the    advanced    age  of  eighty-four  years. 
She  is  now  living  with    her  daughter  on   the  old 
homestead. 

Of  the  six  sons  and  three  daughters  of  the  Gray 
family,  Elisha,  the  eldest,  is  now  living  in  Albany 
County,  N.  Y.;  Samuel,  whose  sketch  appears  else- 
where in  this  work,  is  engaged  in  business  in 
Kankakee;  Stephen,  who  is  also  represented  in  this 
volume,  carries  on  business  in  Kankakee;  Peter  is 
living  in  the  town  of  Limestone;  Christian  is  a 
resident  of  Salina  Township;  Joshua  is  the  next 
younger;  Mary,  I\Irs.  Webster,  resides  with  her  hus- 
band on  the  old  Gray  homestead,  and  is  the  young- 
est of  the  family. 

Joshua  Gray,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
came  to  Illinois  when  a  lad  of  ten,  and  grew  to 
mature  years  in  the  neighborhood  which  is  yet  his 
home.  He  remained  with  his  mother  until  after 
he  had  attained  to  man's  estate,  and  for  several 
years  operated  the  old  home  farm.  He  then  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Norton  Township, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIUCAL  RECORD. 


281 


an  improved  place,  but  did  not  locate  thereon. 
Soon  after  lie  .sold  it  and  parehased  one  liiindred 
and  sixty  acres  in  Salina  Township.  After  suc- 
cessfully engaging  in  agriculture  for  eight  ye.ars, 
he  again  sold  out,  and  in  .lanuary.  1889,  pur- 
chased the  farm  on  wliicli  he  is  now  located.  It 
comprises  ninety  acres,  in  the  midst  of  which 
stands  a  substantial  residence,  good  barns  and 
other  outliuildings.  These  are  surrounded  by  well- 
tilled  fields,  and  the  neat  a()pearance  of  the  pl.ace 
indicates  the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  owner. 

An  important  event  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Gray  oc- 
curred Se|)tember  5,  1876,  when  was  celebrated  his 
marri.age  with  Miss  Luella,  daughter  of  Jose|)h  A. 
Baker,  of  Kankakee,  whose  sketch  is  given  else- 
where in  this  record.  Three  children  bless  the 
nnion  of  Mr.  and  Airs.  Gray,  as  follows:  Sadie  L., 
Hugh  J.  and  Grover  Arnold. 

In  his  social  relations,  Blr.  Ciray  is  a  Royal  Arch 
Jiason,  and  holds  membership  with  the  Blue  Lodge 
and  Chapter  of  Kankakee.  He  cast  Lis  fiist  Presi- 
dential vote  for  lloiatio  Seymour,  and  since  that 
time  has  alliliated  with  the  Democratic  party.  The 
honors  of  official  life  have  no  attraction  for  him, 
and  his  time  and  attention  are  devoted  wholly*  to 
his  business  interests.  He  is  a  man  of  sterling 
worth  and  upright  character,  and  the  confidence 
and  regard  of  the  entire  community  are  his. 


^jOMAIN  ST.  GERMAIN,  a  farmer  and  stock- 
grower,  who  resides  on  section  32,  Lime- 
stone Township,  owns  and  operates  three 
hundred  acres  of  land  and  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  the  commu- 
nity. He  claims  Canada  as  the  land  of  his  birth, 
which  occurred  in  the  city  of  Montreal  May  15, 
1846.  He  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth  of  nine 
children,  seven  sons  and  two  daughters.  The 
parents  were  Antoine  and  Harriet  (Wimet)  St. 
Germain.  Both  were  natives  of  Montreal,  but 
the  grandi)arents  of  our  subject  on  both  sides 
were  born    in    France.     Antoine  St.  Germain  ac- 


companied by  his  family  came  to  Kankakee 
County,  III.,  in  1857,  and  established  a  tan- 
ner}'  in  the  cit}-  of  Kankakee,  whicli  he  operated 
for  a  period  of  eight  years.  He  then  removed  to 
a  farm  in  Limestone  Township,  where  he  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1886,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-seven 
j-ears.  His  wife  still  survives  him  and  is  now 
living  in  K;nik;ikee,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six 
years. 

Mr.  St.  Germain,   whose  name  heads  this  record, 
remained  in  Canada  until  ten  j'ears  of  age,  when 
lie  came  to  this   county   with  his   parents.     Heat- 
tended  school  in  his  native    land    but  completed 
his  education  in  the  schools  of  Kankakee.     At  the 
age  of  twenty-six  3'ears   he  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  without  capital,  and   therefore  all  the  suc- 
cess winch  he  has  achieved  has  been  entirel}'  due  to  / 
his  own   efforts.     He   first  purchased   eighty  .acres  / 
of  raw  prairie  land  on   time  and  began  the  devel-' 
opment  of  his    farm.     He    has    worked  long   and 
earnestly  and  well  deserves  the  handsome  compe- 
tence which  has  rewarded  his  labors. 

On  the  18th  of  November,  1874,  Mr.  St.  Ger- 
main w.as  mariied  to  Miss  Louisa  Carrow,  the 
eldest  child  of  .Joseph  and  Susan  (Tatro)  Car- 
row.  The  parents  were  both  born  in  Canada  and 
were  of  French  extraction.  In  an  early  day  in  the 
history  of  this  county  they  emigrated  hither,  and 
have  been  numbered  among  its  residents  ever  since. 
They  had  a  family  of  nine  children,  five  sons  and 
four  daughters.  The  union  of  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  St. 
Germain  has  been  blessed  by  the  liirth  of  four  sons 
and  two  daughters,  as  follows:Delphis,who  was  born 
June  11,  1877,  and  died  of  diphtheria  when  two 
jears  of  age;  Bertie,  who  was  born  July  17,  1879, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  one  year;  Randolph,  born 
iMay  30,  1881;  Klmira,  May  3,  1883;  Dwain, 
September  22,  1887;  and  Joel,  the  youngest,  on 
the  21st  of  October,  1891. 

Mr.  St.  Germain  since  the  purchase  of  his  land 
has  continued  his  farming  operations.  Acre  by 
acre  he  has  placed  the  entire  amount  under  the 
plow,  and,:is  his  financial  resources  have  increased, 
he  has  extended  the  boundaries  of  his  farm  until 
it  now  comprises  three  hundred  acres  of  valuable 
laud,  which  yields  to  him  a  golden  tribute  iu  re- 


282 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


turn  for  his  labor.  His  farm  is  well  improved 
with  good  buildings  and  he  raises  au  excellent 
grade  of  stock — in  fact,  tliis  industry  is  an  impor- 
tant branch  of  his  business  and  yields  him  a  good 
income. 


p  >A  I  »  ■  >i  ^  !■  >■ 


I'     I     <    I'l    '       I    '• 


ILLINOIS     EASTERN     HOSPITAL     for    the 
I     Insane.     By  an  act  of  the  Legislature  passed 
/1\    by    the   General  Assembly   in   the    session   of 
1876-77,  approved  May   25th,   1877,  and  in  force 
on  the   1st  of  July  of  that  year,  the  Eastern  Hos- 
pital for  the  Insane  was  created  and  established, 
$200,000  being  appropriated  to  buy  land  and  erect 
the  buildings.     The   location  was  made   by  seven 
commissioners  appointed  by  Gov.  Cullom.     These 
commissioners  were  .lolin  H.Adams,  of  Stephenson; 
John  Thomas,  of  St.  Clair;  William  A.  McConnell, 
of  McHenry;    Dr.  .Joseph  Robbins,  of  Quincy;    A. 
P.  Bartlett,  of  Peoria;    Myron  C.  Dudley,  of  Du 
Page;  and  Dr.William  Gerard,  of  Lawrence.    After 
examining  various  places,  among  which  were  Paris, 
Oilman,  Danville,  Paxton,  Tuscola  and  Pontiac, 
the  commissioners  chose  Kankakee,  and  the  land 
was  procured.  The  committee  who  acted  on  behalf 
of  Kankakee  in  the  presentation  of  its  memorial 
to  the  commissioners,  and  who  were  appointed   by 
a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  this  city,  were  Thomas 
^P.  Bonfield;  D.   C.  Taylor,  Andrew  Kerr,  G.  V. 
Huling,  James  N.  Orr  and  Emory  Cobb,  and  too 
much  credit"  cannot  be  given  them  in  this  matter. 
Dr.  Secrest,  of  Watseka,  was  also  a  friend  to  Kan- 
kakee.    The  bill  originating  the  institution  was  a 
Kankakee    County    enterprise    and    was    pushed 
through  the  House  by  D.  C.  Taylor,  J.  A.  Koplin 
and  C.  Secrest,  Representatives  of  this  Senatorial 
District,  and  through  the  Senate   by  Thomas   P. 
Bonfield,  the  State  Senator.     The  fall  of  1877  wit- 
nessed the  letting  of  the  contr.act  for  the  construc- 
tion of   the  building  to  James  Lillie,  and  b}'  the 
winter  of  1879  it  was  occupied  and  running,  with 
Richard  Dewey  as  Superintendent.    Since  tliat  time 
additional  appropriations  to  the  sum  of  §1,300,000 
have  been  made  and  about  thirty-five  new  build- 


ings erected  for  patients  of   both  sexes  and  for 
administrative    purposes.       The    construction    is 
mostly  on  the  "cottage  "   plan,  there  being  twen- 
ty-four buildings  of    that  description.     This   was 
the  first  institution  to  adopt  that  plan,  which  has 
been  extensively  copied  since  in  Ohio,   Missouri, 
New  York,  North    Dakota    and    British  America. 
The  hospital  staff  is  as  follows:   Richard  Dewey, 
medical  superintendent;    and  the  assistant   physi- 
cians are  A.  L.  Warner,  M.  D.;     Anne    C.  Burnet, 
M.  D.;    James  Dodds,    M.    D.;     Dr.  Foster  and  H. 
Bradley,  M.  D.     The  male  supervisors  of  the  in- 
stitution   are:      AVilliam  A.  Reid  and  Charles  W. 
Anderson,  the  female  supervisors  being  Mrs.  Nettie 
Earl  and  Miss  Ella  Myers.     Miss  Nellie  Fisher  is 
the  instructress  in  the  training  school.    In  the  busi- 
ness department  John  C.  Burt  is  business  manager, 
George    F.    Lovell    chief    clerk,   James    Bradbury 
chief  engineer,  and  Samuel  N.  Calkin  superintends 
the  farm. 

To  Dr.Wines,  D.  D.,  Secretary  of  the  Illinois  State 
Board  of  Public  Charities,  is  due  the  credit  of  inau- 
gurating the  system  of  the  cottage  plan,  on  which 
this  institution  is  conducted,  and  to  Dr.  Richard 
Dewey,  Superintendent  of  the  hospital  since  its  es- 
tablishment, is  due  the  credit  of  carrying  out  Dr. 
Wines'  plans  and  improving  on  them  in  perfection 
of  detail.  This  cottage  plan  includes  in  addition 
to  the  extensive  main  building  and  other  build- 
ings for  general  use  a  large  number  of  commodi- 
ous two-storj'  cottages  for  the  use  of  the  patients 
as  homes,  where  they  may  be  classed  separately  as 
seems  best  according  to  their  various  conditions 
of  mental  ailment.  As  the  hospital  is  naturally  an 
object  of  more  than  passing  interest  to  the  citizens 
of  this  county,  and  indeed  of  the  country  at  large, 
we  will  give  in  a  brief  manner  some  points  of 
interest  connected  with  it.  As  tiie  latest  report 
accessible  is  that  of  1890,  much  of  interest  that 
will  be  embraced  in  the  forthcoming  report  of 
1892  must  be  omitted. 

The  Illinois  Eastern  Hospital  for  the  Insane  is 
situated  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Kankakee  River 
and  adjacent  to  the  southern  limits  of  Kankakee, 
with  which  it  is  connected  by  the  Kankakee  Elec- 
tric Street  Railway.  The  total  area  of  the  hospital 
property  comprises  eight  hundred  and  forty-three 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


283 


acres,  about  one  hundred  of  which  are  occupied  by 
buildings,  lawns  and  timber  lot.  About  seven 
hundred  and  forty  acres  are  devoted  to  agriculture, 
horticulture,  vegetable  gardening  and  dair3'ing; 
The  farm  is  conducted  by  Samuel  Calkin,  who 
bears  the  title  of  "Farmer,"  and  is  under  a  fine 
state  of  cultivation.  The  labor  of  about  fifteen 
regular  hands  and  the  help  of  some  twenty-five 
patients,  occupants  of  the  farm  ward,  are  required 
in  the  care  of  the  farm,  garden  and  stock,  and  in 
butchering,  soap-making,  etc.  The  hospital  stock 
consists  of  three  hundred  head  of  cattle,  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  of  which  are  milch  cows,  yielding 
one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  gallons  of  milk 
annually,  the  remainder  of  the  herd  being  calves 
and  3'oung  cattle  to  be  raised  for  cows.  The  cattle 
are  all  high-bred  Durham  and  Holstein  stock,  which 
are  all  dehorned  and  constitute  as  fine  a  herd  as 
can  be  found  in  the  State.  Thirty-four  fine  draft 
horses  are  emi)loyed  on  the  farm  and  some  two 
hundred  hogs  are  grown  annually'  and  slaughtered 
for  the  use  of  the  hospital.  In  addition  to  the 
stock  above  mentioned,  about  twelve  hundred 
head  of  beef  cattle  are  bought  and  butchered  an- 
nually at  the  hosi)ital  slaughter-house,  and  the 
meat  in  all  its  forms,  fresh,  salt  and  smoked,  is 
consumed  b^-  the  hospital  population.  The  slaugh- 
ter-house is  built  on  the  most  improved  modern 
plans,  having  a  large  icehouse  and  cold  storage 
rooms.  The  coarse  fat  and  refuse  go  to  the  soap 
factory ,where  thej'  are  rendered  and  converted  into 
fine  soap,  which  by  the  thousand  of  cut  bars 
supplies  the  need  of  the  hospital,  thus  causing  a 
great  saving  in  that  direction.  In  addition  to  the 
stock  killed,  quite  a  large  number  of  dressed  sheep 
are  bought  in  the  Chicago  markets  and  kept  in  cold 
storage  until  used.  In  addition  to  all  this  a  large 
quantity  of  poultry  and  fish  not  produced  on  the 
farm  is  also  consumed. 

For  the  year  1892  the  farm  yielded  seven  thou- 
sand bushels  of  corn,  six  thousand  three  hun- 
dred bushels  of  oats,  two  hundred  tons  of  hay  and 
three  hundred  and  fifty  tons  of  garden  vegetables, 
four  thousand  tiiree  hundred  bushels  of  this  amount 
being  jjolatoes.  The  farm  boasts  a  young  apple 
I  orchard  of  sever.al  hundred  trees  of  the  best  known 
varieties  for  this  latitude,  and  a  large  quantity  of 


small  fruit  is  also  raised.  The  Farmer  has  a  large 
and  tasty  residence,  situated  at  quite  a  distance 
from  the  hospital  grou|),  and  having  commodious 
and  conveniently  arranged  barns  and  outbuildings, 
with  cellars  and  roothouses  of  v.ast  storage  cap.ac- 
ity.  In  fact,  taken  as  a  whole,  it  is  a  model  farm 
and  has  been  brought  to  its  present  high  state  of 
perfection  by  the  judicious  management  and  inde- 
fatigable efforts  of  Mr.  Calkin,  who  is  a  practiced 
and  level-headed  farmer,  whose  management  of  the 
insane  entrusted  to  his  care  and  employed  on  the 
farm  is  much  to  be  commended. 

Returning  to  the  large  group  of  imposing  stone 
buildings  which  constitute  the  citj'  of  the  insane, 
we  find  the  various  buildings  conveniently  and 
systematically  located,  facing  the  north  and  east, 
with  a  rare  view  of  the  beautiful  Kankakee  River, 
with  its  shaded  banks,  groves  and  meadows;  while 
the  towering  church  spires  and  numerous  tasty 
residences  gleaming  through  natural  groves  to  the 
northward  show  where  lies  the  thrifty  citv  of  Kau- 
kakee,while  the  smoke  from  its  raanj'  tall  chimneys 
suggests  the  idea  of  busy  toil  and  happy  homes. 
The  hospital  grounds  and  buildings  are  connected 
by  winding  walks  of  concrete,  and  the  landscape 
gardener  has  employed  his  best  art  in  the  arrange- 
ment of  shrubs  and  (lowers.  The  buildings  are  all 
of  native  limestone,  most  of  which  was  taken  from 
the  extensive  quarries  of  D.  C.  Taylor,  not  far  dis- 
tant. The  power-house  contains  twelve  large 
boilers,  sixteen  feet  long  by  five  in  diameter,  each 
boiler  having  a  capacity  of  sixty  horse  power,  in  ad- 
dition to  which  there  are  two  boilers  at  the  pumi)- 
ing-station  at  the  river  and  one  on  the  farm. 
There  are  three  engines,  two  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  horse  power  each,  and  one  of  forty. 

The  hospital  buildings  are  heated  by  steam,  hot 
air  and  hot  water.  The  water  is  supplied  by  water 
works  at  the  river,  where  one  large  Worthington 
pump  supplies  three  million  gallons  of  water  in 
twenty-four  hours.  Four  dynamos,  with  a  capa- 
city of  a  thousand  lights  each,  and  one  arc  light 
illuminate  the  institution  and  grounds  well  and 
safely.  James  Bradbury,  who  is  the  oldest  employe 
at  the  hospital  in  point  of  years  of  service,  is  chief 
cn"ineer,  and  with  a  force  of  eighteen  men  does  all 


284 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  plumbing  and  keeps  all  the  machinery  in  repair 
and  in  running  operation. 

The  internal  arrangement  of  the  hospital  is  ac- 
cording to  the  most  approved  modern  plans.,  per- 
fect in  detail  for  the  comfort,  health  and  pleasure 
of  its  inmates.  Facilities  for  heating,  lighting  and 
ventilation,  and  the  water  supph-  and  all  sanitary 
conditions,  are  of  the  most  approved  order.  Sewer- 
age connection  with  the  Kankakee  River  is  thor- 
ough and  complete.  A  system  for  the  employ- 
ment of  patients  has  been  adopted  whicli  answers 
the  double  purpose  of  diverting  their  minds  from 
their  maladies  and  producing  substantial  results  in 
the  working  of  the  institution.  The  average  per 
cent,  of  the  inmates  employed  in  the  years  1889 
and  1890  was  sevent}'  and  four-tenths.  The 
various  industries  represented  include  the  making 
of  brooms,  baskets,  rugs,  rag  carpets,  mats,  harness 
and  tinware,  and  the  work  of  upholstering,  chair- 
caning  and  repairing,  shoe-making,  tailoring, 
printing,  clock-repairing  and  engraving  is  also 
carried  on.  The  computed  saving  to  the  institution 
by  this  means  has  been  *238,120.  The  increase  in 
employment  has  been  from  forty-five  and  one-tenth 
per  cent,  in  1886  to  seventy  and  four-tenths  per 
cent,  in  1890. 

Twelve  per  cent,  of  the  patients,  or  two  hundred 
and  four,  are  paroled  and  allowed  the  privileges 
of  the  grounds.  Two  of  the  buildings,  accommo- 
dating each  about  forty  patients,  are  open  wards. 
This  parole  is  only  given  to  such  patients  as 
employ  themselves  usefully,  except  in  the  case  of 
a  few  convalescents  who  need  it  as  a  measure  of 
benefit.  But  there  is  a  large  additional  number 
who  might  be  safely  paroled  except  for  the  fact 
that  with  such  the  parole  leads  to  habits  of  idle- 
ness and  is  therefore  no  advantage, and  these  have 
been  as  far  as  possible  encouraged  to  engage  in 
regular  employment  and  have  been  rewarded  for 
their  industry  bj' such  other  privileges  as  could  be 
justly  extended  to  them.  Of  course  the  greatest 
privilege  that  any  patient  can  have  is  a  return  to 
a  life  of  freedom. 

The  changes  made  have  increased  the  capacity  of 
the  hospital  to  sixteen  hundred  and  sevent3'-five 
beds  (this  per  report  of  1890),  and  the  total  ex- 
penditures made  during  the  biennial  period  were 


$63,400.  This  sum,  added  to  the  total  previous 
outlay,  produces  a  total  of  §1,319,100,  which 
divided  by  sixteen  hundred  and  seventy-five  gives 
a  per  capita  cost  of  8787.40,  but  the  cost  for  con- 
struction proper,  excluding  cost  of  land,  furniture, 
repairs,  etc.,  in  the  past  two  years  was  $34,800, 
which  sura  added  to  the  total  previous  outlay  for 
construction  proper  produces  •i'996,600,  or  a  total 
per  capita  construction  cost  of  §594.98.  The  net 
total  expenses  of  the  institution  for  this  seventh 
biennial  period  covered  by  this  report  were  §474, 
834.98,  whicli  is  a  total  per  capita  expense  of  $287. 
17,  or  $143.58  per  patient  per  annum,  including 
all  current  expenses  of  every  kind,  salaries  and 
wages,  food,  fuel,  clothing,  medical  treatment,  etc. 
This  was  tiie  lowest  figure  attained  in  Illinois  by 
any  of  the  State  insane  hospitals  for  the  biennial 
period  covered  by  this  report,  the  next  lowest  being 
$298.48  or  $149.24,  per  patient  per  annum. 

At  this  writing  (November,  1892),  the  popula- 
tion of  the  hospital,  including  oflScers  and  attend- 
ants, is  fully  two  thousand, while  the  new  cottages 
recently  erected  but  not  yet  quite  ready  for  occu- 
pancy will  increase  its  capacity  to  the  accomoda- 
tion of  at  least  two  thousand  patients,  making  it 
the  second  largest  institution  of  its  kind  in 
America,  the  largest  being  that  at  Ovid,  N.  Y., 
which  exceeds  tlie  Illinois  Eastern  in  capacitj'  by 
about  one  hundred  only.  Tiie  cottage  system, 
under  the  judicious  management  of  Dr.  Dewey, 
has  proved  a  complete  success,  and  its  renown  has 
attracted  the  attention  of  those  in  care  of  the  in- 
sane in  all  portions  of  the  United  States.  Numer- 
ous Governors  and  other  State  officials  have  visited 
this  hosjutal  to  investigate  its  workings,  and 
so  favorabl}'  were  they  impressed  that  the  system 
has  since  been  adopted  bj' several  States  of  the 
Union.  Dr.  Dewey,  the  Superintendent,  is  a 
thoroughly  educated  and  skillful  physician  and 
surgeon,  a  man  of  advanced  ideas  and  warm  sympa- 
thies for  the  unfortunates  under  his  care.  It  is  sel- 
dom that  the  qualities  which  distinguish  eminent 
men  in  the  professions  are  found  coupled  with  great 
executive  ability  and  practical  business  tact.  But 
in  the  Superintendent  of  this  institution  is  found 
this  happy  combination,  and  under  his  care  the 
hospital  has  been  as  ably   and   economically'  con- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  IlECOfeD. 


28b 


ducted  from  a  business  standpoint  as  it  has  been 
in  a  professional  and  luunanitarian  sense.  The 
position  is  a  most  arduous  and  trying  one  and 
Dr.  Dewej'  has  discharged  the  responsible  duties 
of  it  with  such  ability  and  fidelit}'  that  all  who  are 
familiar  with  the  history  of  the  growth  and  inan- 
agenient  of  the  institution  are  unanimous  in  their 
approval  and  admiration. 

The  Baard  of  Trustees  is  composed  of  the  follow- 
ing named  gentlemen:  E.  B.  McCagg,  of  Chicago; 
John  L.  Donovan,  of  Watselia;  Walter  W.  Todd, 
of  Kankakee  and  II.  C.  Clarke,  Secretary  and 
Treasurer.  Much  credit  is  due  the  board  for  the 
faithful  manner  in  which  they  have  discharged 
their  dut3'.  Before  closing  this  brief  sketch  it  may 
not  be  inappropriate  to  state  that  JMr.  James  Lillie 
has  been  the  principal  contractor  from  the  first  to 
the  present  time  and  that  the  Illinois  Eastern  Hos- 
pital will  be  a  lasting  monument  to  his  mechanical 
skill  and  the  faithful  performance  of  his  contracts. 
The  Hon.  D.  C.  Taylor  and  the  Hon.  T.  P.  Bonfield 
are  entitled  to  the  credit  of  drafting  the  original 
bill  providing  for  the  establishment  of  the  hospital 
at  Kankakee  and  for  zealous  work  in  their  respect- 
ive branches  of  the  Legislature  for  its  passage. 


=m>^^<^ 


i- 


^UDSON  DURFEE  NICHOLS  is  a  pioneer 
settler  of  Kankakee  County  and  a  well- 
known  furniture  dealer  of  Kankakee.  He 
is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  his  birth  oc- 
ciu-ring  in  Pultne3'ville,  Wayne  County,  on  the  8th 
of  April,  1828.  He  is  the  third  son  of  Roswelland 
Mary  (Durfee)  Nichols,  of  whom  see  sketch  else- 
wiiere  in  this  work.  He  was  reared  upon  a  farm 
and  attended  school  in  Palmyra,  N.  Y.,  until  four- 
teen years  of  age,  when  with  his  parents,  brothers 
and  sisters  he  emigrated  to  Illinois.  Foi-  several 
years  he  was  employed  in  helping  his  father  pre- 
pare a  home  and  improve  a  new  farm  in  Limestone 
Township,  then  of  Iroquois,  but  now  of  Kankakee, 
County,  which  was  his  home  until  he  attained  his 
majority. 

On  his  twenty-first  birthday,  the  8th  of  April, 


1849,  Mr.  Nichols  was  united  in  marriage  in  Lime- 
stone Township  to  Miss  Ludelia  Arnold,  who  w\s 
born  in  1821,  in  Orleans  County,  N.  Y.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  Oren  and  Amanda  Arnold.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nichols  tiiree  children  were 
born,  two  of  whom  are  now  living:  Eugene  W., 
who  married  Miss  Marj'  Reeves  and  resides  in 
Lachine,  near  Montreal,  Canada;  and  Oren  D., 
who  married  Celia  Dwight  and  is  engaged  with 
his  father  in  the  furniture  business  at  Kankakee; 
Judson  1).,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  died  in  in- 
fancy'. 

About  the  year  1850,  Mr.  Nichols  engaged  as  a 
contractor  in  railway  construction  in  niinois,and 
in  the  spring  of  1853  went  to  Missouri,  where  he 
was  employed  in  the  same  line  of  work,  making 
his  home  with  his  family  there  until  the  fall  of 
1856,  when  he  returned  to  Kankakee  County.  He 
had  not  parted  with  his  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  in  Limestone  Township  and  there 
he  again  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
continued  to  reside  upon  his  farm  until  the  spring 
of  1878,  when  he  removed  with  his  famil}'  to  Kan- 
kakee, which  has  since  been  his  home.  Not  long 
since  he  sold  two  hundred  acres  of  his  farm,  but 
still  owns  eighty  acres,  which  is  a  portion  of  the 
original  purchase  made  by  his  father  in  1841. 
Soon  after  returning  to  Kankakee,  Mr.  Nichols 
engaged  in  the  furniture  business,  which  he  has 
continued  to  the  present  time.  He  carries  one  of 
the  largest  stocks  in  his  line  in  the  county  and  is 
doing  an  extensive  business. 

In  the  fall  of  1857,  his  first  wife  departed  this 
life,  and  on  the  29lh  of  December,  1859,  Mr. 
Nichols  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Mary  I.  Denny.  She  was  born 
in  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  September  23,  1837,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  David  and  P^inil}'  Denn}',  of  whom  a 
sketch  is  given  on  another  page.  Four  children 
have  graced  this  marriage,  three  daughters  and  a 
son:  Hattie  Ann,  Clara  Belle,  Helen  E.  and 
David  D. 

In  politics  Mr.  Nichols  has  always  been  an  act- 
ive Republican  since  the  organization  of  that 
party  and  has  lield  various  local  ofBces.  At  the 
first  election  in  Limestone  Township  he  was 
elected     Collector     and     Constable    and    served 


286 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


thronghont  the  term  of  his  olHces.  Subsequently 
he  served  as  Supervisor  for  two  terras  and  has  held 
at  various  times  all  of  the  town  offices  except  tliat 
of  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  is  a  Master  Mason, 
being  a  member  of  Kankakee  Lodge  No.  389,  A. 
V.  &  A.  M.,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  early  mem- 
bers. He  is  inclined  to  be  liberal  in  his  religious 
views  and  is  not  connected  with  any  church  de- 
nomination. Mr.  Nichols  has  been  a  resident  of 
what  is  now  Kankakee  County  for  fiftj'  years  and 
for  a  greater  part  of  that  time  has  been  promi- 
nently identified  witli  its  improvement  and  devel- 
opment. He  endured  his  share  of  the  sickness  and 
fevers  which  ))revailed  so  extensively  throughout 
the  West  during  its  early  settlement  and  which 
caused  much  suffering  and  loss  of  life.  Those  who 
have  come  more  recently  find  all  the  advantages  of 
modern  civilization  and  an  improved  and  health- 
ful climate  and  they  can  scarcely  appreciate  by 
hearsay  what  the  pioneers  had  to  pass  through. 
In  company  with  many  others  of  the  early  set- 
tlers Mr.  Nichols  passed  through  many  of  the 
trials  and  hardsliips  incident  to  the  settlement  of 
a  new  country  half  a  century  ago,  when  railroads 
were  unknown  in  the  West,  when  the  comforts  and 
even  the  necessities  of  life  could  be  scarcely  pro- 
vided. As  a  business  man  and  citizen  Mr.  Nichols 
stands  deservedly  high  and  the  record  of  his  life 
has  been  an  open  book  to  his  neighbors  and 
friends. 


^  TIS  DURFEE.  Many  of  the  older  settlers 
)f  Kankakee  County,  whose  life  work  was 
^^/^  identified  with  its  growth  and  development, 
have  passed  to  their  final  rest,  and  it  is  most  fit- 
ting that  some  record  of  their  deeds  should  be  per- 
petuated for  posterity,  and  that  a  more  reliable 
and  satisfactory  knowledge  may  be  had  of  them 
than  that  preserved  in  memory  and  tradition.  Of 
this  number  is  the  subject  of  this  slcetch. 

Mr.  Durfee  was  born  in  Palmyra,  Wa3-ne  County, 
N.  Y.,  on  the  7th  of  December,  1829,  and  was  the 
son  of  Sydney  S.  and  Sophia  (Rogers)  Durfee,  who 


were  of  old  New  York  families  and  held  in  high  re- 
pute in  the  Empire  State.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
received  a  common-school  and  collegiate  educa- 
tion in  his  native  State  and  in  1846,  in  company 
with  his  parents,  emigrated  to  Illinois.  They  set- 
tled in  Chicago,  then  but  a  small  town.  Our  sub- 
ject soon  obtained  employment  as  clerk  to  a  mer- 
chant in  Lockport,  but  continued  there  only  a 
short  time.  He  next  went  on  the  Lakes  as  a  sailor 
and  continued  in  that  vocation  until  1852.  After- 
ward, he  engaged  with  his  father  on  contract  pub- 
lic works  in  Chicago.  They  drove  the  first  piles 
in  the  city  for  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Com- 
pany and  took  extensive  contracts  for  harbor  im- 
provement, but  in  the  financial  crash  of  1857  they 
lost  large  sums  of  money  in  the  carrying  out  of 
their  contracts.  In  1860,  Mr.  Durfee  engaged  in 
farming  in  Monee  Township,  Will  County,  111. 
Some  two  years  later,  he  removed  to  Limestone 
Township,  Kankakee  County,  and  there  continued 
his  farming  operations  until  1865,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Kankakee. 

In  Limestone  Township,  on  the  15th  of  April, 
1856,  Mr.  Durfee  married  Miss  Harriet  C.  Nichols, 
a  daughter  of  RoswcU  and  Mary  (Durfee)  Nichols, 
of  whom  see  sketch  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mrs. 
Durfee  was,  like  her  husband,  a  native  of  Pal- 
myra, N.  Y.,  where  her  birth  occurred  on  tlie  23d 
of  January,  1832.  By  their  union  were  born  four 
sons  and  a  daughter.  Minnie  S.  resides  with  her 
mother  and  unmarried  brothers  in  Kankakee;  Sid- 
ney Roswell,  tlie  eldest  son,  is  the  present  Clerk  of 
the  Circuit  Court  of  Kankakee  County;  Fred  mar- 
ried Miss  Isabel  White  and  is  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Durfee  &  AVhittemore,  grocers  of  Kanka- 
kee; Edward  Adelbert  is  Deputy  County  Clerk  of 
this  county  and  has  held  that  position  for  four 
years;  Harry  is  a  clothing  merchant  of  Chicago. 

In  the  year  1866,  Mr.  Durfee  was  elected  Sheriff 
of  Kankakee  County  and  served  for  two  years. 
In  1870,  he  was  again  elected  to  that  office  and 
served  a  second-  terra  of  two  years.  He  was  raade 
Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1873,  and  held  that  office 
until  his  death,  a  period  of  eleven  years.  In  the 
same  year,  1873,  he  was  also  elected  Assessor  and 
was  several  times  re-elected  to  that  position,  which 
he  held  for  abo.it  twelve  years.     In    politics  Mr. 


Ur  HIE 


*1  i 


<i5i-<i^^6-^-^>t 


^  ^U*^i^M,D. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


289 


Duvfee  was  a  stalwart  Republican  from  the  time  of 
the  organization  of  that  party  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  after  a  lingering  illness  on  the  9th 
of  October,  1888.  He  was  a  Royal  Arch  JIason,  a 
member  of  Kankakee  Lodge  No.  389,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  of  Kankakee  Chapter  No.  78,  R.  A.  M. 

In  all  the  relations  of  life,  Mr.  Uurfee  was  ever 
upright,  faithful  and  reliable.  In  the  discharge  of 
his  official  duties  he  proved  himself  capable,  im- 
partial and  attentive  to  the  just  demands  of  the 
public  on  his  time  and  attention.  He  won  the  re- 
spect and  esteem  of  the  many  who  knew  his  worth 
and  who  were  favored  with  his  friendship.  His 
good  mother,  now  well  advanced  in  years,  survives 
her  son.  She  was  reared  in  the  (Quaker  faith,  to 
which  she  has  always  adhered,  and  still  wears  the 
modest  drab-colored  dress  that  distinguishes  the 
Societ}'  of  Friends. 


■r^ll 


^^^1©^'! 


R.  BENJAMIN  F.  URAN,  one  of  the 
leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of  this 
count}',  makes  his  home  in  Kankakee.  He 
is  a  native  of  what  is  now  Kankakee 
County  and  was  born  in  the  township  of  Bour- 
bonnais,  then  a  portion  of  Will  County,  on  the 
26th  of  January,  1848.  His  father,  Jonathan 
Uran,  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1810,  and  was  de- 
scended from  an  old  New  England  family.  He 
followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer,  and  when 
about  twenty  years  of  age  emigrated  to  the  State 
of  Ohio,  and  in  1836  came  to  this  portion  of  Illi- 
nois. Ten  years  later  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Lucinda  Legg,  a  daughter  of  George  Legg,  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  this  county  and  the  first  resident 
on  the  site  of  Kankakee.  Mr.  Uran  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Hourbonnais  Township,  where  he  lived  for 
many  years  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
left  his  farm  and  lived  a  retired  life  for  some 
years  in  Kankakee,  where  his  death  occurred  in 
188.5,  when  he  had  attained  the  age  of  seventy- 
live  years.  He  was  an  esteemed  and  respected 
citizen  and  a  man  of  strict  integrity',  who  possessed 
the  confidence  and  regard  of  his   fellow-citizens. 


In  his  i)olilical  afliliations  he  was  an  Abolitionist 
in  the  earl}-  days  and  later  a  stalwart  Republican. 
He  held  membership  with  the  Baptist  Church,  in 
which  lie  was  ever  an  active  worker.  He  and  his 
estimable  wife,  who  survives  and  resides  in  this 
city,  were  the  parents  of  five  children  who  grew 
to  mature  years,  three  sons  and  two  daughters: 
Our  subject  is  the  eldest  of  the  family;  Nathaniel 
H.  carries  on  tlie  old  homestead;  William  L.  is  a 
resident  of  Limestone  Township.  The  daughters 
are  Mrs.  Alta  M.  Goodwin  and  Addie  M. 

The  boyhood  days  of  the  Doctor  were  passed 
upon  his  father's  farm  in  Hourbonnais  Township 
and  his  school  privileges  were  such  as  were  af- 
forded by  the  district  schools.  Early  in  life  he 
determined  to  adopt  a  profession  as  his  life  work 
and  linall}'  decided  to  pursue  the  study  of  medi- 
cine. At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  started  out 
in  life  for  himself,  working  u[)on  neighboring 
farms  during  the  summer,  and  attending  sciiool  in 
the  winter  season.  He  also  taught  for  a  number 
of  winter  terms.  In  the  fall  of  1868,  he  entered 
the  otHce  of  Dr.  Knott  in  Kankakee  and  continued 
under  his  preceptorship  for  four  3'ears.  In  the 
meantime  he  attended  lectures  at  the  I'niversity 
of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor  and  also  the  Bellevue 
Medical  College  of  New  York,  and  was  graduated 
from  the  latter  institution  on  the  1st  of  March, 
1872.  After  his  graduation  he  was  associated 
with  Dr.  Knott  for  about  two  and  a-half  years, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  practicing  independ- 
entl}'.  The  Doctor  occupies  an  enviable  position 
among  the  medical  practitioners  of  Illinois  and 
has  a  large  and  lucrative  patronage. 

On  the  10th  of  September,  1874,  Dr.  Ih-an  was 
married  to  Miss  Susie  W.  Troup,  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
J.  A.  Troup,  of  Kankakee.  She  was  born  on  the 
loth  of  October,  1851,  in  Circleville,  Ohio.  They 
have  a  family  of  four  interesting  children:  How- 
ard Hale,  Joseph  Alfred,  Maigaret  Bertha  and 
Benjamin  F.  Their  home  is  the  abode  of  hospi- 
tality and  good  cheer  and  here  the}'  delight  to  en- 
tertain their  many  friends. 

Dr.  Uran  not  only  stands  high  in  the  medical 
profession,  but  takes  an  active  interest  in  promot- 
ing tlie  moral  and  material  growth  of  the  com- 
munity.    He  is  President  of  the  North  Kankakee 


1 


290 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Electric  Light  and  Railway  Company,  and  is  also 
Secretary  of  the  Examining  Board  for  Pensions, 
having  been  apjiointed  on  that  board  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1889.  He  is  a  loyal  and  enterprising 
citizen,  and  does  nuicli  to  further  the  develop- 
ment and  progress  of  this  city. 


e^+^ 


[^" 


ENRY  JACOBUS  is  engaged  in  carrying  on 
*^  his  farm  situated  on  section  4,  Aroma 
Township.  He  is  a  native  of  the  Empire 
^  State,  where  his  birth  occurred  in  Genesee 
Count}',  on  the  8th  of  June,  1812.  His  parents 
were  Simon  and  Katie  (Decker)  Jacobus,  who  were 
of  German  descent.  In  their  family  were  thirteen 
children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  John, 
Hannah,  Sarah,  David,  James  and  Katiierine  are 
also  deceased,  and  those  living  are  James,  Betsy, 
Polly,  Henry  and  Clarissa.  The  father  of  these 
children  passed  away  in  1841,  and  Ids  wife  de- 
parted this  life  two  j-ears  previously. 

Our  subject  was  born  and  reared  upon  a  farm,  re- 
ceiving a  good  common-school  and  business  edu- 
cation. He  remained  under  tiie  parental  roof  until 
reaching  his  majoritj',  and  in  early  life  learned  the 
trade  of  a  chair-maker.  He  commenced  life  for 
himself  by  working  for  neighboring  farmers  by  the 
month,  and  later  farmed  on  shares.  AVhen  he  was 
but  five  years  of  age,  he  came  with  his  parents  to  the 
AVest  and  lived  in  Decatur  County,  Ind., "until 
1846.  At  that  time  he  came  to  Kankakee  County, 
and  located  in  St.  Anne  Township,  which  was  then 
a  portion  of  Iroquois  County.  He  brought  all  his 
household  here  by  team.  Tlie  following  year  Mr. 
Jacobus  purchased  one  liundred  and  sixty  .acres  of 
Government  land.  The  farm  which  first  came 
into  his  possession  adjoins  the  town  of  St.  Anne, 
which  at  that  time  was  not  in  existence.  He  paid 
for  this  tract  from  $1  to  ^2.50  per  acre.  Here  he 
lived  until  1853,  wlien  he  sold  the  property  and 
removed  to  tiie  farm  where  he  has  since  made  his 
home.  Tills  consists  of  ninety-seven  acres,  which 
he  has  greatly  improved  since  it  came  into  his 
possession.     When  he  first  located  in  tiiis  county. 


the  nearest  trading-post  was  Momence,  and  there 
he  carried  all  his  produce.  As  an  agriculturist  he 
has  been  very  successful  and  is  trul}"^  a  self-made 
man.  He  commenced  life  totally  without  means, 
and  by  his  characteristics  of  industry  and  economy 
has  acquired  a  comfortable  home  and  competence. 

On  the  27th  of  May,  1835,  Mr.  Jacobus  and  Miss 
Mary  Burns  were  united  in  marriage.  The  lady  is 
a  daugliter  of  Thomas  and  Hester  (Robinson) 
Burns,  and  was  born  in  Virginia,  on  the  5th  of 
March,  1811.  She  is  therefore  now  eighty-one 
years  of  age;  her  husband  has  attained  eighty 
years,  and  at  this  advanced  age  they  arc  both  hale 
and  hearty,  and  enjoy  life  with  as  much  zest  and 
pleasure  as  many  who  have  not  reached  half  their 
years.  By  their  marriage  were  born  eiglit  chil- 
dren. Harrison  died  in  infancy;  Lizzie  J.  be- 
came the  wife  of  Chauncey  Redford,  now  deceased; 
Martha  A.  died^  in  infanc}';  John  R.  is  still  living; 
Hester  A.  died  when  an  infant;  William  and  Elva 
A.  are  still  living,  as  is  also  the  3'oungest  of  the 
family,  Rebecca  M.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Eddie  Mi- 
sen  himer. 

Mr.  Jacobus  has  always  used  his  right  of  fran- 
chise in  support  of  the  Republican  party.  He  has 
never  been  an  aspirant  for  official  positions,  but 
has  faithful!}'  performed  liis  duties  of  citizenship. 
He  is  well  informed  on  the  leading  issues  of  the 
day,  and  devotes  much  of  his  time  to  reading  and 
studj'.  For  fort3'-six  years  he  has  made  his  home 
in  this  count}^  and  has  taken  an  active  interest 
and  part  in  its  wonderful  growth  and  prosperity. 
In  tliis  and  adjoining  counties  he  has  long  been 
well  and  favorably  known,  and  numbers  many 
friends  throughout  this  community. 


1- 
I    is  a  native  of  New  York,  born  in   Oswego 

1    on  tlie   lltli  of  August,  184G.     He  is  a  son 


AY   L.  HAMLIN,  Postmaster  of  Kankakee, 


of  Charles  P.  .and  C.  Amelia  (Lake)  Hamlin, 
and  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  on  the  4th 
of  November,  1852.  The  f.amily  settled  in  Mo- 
mence, now  in  Kankakee  County,  where   our  sub- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIUCAL  RECORD. 


291 


ject  was  reared  and  attended  the  public  schools. 
He  afterward  entered  tiie  State  Normal  Universit\-, 
where  he  pursued  his  studies  in  the  higher 
branches.  Upon  leaving  school  lie  engaged  in  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  and  also  dealt  in  live-stock  and 
farm  machinery  at  Monience.  On  tlie  10th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1873,  he  was  appointed  to  a  clerkship  in  tlie 
United  .States  Kailwaj'  Mail  Service  and  continued 
in  that  position  for  fifteen  years,  or  until  Septem- 
ber, 1888,  when  he  resigned. 

In  the  following  November,  Jlr.  IIan)lin  was  ap- 
pointed to  his  present  position  as  Postmaster  b}' 
President  Harrison.  He  is  now  serving  his  fourth 
year  in  that  capacity  and  has  proved  a  very  popu- 
lar ofticer.  The  Kankakee  office  is  an  important 
one  and  gives  emplo^'menl  to  fourteen  persons, 
including  five  carriers.  The  ottice  under  the  man- 
agement of  Jlr.  Hamlin  has  been  ably  and  satis- 
factoril}'  conducted  botli  as  regards  his  superior 
officers  and  the  general  public.  Our  subject  and 
his  subordinates  are  careful,  painstaking  and  ac- 
commodating, and  the  casual  stranger  who  has  oc- 
casion to  go  to  the  office  is  as  sure  of  respectful 
attention  as  the  wealthiest  and  most  intlueutial 
local  resident. 

On  the  23d  of  September,  18G9,Mr.  Hamlin  was 
married  in  Momence,  111.,  to  Miss  Alice  R.  Rice, 
who  was  born  in  that  cit}'  .and  is  a  daughter  of 
George  W.  and  Laura  Rice,  who  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  that  place  and/ were  originally 
from  Maine.  JMr.  and  Mrs.  Hamlin  have  one  child, 
a  son,  C.  Philip,  who  was  born  in  Bloomington, 
111.,  on  the  19th  of  December,  1873,  where  Mr. 
Hamlin  resided  for  three  j'ears,  from  1873  until 
187G.  Since  that  time  he  has  made  his  home  in 
Kankakee. 

Socially,  our  subject  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason 
and  holds  membership  with  Kankakee  Lodge  No. 
389,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Kankakee.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  Kankakee  Ciiapter  No.  78,  R.  A.  M., 
and  of  Ivanlioe  C'ommandery  No.  33,  K.  T.,  all  of 
this  city.  In  connection  witli  his  other  official 
duties,  Mr.  Hamlin  has  the  inspection  of  the  twenty- 
five  postoltices  of  the  county  once  a  year.  It  is 
hardly  necessary  to  state  that  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican and  has  been  one  from  boyhood.  He  takes 
an  active  interest  in  campaign  work  and  is   influ- 


ential in  the  councils  of  his  party,  both  in  the 
county  and  State.  As  a  citizen  and  public  official 
he  stands  higii  in  tlic  estimation  of  all  with  whom 
he  has  business  or  social  relations. 


!•=*___-/ 


♦^=*^E* 


■^'OHN  FRANKLIN.  Among  tiie  prominent 
self-made  Illinois  farmers  who  have  suc- 
ceeded in  acquiring  a  large  and  valuable 
property  through  tlieir  own  unaided  efforts 
must  be  mentioned  he  whose  name  heads  this 
sketcii.  He  claims  sunn\'  Italy  as  his  birthplace, 
and  the  date  of  that  event  was  New  Year's  Da}', 
1836.  When  nine  years  old,  he  emigrated  to 
America  in  com|)any  with  two  cousins,  wlio  iie- 
came  merciiants  in  Philadelpliia.  He  remained 
with  them  as  store  hoy  until  lie  learned  that  one 
of  them  was  about  to  return  to  Italy  and  take  him 
back  to  his  home.  He  preferred  to  stay  in  tiiis 
countr_v,  and  to  avoid  being  taken  I)ack,  lie  ran 
away  and  joined  Dan  Rice's  circus  troo])  and 
traveled  willi  lliat  renowned  sho.vman  until  1858. 
Then  coming  to  Illinois,  he  obtained  employment 
on  a  farm  in  Cliebanse  Townshii),  Iroquois  County, 
and  continued  at  farm  labor  until  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war. 

On  the  10th  of  August,  IBGl,  Mr.  Franklin  en- 
listed for  three  year.s'  service  in  defense  of  tlie 
Union  as  a  member  of  Companj-  G,  Twenty-fifth 
Illinois  Infantry.  He  served  the  term  of  his  en- 
listment and  received  an  honorable  discharge  Au- 
gust 10,  18G1.  He  saw  much  active  service,  and 
discharged  tiie  duties  of  a  soldier  faithfully  and 
well.  He  participated  in  tiie  battles  of  Pea  Ridge, 
Perryville,  Ky.,  Crab  Orcliard  and  Stone  Hiver. 
In  the  latter  engagement  a  niinic-hall  passed 
through  his  canteen  as  it  hung  on  liis  left  side. 
His  health  becoming  impaired,  he  was  assigned  to 
tlie  Invalid  Corps,  and  was  placed  on  guard  duty 
at  Chicago,  Kock  Island  and  later  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
until  the  time  of  his  discharge. 

On  the  9th  of  December,  1866,  Mr.  Franklin  was 
married  in  Chebanse  Township  to  Jliss  Mary  Ann 


292 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


Pruett,  who  was  born  February  3,  1847,  in  Ver- 
million County,  Ind.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Mere- 
dith and  Mary  Pruett.  Mrs.  Franklin  came  to 
Iroquois  County,  111.,  with  her  parents  when  but 
two  years  of  age.  Her  father  died  in  August, 
1866,  and  iier  mother,  who  still  survives,  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Chebanse  Township. 

Mr.  Franklin  had  saved  from  his  earnings  quite 
a  sum  before  going  into  the  army,  and  with  this  he 
had  purchased  eighty  acres  in  Chebanse  Township, 
and  on  leaving  the  army  he  had  accumulated 
about  *1,000.  Immediately  after  his  marriage  he 
settled  on  his  farm  in  Chebanse  Township,  which 
he  proceeded  to  improve  and  cultivate.  He  added 
to  the  original  tract  by  purchase  from  time  to  time, 
until  he  had  accumulated  Ave  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  valuable  land.  On  this  he  erected  an  ele- 
gant and  commodious  farm  house,  costing  about 
$6,000,  and  the  most  extensive  barns  and  cattle 
sheds  in  use  in  this  section  of  the  State.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1892,  he  purchased  a  lot  at  tbe  northeast 
corner  of  Indiana  Avenue  and  Bourbonnais 
Street,  where  he  has  erected  one  of  the  finest 
residences  in  the  city,  which  is  the  home  of  the 
family. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Franklin  have  eight  cliildren,  four 
sons  and  daughters:  Ida  May,  tlie  eldest,  is  the  wife 
of  James  McCuen,  of  Chebanse;  Jennie  is  the  wife 
of  Eugene  Vanderporten,  of  AVatseka,  and  is  the 
mother  of  the  only  grandchild,  Ruby  Dot,  born 
September  4,  1891;  Ray,  Bruce,  Lloyd,  Delia, 
Arthur  and  Flossie,  the  younger  members  of  the 
family,  are  students  at  the  Kankakee  city  schools. 
Mr.  Franklin's  principal  object  in  removing  to 
this  city  was  that  he  might  better  educate  his 
younger  children. 

Our  subject  has  alwa3'S  done  quite  an  extensive 
business  in  growing,  feeding  and  selling  live-stock, 
and  his  farm,  which  is  one  of  the  most  valuable 
ones  in  the  State,  is  now  well  stocked  and  is  under 
his  management  and  supervision.  In  politics,  he 
affiliates  with  the  Republican  party.  Mrs.  Frank- 
lin and  her  daughters  hold  membership  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  has  been  an  industrious  and  hard-working 
man  all  his  life.  He  made  his  start  in  the  world  by 
working  as  a  farm  hand,  and   was  such  an  efficient 


and  faithful  man,  and  so  reliable,  that  he  always 
commanded  the  best  wages,  often  getting  double 
that  paid  to  ordinary  men.  When  he  embarked  in 
agricultural  pursuits  for  himself,  he  brought  to 
bear  the  same  indefatigable  energy,  shrewd  judg- 
ment and  industry.  Aided  by  his  faithful  wife  he 
rapidly  accumulated  property  until  he  is  now 
known  as  one  of  the  wealthy  farmers  of  eastern 
Illinois. 


,,..^  NTONY  LAFLEUR  is  an  extensive  farmer 
(@Ol    of  Aroma  Township,  engaged  in  agricul- 
lii    tural    pursuits   on    section    3.     He   is   of 
1^'  French  descent  and  a  native  of  Canada, 

where  his  birth  occurred  on  the  12th  of  December, 
1822.  He  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Margaret  La- 
fleur,  who  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  as 
follows:  Charlie  Mitchell,  Margaret,  Betsy,  An- 
tony, John,  Elrick,  Sophia,  Joseph  and  Jane. 
Three  others  died  in  infancy. 

Our  subject  was  born  and  reared  upon  a  farm 
and  is  largely  self-educated..  He  was  early  ob- 
liged to  make  his  own  living,  which  he  has  prac- 
tically done  since  ten  years  of  age.  He  early 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  worked  at  that 
emplo3'ment  most  of  the  time  for  many  years.  He 
went  with  his  parents  to  Vermont  about  the  year 
1830,  and  lived  there  for  some  fifteen  j'ears.  In 
1845  they  emigrated  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  where  our 
subject  worked  as  a  carpenter  for  about  ten  j'ears. 
In  1855  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  the 
town  of  St.  Anne,  Kankakee  County.  At  that  time 
there  were  onlj'  about  six  houses  there,  and  he  was 
employed  to  assist  in  laying  out  the  town.  Mr. 
Lafleur  made  his  home  in  that  place  for  the  suc- 
ceeding ten  years,  and  during  that  time  worked  at 
his  trade  and  was  so  successful  in  a  financial  waj' 
that  he  was  enabled  to  purchase  a  good  farm, 
where  for  some  j'ears  he  engaged  in  tilling  the 
soil  in  connection  with  his  trade.  This  farm  con- 
sisted of  two  hundred  acres  of  raw  prairie  land  on 
section  4,  Aroma  Township.  After  residing  there 
for  some  four  j^ears,  he  sold  the  property  and  re- 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


293 


moved  to  Kankakee  in  1869.  For  five  years  he 
was  engaged  in  tlie  livery  business  in  that  city. 
In  1874  he  became  the  owner  of  his  present  farm, 
which  consists  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  on  section  3.  From  time  to  time,  as  his  re- 
sources increased,  he  added  adjoining  land  and 
has  now  three  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  valu- 
able arable  and  well-cultivated  farming  land.  He 
is  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock-raising, 
and  the  labor  of  years  has  been  rewarded  bj'  pros- 
perity and  success. 

In  1847  Mr.  Lafleur  married  Miss  Lizzie  She- 
guinn,  who  was  a  native  of  Lower  Canada.  Mr. 
Lalleur  holds  membership  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  is  a  public-spirited  man  and  is  active 
in  forwarding  all  public  enterprises  and  educa- 
tional measures.  He  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
Ilighw.ay  Commissioner,  and  discharged  the  duties 
of  that  position  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  con- 
cerned. He  has  always  taken  a  leading  and  ac- 
tive part  in  politics,  and  has  been  for  many  years 
a  supporter  of  the  Republican  part^'.  He  is  one 
of  America's  self-made  men,  and  has  steadily 
pressed  forward  to  the  goal  of  success,  overcom- 
ing all  difficulties  and  obstacles  in  his  path  with  a 
courage  and  perseverance  worth}'  of  the  emulation 
of  all. 


*SQi^ 


-^ 


7?RANCIS  M.  .STAKSBERRY.  It  is  only  by 
written  record  that  we  can  fitly  perpetuate 
the  histor}-  of  the  early  settlers  and  men 
who  bv  their  heroic  struggles  overcame  the  obsta- 
cles in  their  pathway  amid  the  privations  and  dis- 
couragements of  life  on  the  frontier.  Therefore 
it  is  with  pleasure  that  we  present  this  brief  sketch 
and  tribute  to  the  memory- of  the  gentleman  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch. 

Mr.  Stansberry  was  a  native  of  West  Virginia, 
his  birth  occurring  on  the  9th  of  July,  1829,  near 
Wheeling.  He  was  one  of  eight  children,  four 
sons  and  four  daughters.  His  parents  removed  to 
Indiana  when  he  was  about  four  years  of  age,  the 
trip  being  made  by   way  of  the  rivers  on  a  flat- 


boat.  His  father  purch.ased  Government  land  near 
Muncie,  Ind.,  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Delaware  County.  Soon  after  his  settlement  in 
Indiana,  the  father  died,  and  when  our  subject 
was  but  seven  years  of  age  his  mother  also  de- 
parted this  life. 

At  that  time  Mr.  Stansberry  was  bound  out  to  a 
Quaker,  to  remain  with  him  until  fourteen  years  of 
age.  He  was  early  accustomed  to  the  duties  and 
occupations  of  farm  life  while  in  the  employ  of 
this  man,  and  on  attaining  the  age  of  fourteen  he 
was  released  from  the  engagement.  For  the  suc- 
ceeding four  or  five  years  he  worked  by  the  montli 
for  the  neighboring  farmers,  and  then  determined 
to  learn  a  trade.  He  chose  that  of  a  wagon-maker, 
at  which  business  he  worked  until  1852.  The 
spirit  of  adventure  had  taken  an  active  hold  on 
his  mind,  and  in  that  year  he  started  for  Califor- 
nia, going  by  mule  and  ox-teams  overland.  He 
was  about  five  months  on  the  way,  his  destination 
being  the  Salmon  River  mines.  He  remained  in 
California  for  man}'  years,  and  for  a  portion  of  the 
time  engaged  in  mining.  Later  be  ran  a  sawmill 
and  for  a  number  of  years  was  an  extensive  stock- 
raiser.  He  purchased  quite  a  large  cattle  ranch 
and  was  very  successful  in  his  business  undertak- 
ings. In  those  days  he  bore  a  great  reputation  as 
a  bear  hunter,  and  killed  many  of  those  ferocious 
animals  in  a  hand-to-hand  encounter.  For  several 
years  he  lived  among  the  Indians,  and  had  many 
strange  and  thrilling  adventures. 

On  the  28th  of  July,  1851,  Mr.  Stansberry  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Permelia  D.  Fair- 
banks, daughter  of  Almon  and  Paulina  (Jaquith) 
Fairbanks.  Six  children  graced  this  union.  Fran- 
cis A.  and  JIathias  C.  are  both  at  home;  May  P.  is 
the  wife  of  Joseph  E.  Smith,  a  druggist  of  Kanka- 
kee; Almon  A.  is  engaged  in  the  drug  business  in 
Georgetown,  111.;  and  Ilattie  is  at  present  attend- 
ing school  in  Kankakee. 

Mr.  Stansberry  returned  from  California  about 
1867  and  visited  the  scenes  and  friends  of  In- 
diana for  a  few  weeks.  He  then  came  to  Kanka- 
kee County  and  purchased  a  partially  improved 
farm  on  section  35,  Aroma  Township.  This  place 
consisted  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  and 
here  he  carried  on  general  farming  and  stock-rais- 


294 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ing  for  many  years.  As  a  business  man  he  was 
successful,  for  he  was  industrious,  enterprising  and 
progressive  in  his  methods,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
deatli  had  accumulated  a  good  estate  and  was  ac- 
counted one  of  the  well-to-do  farmers  of  this 
comraunitj-.  Mr.  Slansberry's  death  occurred  as 
the  result  of  an  accident.  On  the  2oth  of  August, 
1892,  while  in  Kankakee,  his  team  became  fright- 
ened and  ran  away,  he  being  thrown  from  his 
w.agon,  and  sustaining  severe  and  fatal  injur- 
ies, lie  lingered  for  about  two  days  and  passed 
away  on  Saturday  morning,  the  27tli.  His  life 
was  alwaj-s  a  busy  and  useful  one,  yet  he  ever 
found  time  to  devote  himself  to  public  interests 
and  the  general  welfare.  Politically,  he  affiliated 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  for  some  years  in 
California  was  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  was  a 
man  who  b}'  his  genial  manner  and  interesting 
conversation  made  many  friends,  and  his  death 
was  a  great  shock  and  sorrow  to  all. 


i^AYETTE  S.  HATCH,  Deputy  County  Treas- 
urer of  Kankakee  County',  and  ex-County 
Superintendent  of  Schools,  has  been  for 
man}'  years  a  resident  of  Kankakee,  his  arrival  here 
dating  from  1866.  His  birth  occurred  in  Chenango 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  1832.  His  father,  Jethro  Hatch, 
was  born  in  Connecticut.  The  genealogy  of  the 
family  is  traced  back  to  Thomas  Hatch,  whose 
name  is  identified  with  the  early  history  of  the 
New  England  Colonies.  The  paternal  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  whose  Christian  name  was  Timothy, 
removed  to  the  Empire  State  when  his  son  Jethro 
was  but  a  child  and  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Chenango  County,  where  he  resided  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  when  he  had  attained  to  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninet}'-eight  years.  The  father  of 
our  subject  wedded  Minerva  Pierce,  a  naiive  of 
the  Green  Mountain  State,  and  in  1846  emigrated 
with  his  familj'  to  Kane  Count}^  111.  He  settled 
upon  an  unimproved  farm  in  the  township  of  Su- 
gar Grove.     He  located   on   State    land  and    was 


one  of  the  earliest  of  the  pioneers  of  that  county. 
There  he  lived  until  the  country,  which  was  then 
in  a  wild,  uncultivated  condition,  was  thickly  set- 
tled, converted  into  fine  farms  and  covered  with 
pleasant  and  comfortable  homes.  Toward  the  close 
of  his  life  lie  removed  to  Aurora,  where  he  died 
when  eiglit3-flve  years  of  age.  His  wife  survived 
him  only  four  years,  passing  away  at  the  age  of 
eighty-three. 

Jethro  Hatch  and  wife  were  the  parents  of  five 
children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom 
are  living:  Mercelia,  the  widow  of  Dr.  Lawson 
Winslow,  now  residing  at  Aurora;  Fayette,  who  is 
our  subject;  Dr.  Jethro,  a  practicing  physician  of 
Kentland,  Ind.;  Mattie  W.,  the  wife  of  D.  C.  Wins- 
low,  now  living  at  Gilro}',  Cal.;  and  Austin  P.,  a 
resident  of  Aurora. 

When  his  parents  removed  from  New  Y'ork  to 
Illinois,  Faj'ette  S.  Hatch,  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch,  was  about  fourteen  years  of  age.  He  well 
remembers  the  pioneer  days  and  e;speriences  in 
Kane  County.  His  earliest  education  was  obtained 
in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  and  adopted 
States.  Later  he  pursued  a  course  of  studj'  at  Be- 
loit  College,  which  was  then  and  for  many  j'ears 
afterward  under  the  Presidency  of  Dr.  Chapin. 
When  between  the  ages  of  sixteen  and  twentj--two 
years,  our  subject  taught  a  number  of  terms  of 
school.  Ma}'  12, 1864,  he  enlisted  in  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Forty-first  Illinois  Regiment  and  remained 
in  the  service  until  the  regiment  was  discharged, 
October  20,  1864.  He  continued  to  reside  in  Kane 
Count}'  until  1866,  when  he  came  to  Kankakee  and 
engaged  in  the  furniture  business. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1868,  Mr.  Hatch  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Teresa  M.  Peirce  and  by 
their  union  were  born  three  children,  two  sons  and 
a  daughter.  Mary  S.  is  a  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Kankakee;  and  the  sons  are  Lawson  W. 
and  Austin  L.  Mr.  Hatch  was  bereft  of  his  wife 
by  death  on  the  13th  of  August,  1892.  She  was  a 
faithful  wife  and  mother  and  left  many  friends  to 
mourn  her  loss. 

In  the  year  1886,  Mr.  Hatch  was  elected  Super- 
intendent of  Schools  of  Kankakee  County,  and  in 
that  cap.acity  proved  an  efficient  and  able  officer 
during  the  succeeding  four  years.     Since  the  ex- 


PORTRAIT  A>.'D  LIOGRArillCAL   liECORD. 


295 


piration  of  his  term  as  SuperintendeDt  be  lias  been 
connected  witli  llie  otiice  of  County  Treasurer.  In 
liis  political  afliliations  our  subject  is  a  standi  Re- 
publican. His  first  Presidential  vote  was  cast  for 
John  C.  Fremont  in  185(5,  since  which  time  lie  has 
never  failed  to  deposit  his  ballot  in  favor  of  the 
Presidential  candidate  of  his  party.  Mr.  Hatch  is 
prominent  in  Masonic  circles,  beino;  a  member  of 
the  lilue  Lodge,  Chapter,  Commandery  and  Con- 
sistory, and  has  been  for  seven  years  District  Dep- 
uty of  the  Sixteenth  Masonic  District.  He  is  a 
popular  citizen  and  his  business  and  official  careers 
have  ever  been  attended  with  the  strict  integrity 
and  honor  by  which  lie  has  won  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens. 


lU  ft^t      ^1  >  P  ^1 


9    I    I   \    I      1  I     1 


'OSEPH  ARNOLD  BAKER,  a  prominent 
farmer  and  early  settler  of  the  township  of 
Aroma,  was  born  in  Lawrenceburg  Town- 
ship, Dearborn  County,  Ind.,  on  the  IGth 
of  Se[)tember,  1823.  He  is  a  sou  of  Abiel  and 
Maria  (Osgood)  Baker.  The  former  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  was  born  in  Rhode  Island,  married 
in  early  life,  and  settled  in  Dearborn  County,  Ind., 
where  he  died  when  our  subject  was  but  a  child. 
His  wife,  who  survived  her  husliand,  was  born 
near  Augusta,  Me.  Some  years  subsequent  to  her 
husband's  death  she  removed  to  Illinois  and  died 
here  in  October,  1887. 

Joseph  A.  Baker,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received  a  good  com- 
mon-school education.  In  March,  1818,  he  mar- 
ried ^liss  Sarah  True.  She  was  born  in  Manchester, 
Ind.,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Abram  B.  and  Klraire 
(Gerrish)  True.  Eight  children  blessed  tiie  un- 
ion of  Mv.  and  Mrs.  Baker,  of  whom  five  are  now 
living:  Sparks  B.  married  Miss  Frances  Briggs,  and 
is  a  farmer  of  Lincoln  Township,  Audubon  County, 
Iowa;  Mary  J.  is  the  wife  of  Peter  Cray,  of  Lime- 
stone Township,  this  countv';  Albion  T.  died  at 
the  age  of  two  years;  Harriet  A.  became  the  wife 
of  Christian  Oray,  of  Salina  Townsliip;  Joseph  A. 
died  in  infancy;   Emory  E.  married  Ida  M.  Beebe 


and  makes  his  home  in  Kankakee;  Luella  AI.  is  the 
wife  of  Joshua  (Jra_y,  of  Pilot  Township;  and  Lois 
E.  died  when  two  months  old. 

]\Ir.  Baker  engaged  in  farming  in  Indiana  until 

1819,  when  he  removed  witli  his  family  to  Will 
County,  now  Kankakee  County,  HI.,  and  settled 
in  what  is  now  the  townshii)  of  Arom;i.  He  then 
possessed  but  limited  means  and  dreaded  going  in 
dcl)t  so  much  that  he  bought  only  forty  acres  of 
land,  for  which  he  paid  but  $1.50  per  acre.  He 
was  offered  a  (luartei-section  near  by  shortly  after- 
ward at  $2  per  acre,  on  his  own  terms  as  to  time 
of  payment,  but  tlie  dread  of  debt  prevented  his 
acceptance  of  the  offer.  Man3'  3ears  later,  how- 
ever, he  became  the  owner  of  the  identical  tract, 
for  which  he  then  paid  §50  per  acre,  and  a  part  of 
which  he  has  since  sold  for  §  1 00  per  acre.  lie  from 
time  to  time  increased  his  possessions  until  he 
owned  about  six  hundred  acres  of  fine  farm  land 
in  this  county.  He  still  owns  four  hundred  acres. 
Mr.  Baker  carried  on  farming  and  stock-raising 
successfully  in  Aroma  Township,  and  by  hard 
work  and  good  management  arrived  at  his  present 
position  as  one  of  the  wealth}'  farmers  of  the 
count}'. 

On  the  IGth  of  ]\Iarcli,  1875,  Mr.  Baker  was 
called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  whose 
death  occurred  on  the  homestead  farm.  She  was 
a  member  of  the  Jlethodist  Episcopal  Church  and 
was  a  consistent  Christian  woman.  On  the  17th 
of  October,  1876,  Mr.  Baker  \yas  again  married, 
his  second  wife  being  Miss  Lovinia  Ileustis  True, 
a  sister  of  his  former  wife.  Mrs.  Baker  was  born 
in  Alanchester,  Ind.  Her  father,  who  was  an 
earl}'  settler  of  Kankakee  County,  was  born  in 
Durham,  Me.,  on  the  KUh  of  September,  1790, 
and  settled  in  Dearborn  County,  Ind.,  in  January, 

1820.  In  1850,  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
Illinois,  settling  in  what  is  now  Kankakee  County. 
He  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  all  of 
which  lie  within  the  eastern  limits  of  Kankakee. 
At  the  time  Mr.  True  settled,  the  site  of  Kanka- 
kee was  marked  only  by  the  old  Indian  chief's 
log  house.  He  departed  this  life  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-eight  years,  on  the  17th  of  February, 
1885,  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Baker. 
Mrs.  Baker's  mother  had  previously  died,  the  date 


296 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


i>-^^<-^ 


of  her  death  being  December  6,  1854.  Both  were 
highly  esteemed  and  were  widely  known  among 
the  eaily  settlers  of  the  county.  Mrs.  Baker  is  a 
member  of  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Cliurcli. 

On  the  6th  of  December,  1891,  Mr.  Baker  moved 
to  Kankakee,  which  has  since  been  his  home  and 
wliere  he  has  a  line  residence  on  Cliicago  Avenue, 
between  Oak  and  Locust  Streets.  He  helped  erect 
the  first  business  house  in  Kankakee,  which  stood 
where  the  Rondy  Building  now  stands  on  Court 
Street,  between  Schuyler  and  Dearborn  Avenues. 
Politically,  our  subject  is  a  supporter  of  the  Re- 
publican party  but  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for 
office.  lu  all  the  relations  of  life  he  has  en- 
deavored to  discharge  with  fidelity  the  duties  de- 
volving upon  him.  Upright  and  prudent,  he  has 
never  been  known  to  speculate  or  risk  his  means 
in  uncertain  ventures  in  the  hope  of  large  gains, 
so  that  while  he  has  accumulated  wealth  slowly 
he  has  assuredly  preserved  what  he  has  made,  and 
his  conservative  course,  while  perhaps  preventing 
him  from  becoming  very  wealthy,  has  insured  for 
him  a  gradual  and  steady  increase  of  riches  that 
is  sure  to  bring  suljstantial  returns  in  the  course 
of  time,  as  has  been  demonstrated  in  his  case. 


eAPT.  JACOB  RUGER,  Treasurer  of  Kan- 
kakee County,  is  an  old  pioneer  of  this  re- 
gion, and  was  a  gallant  soldier  in  the  War 
of  the  Rebellion.  He  is  a  native  of  Germany,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Wurtemberg  on  the  11th 
of  December,  1835.  His  parents  spent  their  entu'e 
lives  in  the  Fatherland,  and  there  departed  this 
life.  In  1853  our  subject,  accompanied  by  his 
brother,  Charles  L.  Ruger,  crossed  the  brinj'  deep 
and  cast  anchor  in  New  York  Harbor.  The 
brothers  went  to  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  and  thence  to 
Chicago  in  1854.  However,  owing  to  the  preva- 
lence of  cholera  in  that  city,  they  decided  to  go 
elsewhere  and  continued  their  journey,  arriving 
in  .Joliet,  where  they  engaged  in  work  at  their 
trade,  that  of  harness-making. 

In  May,  1856,  Capt.  Ruger  first   located  in  this 


county.  He  engaged  in  harness-making  for  sev- 
eral years  in  Momence,  and  then  the  late  war 
breaking  out,  he  enlisted  for  the  defense  of  the 
Union.  He  was  assigned  to  Company  H,  Seventy- 
sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  on  the  6th  of  August, 
1862.  He  was  elected  Second  Lieutenant  on  the 
organization  of  the  company,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  until  .June  5,  1863,  when  Capt.  Plummer, 
of  Company  H,  having  died,  our  subject  was  pro- 
moted to  the  Captaincy,  and  served  in  that  posi- 
tion until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  participated 
with  his  regiment  and  in  the  command  of  his  com- 
pany in  many  of  the  most  important  engagements 
and  disastrous  battles  of  the  war.  He  took  part 
in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  in  1863,  and  in  the 
same  year  participated  in  the  siege  of  Jackson, 
Miss.  In  July,  1864,  he  was  in  the  battle  of 
Jackson  Cross  Roads,  Miss.,  and  was  under  fire 
at  Benton,  in  the  same  )'ear.  He  was  under 
Sherman  in  the  Meriden  campaign  of  1864,  and 
was  also  at  Port  Hudson.  Toward  the  close  of 
the  war  his  command  was  ordered  to  New  Or- 
leans, thence  to  Pensacola,  and  later  to  Mobile,  at 
which  place  they  took  an  active  part  in  the  mili- 
tary operations.  In  the  attack  on  Ft.  Blakeley 
Capt.  Ruger's  company  received  a  severe  loss  in 
killed  and  wounded.  From  there  the  regiment 
moved  up  the  Alabama  River  to  Selma,  wliere 
they  learned  of  Gen.  Lee's  surrender.  Returning 
to  Mobile,  they  went  by  steamer  in  July,  1865,  to 
Galveston,  Tex.,  where  they  received  an  honorable 
discharge.  Moving  Northward,  they  arrived  in 
Chicago,  and  were  in  due  time  mustered  out  of 
the  service.  Although  Capt.  Ruger  participated 
in  so  manj'  severe  and  desperate  battles,  he  es- 
caped without  wounds,  but  from  close  proximity 
to  an  exploding  shell  he  was  rendered  entirely 
deaf  in  his  right  ear,  and,  as  years  roll  by,  he  feels 
in  an  increasing  degree  the  effects  of  his  army 
life.  He  arrived  at  his  home  August  6,  1865,  just 
three  j^ears  to  a  day  from  the  time  of  his  enlist- 
ment. In  battle  he  was  courageous  and  undaunted, 
and  was  ever  to  be  found  in  the  front  ranks  cheer- 
ing his  soldiers  on  to  victory. 

On  returning  to  Kankakee  at  the  close  of  the 
war,  Capt.  Ruger  resumed  his  trade  of  harness- 
making,  which  he  continued   until  appointed  to 


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PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


:^n! 


serve  Uie  unexpired  term  of  County  Treasurer, 
which  office  was  made  vacant  by  the  death  of  J. 
J.  Oberlain.  He  assumed  the  duties  of  the  ollice 
on  the  tth  of  March,  1892,  and  lias  proved  an  ac- 
ceptable and  trustworthy  official.  He  has  also 
served  in  various  positions  of  trust  and  honor  in 
IMomence.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Hoard  of  Su- 
pervisors for  ten  j-ears,  and  served  on  the  Board 
of  Trustees  for  many  years.  The  cause  of  educa- 
tion has  ever  found  in  him  a  stanch  supporter, 
and  for  six  years  he  was  School  Director.  He  has 
ever  taken  a  commendable  interest  in  the  growth 
and  development  of  this  vicinity,  and  is  highly 
esteemed  for  the  part  he  has  taken  in  the  promo- 
tion of  its  welfare. 

Capt.  Kuger  married  Miss  Narcissa  Burcham, 
and  of  their  union  have  been  born  seven  children, 
live  sons  and  two  dauu;hters.  The  Captain  is  a 
member  of  Whipple  Post  No.  414.  G.  A.  R.  All 
tiie  family  are  members  of   the   Episcopal  Church. 


=^^3. 


^,  AVID  SCOT'l"  a  well-known  farmer  residing 
on  section  14,  Limestone  Township,  is  num- 
bered among  the  early  settlers  of  the  county, 
dating  his  residence  here  from  1856.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  England,  his  Iiirth  having  occurred  near 
Liveri)ool  on  the27lh  of  December,  1827.  His  fa- 
ther was  bora  in  the  same  place,  and  his  ancestors 
for  several  generations  had  there  resided,  being 
English  yeomanry.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
was  a  native  of  Edinburgh,  Scotland.  She  came 
of  one  of  the  best  families  of  that  city,  and  her 
education  was  there  acquired.  David  of  this 
sketch  was  the  third  child  in  the  family  of  foui- 
teen  children,  four  sons  and  ten  daughters.  His 
brother,  Alexander,  fell  heir  to  the  Scott  estate  in 
England,  where  he  yet  resides.  He  was  formerly 
an  officer  in  the  English  army,  but  is  now  retired. 
We  now  take  up  tlie  personal  history  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  in  1841  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to 
America  and  kieated  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  where 
he  attended  school  for  a  year.     He   then   went  to 

14 


Middlebury,  Yt.,  where  he  again  atlcnded  school 
for  a  year  and  a-half.  He  continued  his  residence 
in  that  place  until  about  thirty  years  of  age,  and 
while  there  followed  the  occupation  of  manufac- 
turing marble  monuments  for  about  eight  years. 
He  has,  however,  devoted  the  greater  part  of  his 
time  and  attention  throughout  life  to  farming. 

On  the  2(Jth  of  September,  1849,  Mr.  Scott  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Clarissa  T.  Terrell, 
who  resided  in  Castletou,  Vt.  She  is  the  eldest  in 
a  family  of  three  children,  including  one  son  and 
"two  daughters,  born  of  the  union  of  Levi  and 
Betsy  (Sandford)  Terrell.  Her  parents  were  both 
natives  of  this  country,  and  the  father  served  in 
the  War  of  1812.  Mrs.  Scott  received  a  good  edu- 
cation, and  after  attending  the  common  schools, 
was  for  one  term  a  student  in  Fair  Haven  Seiiii- 
Uiiry.  She  then  engaged  in  teaching,  which  pro- 
fession she  followed  successfully  until  her  marriage. 
She  is  an  intelligent  and  highly  cultured  lady, 
and  for  eighteen  years  has  been  honored  with  the 
office  of  School  Treasurer  of  this  townshi[),  being 
the  present  incumbent.  She  is  under  bond  for 
S26,000,  and  handles  about  $15,000.  All  honor  is 
due  the  woman  who  so  faithfully  and  efficiently 
transacts  such  important  business. 

Three  children  graced  the  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Scott,  of  whom  Kobert  W.  was  the  eldest.  He 
was  born  October  26,  1850,  and  for  some  time  was 
a  prosperous  farmer  of  Indiana.  He  died  in  I>ake 
■  Village,  that  State,  on  the  5th  of  February,  1892. 
Henri  C,  born  Slay  17,  1852,  is  married  and  with 
his  wife  and  two  children  now  resides  in  N(jrtli 
Kankakee.  Alice  M.,  who  completes  the  family, 
was  born  on  the  Mth  of  May,  1855,  and  is  the 
wife  of  James  P.  Tennes,  a  resident  of  South  Kan- 
kakee. 

Mr.  Scott,  accompanied  by  his  family,  came  to 
Kankakee  County,  111.,  in  JIarch,  1856,  and  for 
about  six  years  rented  land.  He  then  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  .acres  of  raw  prairie  land 
on  section  11,  Limestone  Township,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  At  that  time  there  were 
only  two  houses  in  sight  of  his  dwelling.  Few 
roads  had  been  laid  out  and  the  work  of  progress 
and  development  seemed  scarcely  begun.  IlD  h.as 
transformed  his  land  into  one  of  the   finest  farms 


302 


i'ORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  the  county,  and  its  well-tilled  fields  and  neat 
appearance  indicate  liis  tlirift  and  enterprise.  He 
also  owns  property  in  South  Kankakee. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Scott  is  a  Republican, 
having  supported  that  part^' since  its  organization. 
His  first  Presidential  vote  was  cast  for  William 
Henry  Harrison.  As  every  true  American  citizen 
should  do,  he  takes  an  active  interest  in  political 
affairs,  and  for  years  has  been  an  office-holder,  fill- 
ing all  the  township  offices.  To  those  who  know 
Mr.  Scott,  it  is  needless  to  say  his  duties  liave  ever 
been  discharged  with  faithfulness  and  fidelity.  He 
and  liis  wife  are  both  members  "of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  of  South  Kankakee,  which  he 
built  in  1871,  and  they  are  the  only  two  surviv- 
ing members  who  united  with  the  church  at  that 
time.  They  have  taken  a  prominent  part  in 
church  work  and  in  all  that  tends  to  elevate  and 
improve  the  community.  The  business  record  of 
Mr.  Scott  is  without  stain,  and  his  life  has  ever 
been  such  as  to  win  him  universal  confidence  and 
respect. 


THOMAS  DAILY,  one  of  the  extensive  land- 
^v  owners  of  Aroma  Township,  resides  on  sec- 
p^  tion  25.  He  is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens 
that  the  Emerald  Isle  has  furnished  to  this  State. 
A  native  of  Count}^  Carlow,  he  was  bom  on  the  10th 
of  March,  1835,  and  is  a  son  of  Matthew  and  El- 
len (Pollej-)  Daily,  who  were  also  born  in  the  land 
of  the  shamrock.  They  became  parents  of  a  fam- 
ily of  seven  children,  six  sons  and  a  daughter, 
namely:  Sarah,  Robert,  Thomas,  Matthew,  William, 
Edward  and  C4eorge.  One  of  the  children  died  in 
infanc}',  and  with  the  exception  of  our  subject,  the 
others  are  all  now  deceased.  In  1849  the  parents, 
with  their  family,  bade  adieu  to  their  native  land, 
and  in  a  sailing-vessel  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic 
to  America.  After  a  voyage  of  six  weeks  and 
three  days  they  landed  at  New  Orleans,  and  thence 
made  their  way  up  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  Rivers 
to  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  the}'  resided  for  a  j'ear. 
Their  next  place  of  residence  was  in  Jackson,  Miss., 
where  the  mother  died    in  1851.     The  familv  con- 


tinued to  reside  in  that  place  for  about  nine  months      fl 
afterward,  when  the  father  and  his  children    made 
their  way  north  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Kankakee 
County,  where  Matthew  Daily  died  the  same  year, 
1852. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  we  thus  see,  is  the 
only  surviving  member  of  the  family.  He  spent 
tiie  first  thirteen  years  of  his  life  in  the  land  of 
his  birth,  and  then  accompanied  his  parents  on 
their  emigration  to  the  New  World.  He  attended 
school  in  Ireland,  and  to  a  limited  extent  after  he 
came  to  this  country,  but  his  privileges  have  been 
meagre,  except  those  he  lias  made  for  himself.  He 
accompanied  the  farnil}'  on  their  various  removals 
after  locating  in  this  country  until  1852,  when  he 
came  with  them  to  Kankakee  County.  Here  he 
began  work  on  a  farm  by  the  mouth,  and  during 
the  first  year  his  wages  were  onlj'  $12  per  month. 
He  continued  thus  to  be  employed  for  five  years, 
when  he  determined  his  labors  should  benefit  him- 
self, and  rented  a  farm,  which  he  engaged  in  oper- 
ating until  1862. 

The  Civil  War  was  tlieu  in  progress,  and  it  was 
proven  that  it  would  be  no  slight  affair,  as  both 
the  North  and  South  first  supposed.  Mr.  Daily 
offered  his  services  to  his  adopted  country,  and  en- 
tered the  ranks  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union, 
to  serve  for  three  years.  He  became  a  private  of 
Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Thirteenth  Illinois 
Infantrjf,  and  was  mustered  into  service  at  Chicago, 
whence  with  his  command  he  was  sent  to  the  front. 
The  first  engagement  of  importance  in  which  he 
participated  was  at  Forest,  Miss.  He  also  took 
part  in  the  battle  of  Chickasaw  Bayou,  and  on  the 
9th  of  May  he  entered  upon  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg,  where  he  remained  continuously  until  the 
surrender  of  the  city,  after  a  long  and  arduous 
siege,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1863.  He  was  then  trans- 
ferred to  the  Fourth  Regular  Cavalrj',  and  with 
his  regiment  met  the  enemy  in  the  battles  of 
Franklin,  Nashville  and  Tombigbee.  He  served 
until  1865,  when  the  South  having  surrendered 
and  the  Union  no  longer  needing  his  services,  lie 
was  mustered  out,  receivingan  honorable  discharge 
at  Chicago.  He  was  neither  wounded  nor  taken  pris- 
oner in  all  the  long  years  of  his  service,  but  was 
ever  found  at  his  post  of  duty,  faithfully  defending 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


^OA 


the  Stars  and  Stripes,  which  now  float  so  proudly 
over  our  united  nation.  The  country  owes  its  boys 
in  blue  a  debt  of  gratitude  which  can  never  be 
repaid  for  the  noble  sacrifices  they  made  in  order 
tliat  the  Union  might  be  maintained.  Our  subject 
may  well  be  proud  of  his  arm}^  recoi'd. 

Wiien  the  war  was  over  Mr.  Daily  returned  to 
Kankakee  Count^^  where  he  remained  until  1866. 
when  he  went  to  Arkansas,  remaining  iu  that  State 
from  the  spring  until  the  succeeding  autumn.  He 
then  returned  to  Illinois,  but  after  a  short  stay 
went  to  Texas,  where  he  resided  until  1867.  In 
that  year  he  again  came  to  Illinois,  and  has  re- 
sided in  Kankakee  County  continuously  since. 

The  j'ear  after  his  return  Mr.  Daily  was  united  in 
niarri.ige,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Annie 
Smyth,  daughter  of  John  and  Alice  (Caryon* 
Smyth.  Plight  children  have  been  born  of  their 
union,  as  follows:  Mar^-  A.,  a  teacher  of  recognized 
ability-  in  this  county;  Sarah  E.,  who  is  also  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  teaching;  Lillie,  who  died  on 
the  13th  of  September,  1874;  Matthew  E.,  Thomas 
A.,  William  E.,  Robert  II.  and  Walter  G.,  who  are 
still  under  the  parental  roof.  The  faniilj'  are  all 
members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  are  people 
of  prominence  in  the  community,  who  hold  an  en- 
viable position  in  social  circles. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Daily  is  a  Democrat 
who  warmly  advocates  the  principles  of  that  party, 
but  h.as  never  been  an  office-seeker,  preferring  to 
devote  his  entire  time  and  attentionUo  his  business 
interests,  in  which  he  has  met  with  excellent  suc- 
cess. On  his  return  tolllinois  from  Texas,  he  pur- 
,  chased  forty  .acres  of  land  in  St.  Anne  Township, 
and  after  making  his  home  thereon  for  a  year,  he 
1  bought  the  farm  upon  which  he  is  now  living.  It 
then  comprised  onl^'  eighty  acres,  situated  on  sec- 
tion 25,  Aroma  Township,  but  as  his  (inancial  re- 
\  sources  have  increased,  he  has  extended  its  bound- 
aries, and  his  landed  possessions  now  aggregate 
six  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  well-improved 
and  valuable  land,  all  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation. He  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising,  and  the  neat  appearance  of  his  [ilace  indi- 
cates the  supervision  of  a  careful  manager.  His 
possessions  represent  his  own  hard  labor.  Mr. 
Daily  has  been  the  architect  of  his  own   fortunes, 


and  has  built  wisely  and  well.  He  is  now  num- 
bered among  the  substantial  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity, as  well  as  most  prominent  farmers. 


■9  c=iJ  *:   T^>  [=^ 


^^^HE  KANKAKEE  GAZETTE  was  established 
in  August,  1853,  by  A.  Chester,  who  owned 
and  published  it  until  1856.    On  the  1st  of 
April  of  that  year  it  was  purchased   by    Daniel  S. 
Parker.     The  first  numbers  were  published  in  Chi- 
cago, there  being  no  place  jet  built  in  Kankakee 
where- a  press  could  be  set  up.     Tlie  Chicago  Jour- 
nal Company  did  the  press  work.     This  continued 
but  for  a  verj'  few  weeks,  when  the  press  and  type 
were  sent  to  Kankakee,  and  for  a  time  the   work 
was  done  in  the  open  air,  under  the  shade  of  .a 
friendly  tree,  in  the  presence  of  many  who  gathered 
about  to  see  how  the  thing  worked,  and  probably 
not  a  few  of  the  early   pioneers   saw  a  printing- 
press  work  for  the  first  time  on  that  occasion.    Mr. 
Chester  was  a  good  journalist,  but  not  a  practical 
printer,  and  being  engaged  in  outside  matters,  sold 
to  Ml-.  Parker,  as  before  stated.     Jlr.  Parker  took 
the  paper  with  five  hundred  sul)scribers,  but  soon 
increased  it  to  twelve  hundred.     In   1862,  he  en- 
tered the  armj'  as  Adjutant  of  the  One   Hundred 
and  Tiiirteenth  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  J.  B.  At- 
kinson conducted  and  edited  the  paper  during  his 
absence.     Subseejuently    W.  F.  Ready  bought  an 
interest  in   the    paper,   selling   out  again  to  Mr. 
Parker.     After  lhirte(!n  years  of  editorial  life,  Mr. 
Parker,  in  1868,  laid  down  the  quill  and  sold  his 
office  to  Charles  Holt. 

The  Gazette  is  one  of  tlie  best  countr\'  familj' 
papers  published  in  northern  Illinois.  ."\Ir.  Holt 
is  an  old  journalist,  during  the  war  editing  the 
only  daily  published  in  Janesville,  Wis.,  and  sub- 
sequently became  connected  with  the  tiuincy 
miiff.  During  the  war  the  Gazette  published  ex- 
tras that  sold  for  ten  cents  on  the  street  during 
the  time  of  great  important  military  movements. 
A  few  of  these  papers  have  been  preserved  and  are 
considered  great  curiosities  at  this  time.  On  the 
1st  of  November,  1888,  Arthur  B.  Holt  and  Clar- 


304 


POiiTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ence  E.  Holt  were  admitted  to  partnership  with 
their  father,  and  the  firm  at  this  writing,  Novem- 
ber, 1892,  carries  on  business  under  the  name  of 
Charles  Holt  &  Sons. 


|,5vvC2o_ 


SO~ 


^^lEORGE  W.  PUMEL  is  engaged  in  farming 
III  __,  on  section  10,  Aroma  Townsliip.  lie  is  a 
^^4  native  of  tlie  Buclieye  State,  his  birth  oc- 
curring near  Sinking  Springs,  Higlilaud  County, 
on  the  20th  of  September,  1820.  Hie  parents, 
Hezekiah  and  Barbara  (Knizley)  Purael,  were  both 
natives  of  Virginia  and  of  German  descent.  At 
an  early  day  they  removed  to  Oliio,  wliere  the 
father  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until  the 
time  of  liis  death,  which  occurred  in  1836.  His 
wife  died  the  following  year.  In  tlieir  family 
were  ten  children:  Samuel,  James,  Jacob,  Joshua, 
David,  George,  John  N.,  INIary  A.,  Lucinda  and 
-Margaret. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  and  reared 
on  a  farm.  He  received  a  common-school  educa- 
tion, attending  the  district  scliools  during  tlie 
winter  terms  until  about  seventeen  j'ears  of  age. 
He  was  thrown  on  his  own  resources  at  the  early 
age  of  fourteen,  and  since  that  time  lie  lias  made 
his  own  wa}'  in  the  world.  He  early  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  until  1812, 
witli  the  exception  of  one  year,  when  he  was  em- 
ployed in  an  iron  works.  He  went  to  Indiana, 
settling  in  Fountain  County  in  1842,  where  he 
worked  at  his  trade  and  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  plows  for  the  succeeding  live  years.  He 
next  came  to  Whiteside  County,  111.,  where  lie  re- 
mained until  1847.  Mr.  Pumel  then  took  a  trip 
tlirough  Iowa  and  tlie  Northwest,  but  returned  to 
Whiteside  Count}-,  wliere  he  ran  a  sawmill  for  the 
owner  at  a  place  near  Sterling,  and  was  in  his 
employ  for  the  period  of  a  3'ear.  Returning  to 
Indiana  he  engaged  in  farming  for  about  the  same 
length  of  time;  then  going  to  Joliet  he  rented  a 
farm  near  tliat  city,  which  he  engaged  in  cultivat- 
ing until  1853.  That  year  witnessed  his  arrival 
in  Kankakee  County.     The  first  summer  he  rented 


land  until  he  had  decided  where  to  make  his  per- 
manent location.  In  the  year  1854  he  became  the 
owner  of  eighty  acres  of  unimproved  prairie  land 
in  Otto  Township,  upon  which  he  remained  for 
onl}'  one  year.  He  then  sold  that  farm  and 
bought  a  forty-acre  tract,  which  he  cultivated  un- 
til 1876.  He  later  purchased  seventy  acres  in 
Aroma  Township,  which  is  his  present  home.  He 
is  now  engaged  in  general  fanning  and  stock- 
raising,  and  to  a  large  extent  his  efforts  have  been 
crowned  with  success. 

Mr.  Pumel  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Sarah  J.  Cameron,  July  8,  1848.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Hugh  and  Sarah  (Zumwalt)  Cameron.  Four 
children  have  been  born  of  this  union:  Louisa  J. 

was  the  wife  of  Thomas  W.  Pruitt,  who   is  now 

» 

deceased;  Randolph  is  second  in  order  of  birth; 
Wallace  departed  this  life  in  1860;  and  Ellis  lives 
at  home  and  assists  his  father  in  carrying  on  the 
farm. 

Mr.  Pumel  cast  his  first  ballot  for  James  K. 
Polk,  but  for  many  ^ears  lias  been  allied  with  the 
Republican  part}'.  For  three  3'eais  he  has  held 
the  office  of  Road  Commissioner,  and  has  served 
as  a  member  of  the  School  Board  for  a  number  of 
years.  For  nearly  forty  years  our  subject  has 
made  his  home  in  this  county,  and  has  done  much 
to  assist  in  its  growth  and  prosperit}'.  He  is  a 
worthy  citizen  and  a  man  of  upright  character 
and  sterling  worth.  He  numbers  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances  in  this  and  adjoining 
counties,  who  esteem  him  most  highly. 


/  ASEE-J-HEE* 


RANKLIN  DWIGHT  HATCH,  a  leading 
grocer  of  Kankakee,  and  a  resident  of  this 
(^  city  since  1865,  was  born  in  Sherburne, 
Chenango  County,  N.  Y.,  August  6,  1848,  and  is 
the  j'oungest  son  of  Elam  and  Margaret  (Farrell) 
Hatch,  who  were  also  natives  of  the  same  place. 
Elam  Hatch  was  born  in  1796,  and  was  descended 
from  one  of  the  oldest  New  England  families  of 
English  origin.     The  founder  of  the  Hatch  fam- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


305 


ily,  of  wliich  our  subject  is  a  member,  was  Thomas, 
an  English  immigrant  wiio  reached  the  New  World 
in  1()30,  having  crossed  the  ocean  in  the  good  ship 
"Mary  and  John,"  a  vessel  of  three-tons  burden. 
He  settled  in  Dorcliester,  Mass.  His  son  Jonathan 
was  born  in  England  in  1625,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica with  his  parents  five  years  later.  In  16.39  thev 
removed  from  Dorchester  to  Barnstable,  in  the 
same  Slate,  where  Thomas  Hatch  died.  Jonathan 
married  in  1648,  and  had  seven  sons  born  to  him 
in  Barnstable.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Fal- 
moutli,  INIass.,  where  another  son  was  born  to  him, 
lieing  the  first  white  child  born  in  that  place. 
Among  these  sons,  all  born  prior  to  1665,  was  one 
Benjamin,  who  was  thrice  married  and  had  twelve 
children.  Of  these  twelve  was  one  Timotliy,  who 
married  in  17;i9  near  F"olland,  Conn.,  and  was  the 
first  settler  in  Kent.  Jclhro,  son  of  Timothy,  was 
horn  in  1722,  and  died  aged  ninety-six  years. 
Timothy,  son  of  Jethro,  was  born  in  1758,  and  set- 
tled in  Sherburne,  Chenango  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
was  the  grandfather  of  our  subject. 

Elam  Hatch  was  the  fourth  son  of  Timothj' 
Hatch,  and  was  born  in  Sherburne,  Ciienango 
County,  N.  Y.,  in  1796,  and  died  in  Kane  County, 
111.,  in  1876.  His  wife,  the  mother  of  our  subject, 
was  also  born  in  Sherburne,  in  the  year  1794,  and 
died  in  1875.  In  1850  the  family  emigrated 
Westward,  settling  in  Sugar  Grove,  Kane  County, 
where  the  father  engaged  in  fanning  until  near 
the  close  of  life.  In  their  family  were  seven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  five  were  sons.  The  two  daughters 
and  two  of  the  sons  are  now  deceased.  Those  liv- 
ing are  Y.  T.,  of  Highraore,  S.  Dak.;  E.  P.,  residing 
on  the  old  homestead  in  Sugar  Grove,  Kane 
County;  and  Frank  D.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
who  is  the  j'oungest  of  the  family. 

Our  subject  attended  the  district  schools  and  as- 
sisted in  the  care  of  tlie  home  farm  until  thirteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  engaged  as  clerk  to  a  mer- 
chant in  Aurora,  111.,  continuing  in  his  employ  for 
four  years.  In  1865  he  came  to  Kankakee,  where 
he  spent  six  years  as  a  clerk  in  the  grocery  store  of 
Hatch  &  Savoie,  the  senior  partner  of  the  firm  be- 
ing his  elder  brother,  who  is  now  deceased.  In 
1870,  Mr.  Hatch  became  a  member  of  the  firm,  and" 
four  years  later  became  sole  proprietor,  and  has  so 


continued  up  to  the  present  time,  covering  a 
period  of  nineteen  years.  In  his  retail  department 
he  carries  a  full  line  of  staple  and  fancy  groceries, 
flour  and  feed,  cliina,  queensware,  etc.  In  con- 
nection with  his  retail  trade  he  does  a  wholesale 
fruit  commission  business  and  is  a  jobber  in  carbon 
oil,  tobacco,  soap,  etc.  He  has  by  strict  attention 
to  the  wants  of  his  trade,  and  b^'  the  exercise  of 
correct  business  principles,  succeeded  in  building 
up  a  strong  and  increasing  business,  and  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  leaders  in  his  line  in  the 
count}-. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1874,  Mr.  Hatch  was  mar- 
ried in  Kankakee  to  Miss  Frances  E.  Dusinbury, 
who  is  a  daughter  of  John  B.  Dusinbury,  a  well- 
known  pioneer  of  this  county.  ^Irs.  Hatch  was 
born  in  Plain  field.  111. 

Our  subject  has  always  been  a  stanch  Kcpuli- 
lican,  and  in  1888  was  chosen  Mayor  of  Kankakee, 
serving  the  terra  for  which  he  was  elected,  and 
proving  a  most  efficient  officer,  being  the  youngest 
man  ever  elected  to  fill  that  jjosition.  On  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Kankakee  Fire  Department  in 
1877,  Mr.  Hatch  was  chosen  Chief,  and  so  satisf.ic- 
tory  has  the  work  of  the  department  proved  under 
his  administration,  that  he  has  been  chosen  his  own 
successor  at  each  succeeding  election  except  for 
the  year  in  which  he  was  Mayor.  He  is  at  present 
the  Chief  of  the  department,  and  has  filled  that 
position  for  fifteen  years.  He  has  been  President 
of  the  Merchants'  Police  since  its  organization  six 
years  ago.  Mr.  Hatch  is  a  member  of  the  Repub- 
lican County  Committee  for  the  first  precinct,  and 
has  been  active  in  campaign  work.  His  acknowl- 
edged executive  abilitj^  and  public  spirit  led  to 
his  being  chosen  Chairman  of  the  Kankakee  Fourth 
of  July  Committee  each  succeeding  j-ear  for  the 
past  tweut}'  years. 

Mr.  Hatch  is  a  Knight  Templar,  a  member  of 
Kankakee  Lodge  No.  389,  A.  F.  cfe  A.  M.;  of  Chap- 
ter No.  78,  II.  A.  M.;  and  of  Ivanhoe  Coraman- 
dery.  No.  33,  K.  T.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Orien- 
tal Consistory  Valley  of  Chicago.  He  has  been  a 
Mason  for  twent^'-three  years,  and  has  served  three 
terms  as  Master  of  his  lodge,  three  terms  as  High 
Priest  of  the  Chapter,  and  one  term  as  Eminent 
Commander  of  the  Commandery.     He  owns  a  fine 


30C 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


residence  at  No.  329  Dearborn  Avenue,  and  also 
is  tlie  owner  of  other  real  estate  in  the  city.  He 
is  recognized  as  a  typical  Western  business  man, 
active,  energetic  and  enterprising,  possessing  the 
essential  elements  of  success — sound  judgment  and 
unquestioned  integrity.  Socially,  he  is  deservedly 
popular,  and  has  liosts  of  warm  friends  among  the 
best  citizens  of  Kankakee  Count}'. 


j.j..5..5..?*v 


JRESTON  STEBBING,  M.  D.,  of  North 
)  Kankakee,  first  came  to  Kankakee  County 
on  the  3d  of  June,  1853,  but   did  not  be- 

|1\  eorae  a  permanent  resident  until  1875. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  having  been 
born  in  Clinton  County  August  6,  1833. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Maj.  Lewis  Stebbing, 
was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  was  descended  from 
one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  the  (ireen  Mountain 
State.  He  received  his  title  of  Major  by  virtue 
of  his  service  in  tiie  American  army  in  the  War 
of  1812.  He  wedded  JIary  Preston,  a  native  of 
Clinton  County,  N.  Y.,  who  became  the  mother  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  whose  death  oc- 
curred in  St.  Lawrence  County,  where  the  family 
was  then  living,  in  1849.  In  the  following  year 
the  father  came  West  and  made  a  location  for  his 
familj' in  Lake  County,  111.,  and  in  1851  he  was 
joined  by  his  children,  consisting  of  two  sons  and 
four  daughters.  Their  new  home  in  Illinois  be- 
came the  permanent  abiding-pl.ace  of  tlie  family, 
and  there  the  father  died  in  1884.  The  childien 
are  all  yet  living.  The  Doctor's  only  brother, 
John  J.,  who  is  several  years  his  scnioi',  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Adcl,  Dallas  County,  Iowa.  Three  of  the 
sisters  are  still  residents  of  Lake  County,  while  the 
fourth  makes  her  home  in  Portland,  Ore. 

Dr.  Stebbing  received  his  education  at  Potsdam, 
N.  Y.,and  early  commenced  the  study  of  medicine. 
He  was  licensed  to  practice  when  onl}'  eighteen 
years  of  age,  but  was  not  graduated  in  medicine 
until  1866,  when  he  took  liis  degree  at  Rush  Med- 
ical College,  in  Chicago.  Previous  to  the  time  of 
his  graduation  lie  had  had  quite  an    experience  in 


the  jiractice  of  medicine  and  was  for  two  years  in 
the  special  medical  service  in  the  army.  Before 
locating  permanently  in  Kankakee  County  he  had 
practiced  in  several  fields  and  was  for  ten  3'ears  a 
practicing  ph^'sician  at  Grand  Rapids,  AVis. 

As  stated,  the  Doctor  has  resided  in  this  county, 
engaged  in  tlie  practice  of  his  profession,  since 
1875,  and  was  for  many  j^ears  located  in  Chebanse. 
Induced  by  the  prospect  that  the  new  town  of  North 
Kankakee  was  destined  to  become  a  place  of  some 
importance,  Dr.  Stebbing  decided  to  locate  at  that 
point,  and  in  August,  1892,  carried  his  resolution 
into  effect.  Besides  his  general  medical  practice 
he  owns  a  drug  store,  which  is  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition. He  has  also  been  made  Postmaster  of 
North  Kankakee,  the  office  having  been  but  re- 
centlj'  established. 

In  the  State  of  Kansas,  Dr.  Stebbing  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Nellie  A.  Hazen,  who  is  a  daughter 
of  Livius  Hazen,  and  a  cousin  of  Gen.  William 
Hazen.  Mrs.  Stebbing's  parents  were  natives  of 
New  York,  her  father  born  near  Lake  Cham  plain, 
and  her  mother  in  the  city  of  Albany.  The  latter, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Arnot,  belonged 
to  the  well-known  faniil}'  of  that  name  and  also 
to  the  Fillmore  family,  one  member  of  which  was 
Millard  Fillmore,  President  of  the  United  States. 
Previous  to  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  Mr.  and  Mrs 
Hazen  removed  from  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  they 
had  lived  for  a  number  of  years,  to  Leavenworth, 
Kan., and  were  among-the  early  settlers  of  the  place. 
There  Mr.  Hazen 's  death  occurred  in  1872,  and 
that  of  his  wife  some  two  years  later.  They  were 
the  parents  of  six  children  who  grew  to  manhood 
and  womanhood,  but  several  of  them  have  passed 
away. 

Dr.    Stebbing   and    wife    have    two   children,  a 
daughter   and  a  son.'   The    former,  May  E.,  is  the 
wife  of  Andrew  M.  AVand,  formerly  of  Onarga,  111., 
but  now  residing    in    Ohio,    Bureau    County,   111. 
Mrs.   Wand  is  finel}'  educated,  being  a  graduate 
of   Onarga    Seminary,   in   the    literary   course    of 
that    institution  and  also  of  the  Conservatory    of  1 
Music.     The   son,    Franklin  Fillmore,  was  born  atj 
Grand  Rapids,  Wis.,  February  29,  1872,   and    wasl 
graduated    from    the    Cheshire   (Conn.)    Military] 
School  when  but  seventeen  years  of  age,  after  tak-l 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


307 


ing  a  foiir-j'ears  course,  aud  hart  the  honor  of  be- 
ing the  youngest  member  of  his  class.  He  is 
registered  as  a  druggist,  and  has  charge  of  the  drug 
business  before  mentioned. 

Dr.  Stebbing  is  a  progressive  and  enterprising 
citizen,  possessing  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all 
wlio  know  him.  He  is  President  of  the  Village 
Board  of  North  Kankakee.  For  many  years  he 
has  been  a  Mason,  belonging  to  Vitrurious  Lodge 
No.  81,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Wheeling,  111.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  St.  FauFs  Episcopal 
Church  of  Kankakee,  he  having  occupied  an  of- 
ficial position  in  the  church  for  several  }■  ears.  Po- 
liticall^'  the  Doctor  is  an  old  Clay  Whig.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Kankakee  Medical  Society. 


■^f  ACOB  F.  GOUGAR,  probably  one  of  the  old- 
est surviving  pioneers  of  eastern  Illinois 
now  a  resident  of  Kankakee,  was  born  in 
Northumberland  Count}',  Pa.,  January  16, 
1812,  and  isa  son  of  AVilliam  and  Catherine  (Jones) 
Gougar.  The  family  is  of  German  extraction  aud 
was  founded  in  America  early  in  the  seventeenth 
centur}'. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  when  young  removed 
from  Pennsylvania  with  his  parents  to  Pickawaj' 
Count}-,  Ohio,  thence  to  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  and 
from  that  city  to  eastern  Illinois  in  1832,  set- 
tling in  Will  County.  He  was  there  married  in 
1838  to  Miss  Artie  Durliam,  who  was  born  in 
Blount  Count}',  Tenn.,  August  19,  1818,  and  came 
with  her  parents,  Thomas  and  Margaret  Durham, 
to  Illinois  in  the  early  days  of  its  settlement.  Her 
parents  settled  at  Bourbonnais,  Kankakee  County, 
in  1835. 

Mr.  Gougar  had  learned  the  tanner's  trade  in  the 
East,  and  as  the  country  about  him  in  Will  County- 
began  to  be  settled  he  opened  a  small  tannery 
and  made  leather  for  the  families  of  the  settlers, 
the  custom  at  that  time  being  for  each  farmer  to 
buy  leather  and  employ  traveling  shoemakers  to 
make  up  shoes  for  the  family  about  ouce  a  year.  He 
was  the  first  tanner  in  that  county.     Later  he  en- 


gaged in  farming  for  many  years.  In  18G7  he  re- 
moved to  Kankakee  and  has  since  made  this  city 
his  home. 

Two  children  were  born  to  Mr. and  JIrs  Gougar, 
William  T.  and  Margaret  E.,  who  are  both  residents 
of  Kankakee.  Mrs.  Gougar,  who  was  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  de- 
parted this  life  November  10,  1870.  In  liis  i)olit- 
ical  alliliations,  our  subject  is  an  earnest  champion 
of  the  Democratic  [larty,  as  was  his  father  before 
him. 


JCIIARD  DEWEY,  M.  D.,  is  the  medical 
superintendent  of  the  Illinois  Eastern  Hos- 
pital for  the  Insane,  and  has  held  that  rela- 
tion to  the  institution  since  it  was  opened 
in  July,  1879.  Tiie  hospital  has  prospered  and 
grown  under  his  care  from  a  small  beginning  to  an 
immense  institution,  giving  shelter  and  treatment 
to  two  thousand  patients. 

Dr.  Dewey  was  born  in  Chautauqua  County,  N. 
Y.,  on  the  6th  of  December,  1845,  and  is  a  son  of 
Elijah,  Jr.,  and  Sophia  (Smith)  Dewey.  The  fa- 
ther was  born  in  Tioga  County,  and  the  mother  in 
Cattaraugus  County,  N.  Y.,  and  both  are  now  de- 
ceased. The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  graduated 
from  the  High  Schools  at  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  in  the 
Class  of  '61,  when  he  entered  upon  a  literary  and 
scientific  course  at  the  Michigan  State  University 
at  Ann  Arbor,  two  years  later  beginning  tlie  study 
of  medicine  and  surgery  in  the  same  institution, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the  Class  of  '69. 
On  receiving  his  degree  he  took  one  year  of  hos- 
pital practice  in  the  Brooklyn  City  Hospital  of 
New  York  as  house  physician  and  surgeon,  serving 
for  six  montlis  in  each  capacity. 

In  August,  1870,  Dr.  Dewey  joined  the  Military 
Volunteer  Surgeons'  Corps  of  the  German  army 
for  service  in  the  Franco-Prussian  War.  As  he 
had  a  knowledge  of  tlie  German  language,  he  was 
engaged  for  that  duty  by  the  German  Consul  at 
New  York,  and  was  attached  as  Volunteer  Sur- 
geon to  the  Seventh  Army  Corps  in  the  field  bos- 


308 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


pital  at  Pont-a-Moussou,  near  Metz,  in  Loraine, 
where  the  great  battles  were  fought.  Later,  he 
was  in  the  reserve  hospital  attached  to  the  Elev- 
enth Army  Corps  at  Ilesse-Cassel,  Germany.  After 
receiving  an  honorable  discharge,  Dr.  Dewej  pur- 
sued a  course  of  study  in  medicine  and  surgery  at 
the  Berlin  University  for  one  semester,  and  re- 
turned to  the  United  States  in  theautumn  of  187L 
He  was  immediately  offered  and  accepted  a  posi- 
tion at  the  Northern  State  Hospital  as  assistant 
physician,  where  he  served  until  appointed  to  the 
position  he  now  fills,  in  August,  1879.  Soon  after 
his  return  from  Europe  he  received  a  medal, 
awarded  him  by  the  German  Government  in  rec- 
ognition of  his  services  in  the  Franco-Prussian 
War. 

For  twentj-  years  Dr.  Dewey  has  made  a  special 
stud}-  of  mental  and  nervous  diseases,  and  has 
during  that  period  been  in  constant  service  in  that 
line  of  practice.  For  thirteen  years  at  Kankakee 
he  has  been  in  constant  charge  of  what  has  grown 
to  be  the  second  largest  asylum  for  the  insane  in 
the  United  .States,  the  lirst  in  importance  being 
that  at  Ovid,  N.  Y.,  which  is  very  little  larger. 
Dr.  Dewey  has  written  extensivel}'  for  v.arious 
medical  journals  on  the  subject  of  insanity,  its 
causes,  nature  and  treatment,  and  also  for  the  "In- 
ternational Medical  Magazine"  on  the  same  subject. 
His  articles  have  received  marked  attention  and 
favorable  comment  from  those  well  versed  on  the 
subject.  He  is  an  honorary  member  of  the  Chi- 
cago Medical  Society,  of  the  Chicago  Medico- 
Legal  Society  and  of  the  American  Medico-Psycho- 
logical Association.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
American  Neurological  Association,  of  the  Ann 
Arbor  Medical  Association,  of  the  Illinois  State 
Medical  Society,  and  is  Chairman  of  Section  Three 
Etiology  State  Medicine  and  Medical  Jurispru- 
dence. He  is  President  of  the  Kankakee  County 
Medical  Society  and  a  member  of  the  Society  of  the 
Sons  of  the  American  Revolution.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Michigan  University  Alumni.  Dr. 
Dewej'  is  Chairman  on  the  Committee  on  Insanity 
and  Care  of  the  Insane  of  the  National  Conference 
of  Charity,  and  belongs  to  the  Greek  letter  so- 
ciety, Sigma  Chi. 

Dr.    Dewey  was   twice    married,  his   lirst  union 


being  with  Miss  Lillian  Dwight,  in  Clinton,  N.  Y., 
on  the  2d  of  Januar\-,  1873.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Dwight,  and  the  great-grand- 
daughter of  President  Timothy  Dwight,  of  Y'ale 
College.  On  the  19th  of  November,  1880,  Mrs. 
Dewey  died,  leaving  two  children.  Richard  Dwight, 
who  was  born  in  1877,  is  now  a  student  of  the 
University  Academy  of  Morgan  Park,  111.;  and 
Ethel  Lillian,  now  a  student  in  the  Kankakee  pub- 
lic school.  Dr.  Dewey  was  married  to  his  present 
wife  on  the  22d  of  June,  1886.  Mrs.  Dewey  was 
before  her  marriage  Miss  Mary  E.  Brown,  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  Thomas  Brown,  of  Brighton,  N.  Y"".,  and 
was  educated  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  and  at  New  York 
City.  Prior  to  her  marriage  she  was  Superintend- 
ent of  the  Chicago  Training  School  for  Nurses. 
She  was  born  in  Monroe  County,  N.  Y^  Two 
children  have  been  born  of  their  union:  Ellinor, 
born  October  6,  1887;  and  Donald  Mack,  born 
March  16,  1891. 

The  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Dewey  are  members  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Kankakee.  Politi- 
cally, the  Doctor  is  a  Republican  with  prohibition 
sympathies.  His  record  is  best  shown  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  hospital,  which  appears  in  another 
place  in  this  work. 


^w^^RED  DURFEE  is  the  senior  member  of  the 
^(g)  Arm  of  Durfee  &  Whittemore,  well-known 
__j^  and     enterprising    grocers    of    Kankakee. 

He  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  Monee,  Will  Count}',  on  the  16th  of  August, 
1860,  and  he  is  a  son  of  Otis  Durfee,  whose  sketch 
is  found  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Our  subject  came  to  Kankakee  wiien  a  child 
with  his  parents  in  1865,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  this  city.  AVhen  but 
thirteen  years  of  age  he  commenced  clerking  for 
H.  L.  Crawford,  grocer,  but  attended  school  at  in- 
tervals for  some  years.  He  remained  in  the  em- 
ploy of  Mr.  Crawford  for  seventeen  3'ears  of  faith- 
ful service,  at  which  time  he  was  joined  by  H.  D. 
Whittemore    in    the   purchase   of    his  employer's 


OF  JHE 


<r 


'a^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


311 


stock  and  fixtures,  and  the  existing?  firm  of  Dur- 
fee  it  Whittemore  was  at  that  time  formed.  These 
gentleman  occupy  the  old  Crawford  stand,  which 
is  situated  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Court  Street 
and  Dearborn  Avenue.  The^-  have  the  only 
double  grocery  store  in  the  city  and  carry  a  full 
line  of  staple  and  fancy  groceries,  provisions  and 
canned  fruits,  making  a  specialt}^  of  the  latter. 
They  have  built  up  an  extensive  trade  and  are  es- 
teemed lenders  in  their  line  of  business. 

On  the  7th  of  .Iul\',  1891,  Mr.  Durfee  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Isabella  T.  White.  She  was 
born  in  Ft.  Byron,  N.  Y.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  J. 
IT.  White.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 

Mr.  Durfee,  in  politics,  is  a  Republican  bej-ond 
the  possibilit}'  of  a  doubt,  although  he  has  never 
been  an  aspirant  for  the  honors  or  emoluments  of 
public  office.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Royal  Ar- 
canum and  is  highly  esteemed  among  a  wide  circle 
of  friends  and  acquaintances. 


-^^® 


-■^iQ) 


i>^^<- 


^Q>-> 


f^RANKLIN  CRAWFORD,  a  well-known  cit- 
HHte)  izen  of  Kankakee,  has  been  a  resident  of 
[[  "  this  place  since  1871,  and  bis  prominence 
in  the  community  during  the  twenty-one  ^ears  of 
his  residence  here  well  entitles  him  to  representa- 
tion in  this  volume.  His  life  record  is  as  follows: 
lie  is  a  native  of  the  State  of  Maine,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  in  the  town  of  Paris  July  18,  1827. 
The  Crawford  famil3'  is  of  Scotcli  or  Scotch-Irish 
ancestr\-,aud  its  genealogy'  in  America  can  be  traced 
back  to  three  brothers  who  were  residents  of  the 
parish  of  Coppy,  County  Tyrone,  Ireland.  In 
1713,  the}'  bade  adieu  to  the  I<]nierald  Isle  and, 
braving  the  dangers  of  an  ocean  vo\age  in  that 
earl}'  day,  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America.  One 
of  these  brothers,  Aaron  Crawford,  was  the  great- 
great-great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  has  in 
his  possession  an  interesting  relic  and  memento  of 
this  ancestor — a  cane  which  Aaron  Crawford 
brought  with  him  from  Ireland,  when  he  became 
a  resident   of   the    New    World.     On    his    death, 


whicli  occurred  October  11,  1793,  the  cane  was 
given  into  the  possession  of  his  son,  Alexander,  on 
whose  death,  on  the  16th  of  October,  1821,  it  be- 
came the  property  of  his  son,  Capt.  John  Craw- 
ford. From  him  the  relic  passed  to  Alexander, 
the  eldest  son  of  the  Captain  and  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject.  Alexander  Crawford  died  on  the 
31st  of  May,  1816,  and  the  eldest  son  of  his  fam- 
ily, Benjamin  F.  by  name,  inherited  the  heirloom, 
which  passed  from  him  to  our  subject,  who  now 
has  tiie  cane  in  his  possession.  From  him  it  is 
expected  to  continue  its  way  down  to  future  gen- 
erations. 

Aaron  Crawford  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Oakham,  Mass.,  and  his  descendants  resided  there 
through  many  generations.  The  father  of  our 
subject,  Benjamfn  F.  Crawford,  was  born  in  Oak- 
liam  August  10,  1800,  and  in  his  youth  learned  the 
trade  of  shoe-making,  which  he  followed  for  some 
time.  When  about  twenty  years  of  age  he  left  the 
old  Bay  State  and  went  to  Paris,  Me.,  where  on 
the  30th  of  April,  1826,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Sophia  Harris.  They  continued  there 
to  reside  forsome  time,  but  afterwards  removed  to 
Woodstock,  where  Mr.  Crawford  died  in  1879. 
His  wife  had  passed  away  some  years  previous,  be- 
ing called  to  her  final  rest  about  1873.  Unto  this 
worthy  couple  was  born  a  family  of  five  children, 
the  eldest  of  whom  is  Franklin,  our  subject.  The 
second  in  order  of  birth  is  Mrs.  Abbie  Willis 
Stearns.  Mary  Augusta,  the  third  of  the  family, 
died  April  10,  184.5,  at  the  age  of  twelve  years; 
Sophia  Harris  became  the  wife  of  Horace  Cush- 
raan,  and  her  death  occurred  January  12,  1878. 
The  youngest  is  Francis  B.,  now  a  resident  of 
Colebrook,  N.  II. 

The  first  sixteen  years  of  his  life  Franklin  Craw- 
ford spent  in  his  native  town  under  the  parental 
roof,  and  during  that  time  he  attended  the  public 
schools.  He  then  left  home,  going  to  Portland, 
Me.,  where  he  secured  a  position  as  salesman  in  a 
mercantile  house,  being  employed  in  the  same 
store  in  that  capacity  for  a  period  of  seven  years. 
He  then  bought  out  his  employer,  Mr.  Daniels,  and 
two  years  later  married  his  daughter.  Miss  Frances 
S.  Daniels. 

Later,  Mr.  Crawford  embarked  in  the  wholesale 


312 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


groc3iy  trade  in  Portland,  which  he  carried  on  for 
some  time,  having  added  to  his  business  by  pur- 
chasing the  works  of  the  Paris  Flouring  Company. 
This  extensive  business  he  continued  to  conduct 
for  two  3'ears  longer,  when,  on  account  of  failing 
health,  he  had  to  dispose  of  his  interests  in  the 
Pine  Tree  State  and  do  something  to  recuperate 
his  lost  energies.  Hoping  to  benefit  his  health, 
he  went  to  Florida,  where  he  remained  for  one 
winter.  On  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  re- 
turned to  the  North,  and  then  removed  to  the 
West,  locating  in  Niles,  Mich.  This  was  in  the 
autumn  of  1869.  After  two  years  spent  in  that 
State,  Mr.  Crawford  came  to  Kankakee,  in  1871, 
and  three  years  later  he  entered  into  partnership 
with  Mr.  Bonfield  and  his  brother-in-law,  Mr. 
Hamlin.  The  company  was  formed  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  straw-board  and  carried  on  business 
under  the  firm  name  of  the  Kankakee  Paper  Com- 
pany. Mr.  Crawford  was  made  Secretary  and 
Treasurer  of  the  compauj'  and  continued  his  con- 
nection with  the  same  until  1887,  when  he  dis- 
posed of  his  interest,  since  which  time  lie  has  prac- 
tically lived  a  retired  life. 

In  1891,  Mr.  Crawford  was  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  wlio  died  on  the  16th 
of  April.  Tlieir  happy  married  life  had  extended 
over  a  period  of  forty  3'ears  and  their  union  was 
blessed  with  three  children,  two  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing at  this  writing,  in  the  winter  of  1892.  The 
eldest,  Harr}'  L.,  is  now  a  resident  of  Portland, 
Ore.;  and  the  daughter,  Mary  L.,  is  the  wife  of 
James  H.  Paddock,  of  Springfield,  111.  The  young- 
est son,  George  F.,  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  the 
age  of  twent3'-four  years.  He  was  an  estimable 
and  popular  young  man  and  his  loss  was  deeply 
mourned  throughout  the  community.  He  was  for 
three  years  a  student  at  the  University  of  Michi- 
gan at  Ann  Arbor  and  later  engaged  in  business 
in  Kankakee. 

Until  his  retirement  in  1887,  Mr.  Crawford  led 
a  most  active  business  life.  His  successful  career 
was  ever  governed  l)y  the  strictest  integrity,  and 
the  prosperity  which  he  has  attained  is  but  the  re- 
ward of  his  well-directed  efforts.  He  has  ever 
possessed  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  with 
whom   he   has   been   brought  in  contact,  and  is  a 


valued  citizen,  who  manifests  a  commendable  in- 
terest in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the 
communitj^,  being  ever  found  in  the  front  rank  in 
the  promotion  of  those  enterprises  calculated  to 
prove  of  public  benefit. 


"iflOSEPH  LECOUR,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
drj'-goods  business  in  Kankakee,  has  been 
connected  with  the  mercantile  interests  of 
this  city  for  a  number  of  j^ears,  and  is  one 
of  its  prominent  and  representative  business  men. 
As  he  has  a  wide  acquaintance  throughout  the 
community,  we  feel  assured  that  this  record  of  his 
life  will  prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our  readers. 
Mr.  Lecour  is  a  Canadian  by  birth.  He  was  born 
on  the  12th  of  August,  1832,  in  Lachenaie,  in  the 
Province  of  Quebec,  and  is  a  son  of  Louis  and 
Christine  (Morine)  Lecour.  Subsequentl}^  his  par- 
ents removed  from  the  place  of  his  birth  to  St. 
Luke,  Canada,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of 
their  lives,  both  being  now  deceased.  Our  subject 
and  two  sisters  yet  survivp,  the  two  latter  being 
now  residents  of  Massachusetts. 

During  the  early  bo3hood  of  Joseph  Lecour,  he 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to  St. 
Luke,  Canada,  and  there  his  business  career  began. 
He  was  a  lad  of  only  fourteen  j'ears  of  age  when, 
in  1846,  he  began  clerking  in  a  general  store  in 
that  place,  his  employer  being  August  Gauthier. 
The  experience  that  he  there  obtained,  the  knowl- 
edge of  men  and  of  business  customs,  proved  of 
great  value  to  him  when  he  came  to  establish  him- 
self in  business.  The  aptitude  with  which  he 
adapted  himself  to  his  occupation  early  gave  evi- 
dence of  his  excellent  business  ability.  The  year 
1856  witnessed  the  arrival  of  our  subject  in  Kan- 
kakee. He  was  then  a  young  man  of  twent^'-four 
3'ears,  who  with  the  desire  to  better  his  financial 
condition  had  emigrated  to  this  State.  At  that 
time  the  present  city  of  Kankakee  was  in  its  earl3' 
infanc3',  but  it  gave  some  promise  of  future 
importance,  so  Mr.  Lecour  thought,  and  the  years 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPfflCAL  RECORD. 


313 


have  proved  his  wisdom.  lie  was  so  favorably 
impressed  witli  the  prospects  of  the  phiee,  its  loca- 
tion and  general  character,  that  he  resolved  to 
remain  in  the  then  small  town.  Accordingly  lie 
souglit  and  secured  a  position  as  salesman  with  the 
mercantile  lirm  of  Williams  A  Sibley.  He  was 
thus  eni|)loyo(l  for  about  tliree  years,  when  he  de- 
termined to  embark  in  business  for  himself.  It 
was  in  1859  th.at  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
IJenjamin  Marshall  and  began  merchandising. 
Sulisequently  he  entered  into  business  relations 
with  Joseph  Gelino,  a  well-known  merchant  of 
Kankakee,  which  partnership  continued  until  18G7, 
wlien  Mr.  Lecour  withdrew  from  tiie  firm  and  cm- 
barked  in  the  lumber  and  grain  trade.  To  that 
pursuit  he  devoted  his  energies  for  three  years, 
and  it  was  in  1870  that  he  established  himself  in 
the  dry-goods  trade.  He  has  carried  on  business 
in  that  line  up  to  the  present  time,  covering  a 
l)eriod  of  twenty-two  consecutive  years,  and  from 
the  beginning  his  trade  has  constantly  increased, 
until  lie  is  now  doing  a  large  business  and  enjoy- 
ing a  liberal  patron.ige.  He  carries  an  extensive 
and  complete  line  of  goods,  and  by  his  earnest  de- 
sire to  please  his  customers,  his  fair  dealing  and 
courteous  treatment,  has  won  a  well-deserved  suc- 
cess and  gained  the  good-will  and  confidence  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact. 

On  the  24th  of  .January,  1864,  in  this  city,  Mr. 
Lecour  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Leonie 
Pallis.ard,  daughter  of  P.  JS^^'aHisal■d,  an  early  and 
highly  esteemed  citizen  of  Kankakee.  The  union 
of  our  subject  and  iiis  wife  has  been  blessed  with 
a  family  of  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  yet  liv- 
ing. The  two  eldest  sons,  Louis  M.  P.  and  Ed- 
ward A.,  are  now  associated  with  tlieir  fafher  in 
business,  under  the  firm  name  of  .Jose|)li  Lecour  A' 
Sons.  The  other  four  cliildrcn,  Mary,  Alexine, 
Rosella  and  Louise,  are  still  under  the  parental 
roof.  The}'  also  lost  two  children,  sons:  Joseph, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  four  years,  and  Leon,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  seven  years.  All  the  family  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  Church.  Politically,  Mr. 
Lecour  is  a  Republican,  but  has  never  been  an 
Ollice-seekcr. 

Our  subject  has  led  an  active  and  useful  life,  and 
in  his  business  here   has  met  with   more   than   an 


average  degree  of  success.  He  began  earning  his 
own  livelihood  at  the  tender  age  of  fourteen  sum- 
mers, .and  since  that  time  h.os  been  dependent  upon 
his  own  resources.  The  obstacles  and  difficulties 
in  his  path  he  has  overcome  by  perseverance  and 
ceaseless  industry,  and  his  enterprise  and  good 
business  ability  have  gained  for  him  prosperity. 
In  manner,  he  is  considerate,  social,  agreeable  to 
all,  and  the  friends  of  the  Lecour  family  are  many 
throughout  the  eommuility  in  which  our  subject 
h.as  so  long  been  widely  and  favorably  known  as 
a  valued  citizen. 


\|^REDERICK  W.  GOIILKE,  a  coal-merch.ant 
iL^^  of  Kaiik.akee,  and  a  leading  and  enterpris- 
X,  ing  business  man  of  that  city,  came  here  in 

1876.  He  is  a  native  of  Prussia,  his  birth  occur- 
ring in  that  country  on  the  20th  of  March,  1845. 
His  father,  Frederick  W.  Gohlkc,  Sr.,  was  also  born 
in  that  country,  and  is  still  living  in  his  native 
land.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  twice  mar- 
ried. Siie  first  became  the  wife  of  Henry  Hallman 
and  after  his  death  she  married  Frederick  Gohlke. 
She  had  a  family  of  three  children  by  the  first 
union,  two  of  whom  still  reside  infiermany,  while 
the  other,  Gustave  Hallman,  is  now  living  in  this 
countiy. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  and  his  brother  Lud- 
wig  are  the  only  children  born  of  his  mother's  sec- 
ond marriage.  Mrs.  Gohlke  died  in  1868.  Her 
sons  bore  the  names  of  Frederick  AV.  and  Ludwio-. 
IJotli  brothers  were  reared  in  tlieir  native  land, 
and  served  as  soldiers  in  the  Prussian  army.  Fred- 
erick W.  was  in  the  war  .against  Austria  in  1866 
and  1867,  and  again  bore  arms  for  his  country  in 
the  Fianco-Prussi.an  War  of  1870  and  1871.  He 
fought  on  the  celebrated  field  of  Sedan,  and  saw 
Emperor  Louis  Kapoleon  .as  lie  w.as  being  taken 
awaj'  from  the  scene,  after  the  surrender  of  the 
French  army.  Ludwig,  who  was  fifteen  months  his 
brother's  junior,  was  too  3'oungto  serve  in  the  war 
of  1866  and  1867,  but  bore  his  part  in  thestruggle 
with  France  in  1870  and  1871.  Both  of  the  brothers 


314 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


were  members  of  the  cavalry  service.  Ludwig 
was  severely  injured  in  one  engagement,  receiving 
a  gunshot  wound  in  the  neck,  from  which  he  has 
never  3'et  fully  recovered.  He  is  still  living  in  the 
Fatherland,  and  now  occupies  a  Government  po- 
sition, which  office  was  given  him  in  reward  for 
his  meritorious  service  as  a  soldier. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our  sub- 
ject, and  note  first  his  marriage,  which  was  cele- 
brated in  Germany,  Miss  Fredericka  Newman  be- 
coming his  wife.  In  1872  they  bade  good-bye  to 
their  old  home  and  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to 
the  United  States.  Landing  in  New  York,  they 
made  their  way  at  once  from  the  eastern  metrop- 
olis to  the  city  of  Chicago,  where  a  brother-in-law 
of  Mr.  Gohlke  was  living.  There  our  subject  se- 
cured employment  and  worked  in  a  lumber-yard 
for  a  time,  but  at  length  he  determined  to  seek  a 
home  in  Kankakee,  111.,  and  in  January,  1876,  ar- 
rived in  this  city.  He  secured  a  position  with  the 
proprietors  of  the  Kankakee  Woolen  Mills,  and  in 
that  establishment  was  employed  for  about  eleven 
years,  faithfully'  discharging  the  tasks  allotted  to 
him,  a  fact  which  is  well  indicated  by  his  long  re- 
tention in  the  one  eraplo}'.  His  industry  and  econ- 
omy during  that  period  gained  him  some  capital 
and  he  determined  to  engage  in  business  for  him- 
self. This  resolve  was  carried  out  in  1888,  when 
he  established  his  coal  office,  which  is  located  on 
Water  Street.  It  is  the  onl3'  coal  office  on  the 
South  Side,  and  its  proprietor  receives  a  liberal 
share  of  the  public  patronage,  of  which  he  is  well 
deserving. 

About  two  j-ears  after  coming  to  Kankakee,  Mr. 
Gohlke  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his 
wife,  who  died  July  24,  1878.  In  1880  he  was 
again  married,  his  second  union  being  with  Miss 
Johanna  Krueger,  who  was  also  born  in  Germany. 
Mr.  Gohlke  had  one  child,  a  son,  bj'  his  first  mar- 
riage, G.  Otto,  who  was  born  in  Chicago,  January 
29,  1874,  and  now  assists  his  father  in  business. 
He  also  lost  two  daughters  in  infancy,  the  mother 
dyino;  at  the  birth  of  the  younger. 

Mr.  Gohlke  is  a  faithful  citizen,  and  one  held 
in  high  regard.  He  is  also  a  man  of  good  business 
ability,  enterprising  and  progressive,  and  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  prosperous  men  of  Kankakee. 


His  success  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  efforts,  and 
has  been  won  since  his  arrival  in  America.  All 
the  family  hold  membership  with  the  German 
Lutheran  Church  of  Kankakee.  Politically  he  was 
a  Republican  until  1890,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  identified  with  the  Democratic  party. 


_^] 


"SJ 


€+^ 


(^ 


SHE  KANKAKEE  DEMOCRAT,  daily  and 
weekly,  published  by  Collins  &  Smith,  is 
'^^^  the  only  Democratic  paper  in  Kankakee 
Coiinty.  The  weekly  was  established  in  1887, 
and  is  the  successor  of  the  Kankakee  Chief,  which 
was  started  in  1885.  This  paper  is  a  six-column 
quarto,  30x44  inches  in  size.  The  daily  paper 
was  inaugurated  on  the  22d  of  February,  1892, 
under  the  title  of  the  Evening  Democrat  and  is  a 
seven-column  folio,  24x34  inches.  The  Democrat 
was  purchased  on  the  1st  of  January',  1892,  by  the 
Democrat  Publishing  Company,  T.  B.  Collins  and 
J.  B.  Smith,  publishers. 

The  Kankakee  Democrat  is  of  recent  origin  and 
is  successor  to  the  Kankakee  ChieJ,  the  name  hav- 
ing been  changed  to  the  one  now  used  probably  in 
1887.  The  first  Democratic  paper  started  at  Kan- 
kakee was  called  the  Kankakee  County  Democrat. 
It  changed  hands  several  times  and  was  finally  sus- 
pended in  18G2  for  the  reason  that  its  proprietors, 
Messrs.  J.  B.  and  Gabriel  Durham,  both  enlisted  in 
the  army.  The  present  paper  is  in  a  prosperous 
condition  and  is  rapidly  increasing  its  circulation 
in  this  section,  and  its  proprietors  are  well  satisfied 
with  their  investment. 


ON.  DANIEL  CARSWELL  TAYLOR,  Pres 
ident  of  the  Kankakee  Tile  and  Brick 
Companj',  and  a  resident  of  Kankakee 
Count}'  since  1855,  is  a  native  of  the  Em- 
pire State.  He  was  born  in  Argjie,  Washington 
County,  on  the  22d  of  July,  1832.     His   parents, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


315 


George  and  Jane  S.  (Carswell)  Taylor,  now  de- 
ceased, were  born  in  the  same  town.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  recei^ved  an  academic  education  in 
his  native  State,  where  his  boyhood  days  were 
passed.  In  1855,  he  came  to  the  AVest,  locating 
in  Kankakee  County,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. In  1865,  he  went  into  the  coal  business, 
which  he  conducted  until  1876,  when  he  bought 
a  stone  quany.  From  that  date  until  1885  he 
was  engaged  in  the  stone  and  lime  trade.  In  1880 
he  also  embarked  in  the  manufacture  of  brick  and 
drain  tile. 

In  1882,  Mr.  Taylor  was  instrumental  in  incor- 
porating the  Kankakee  Tile  and  Brick  Company,  of 
which  he  has   been  President  and   General   Man- 
ager  since    its    organization.     II.  E.  Ta3lor  is  its 
Secretary  and  Treasurer.     This  compan}'  employs 
about  thirty-two  men  and  does  an  annual  business 
amounting  to  '^^25,000  and  upwards.    Their  market 
is  mostly  local,  or  by  railway  transportation    to 
points  within  a  radius  of  fort^'  miles  of  their  plant. 
The   business   has  been   prosperous  and  successful 
from    the   start  and   the  company   now  enjoys  a 
lucrative  patronage.     In  addition  to  his  brick  and  • 
tile  business,  Mr.  Taylor  is  extensively  eng.aged  in 
breeding  and  growing   blooded    horses  for   track 
and    carriage    use.     He  has  a  stock  farm  in  Pem- 
broke Township  of  nine  hundred  and   sixty  acres, 
and   has  raised   and   trained   a  number  of  horses 
that  have  made  good  records.    He  bred  and  raised 
"Clara  Wilkes,"  record  2:H,  lately  sold  for  15,000 
in  New    York    city;   "Alturas,"    pacer,   four-year 
record,  2:12,V;  "Wilkesward,"  three  years,  2:18^; 
••Lulu  Wilkes,"  two  year,  2:26^.    He  has  now  about 
fifty  liead  of  high-bred  trotting  horses  on  his  farm. 
In  November,l  859,  in  this  county,  Mr.  Taylor  was 
married  to  Miss  Fannie  Hosmer,  who  was  born   in 
Bedford,  Mass.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Ellas  Ilosracr. 
They  have  one  son,  Herbert  E.,  who  was  born  in 
April,  1S(!3,  married  Alice  Rickey  and  now  lives 
in  Kankakee.     He    is    the    present   Secretary    and 
Treasurer  of  the  Kankakee  Tile  and  Brick  Company. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Taylor  is  a  Democrat,  and   was 
the  successful  candidate  of   that  party  for  Repre- 
sentative to   the  State   Legislature    in    I87G    and 
again    in    1882.     The  chief  result  of   his  labors  in 
the  l.,egislature  is  seen  in  the  Eastern  Illinois  Hos- 


pital for  the  Insane,  one  of  the  finest  institutions 
of  its  kind  in  the  world.  Mainly  through  his  ef- 
forts the  bill  was  carried  through  the  Legislature, 
which  estoblisiied  it,  it  being  subsequently  located  at 
Kankakee.  On  the  8tii.of  March,  18'J3,  Mr.  Taylor 
was  appointed  Secretary  and  'i'reasurer  of  the  in- 
stitution which  he  had  labored  so  faithfully  to  get 
located  at  this  city.  To  the  Democratic  National 
Convention  held  in  Chicago  in  .  the  year  18'J2 
Mr.  Taylor  was  a  delegate,  casting  his  vote  for 
Grover  Cleveland  for  President.  For  ten  years 
he  h.as  efficiently  represented  his  town  as  Super- 
visor on  the  County  Board.  He  is  a  Knight  Tem- 
plar Mason,  a  member  of  Kankakee  Chapter  No.  78, 
R.  A.  M.,  and  Ivanhoe  Commandery  No.  33, 
K.  T.,  of  Kankakee.  Mr.  Taylor  is  one  of  Kan- 
kakee's oldest  and  most  enterprising  business  men, 
and  he  has  bj'  a  uniformly  upright  and  independent 
(course  in  life  won  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
his  fellow-citizens,  as  is  shown  by  his  twice  being 
elected  Representative  in  a  district  decidedly  Re- 
publican in  its  political  complexion. 


/ 


+^*; 


yATSON  K.  WOODHIFF,  of  Kankakee, 
Acting  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Indiana,  Illi- 
nois cfe  Iowa  Railroad,  has  been  a  resident 
of  this  city  since  1885,  when  he  located  herein  the 
interest  of  the  above  road.  Our  sul>ject  is  a  na- 
tive of  the  Empire  State,  lie  was  born  in  Fre- 
donia,  N.  Y.,  on  the  12th  of  September,  1851,  and 
is  a  son  of  Clark  C.  Woodruff,  who  was  also  born 
in  New  York.  About  1855,  the  father  removed 
with  his  family  to  Pennsylvania,  locating  in  ^Var- 
ren  County,  and  after  making  his  home  for  some 
time  in  Spring  Creek,  Pa.,  he  left  that  place  to  be- 
come a  resident  of  .Vshland,  Wis.,  whore  he  resided 
until  1888,  when  he  came  to  Kankakee,  where  his 
remaining  days  were  passed.  He  departed  this  life 
in  this  city  in  .June,  1891.  His  widow,  tlie  mother 
of  our  subject,  is  still  a  resident  of  Kankakee.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Woodruff  were  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren, six  sons  and  three  daughters,  but  only  three 


316 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


are  now  living  in  Illinois,  namely:  Watson  K.,  of 
this  sketch,  Warren  B.  .ind  Blanche  E.,  who  is  now 
general  deliver}'  clerk  in  the  postollice  in  Kan- 
kakee. 

Mr.  Woodruflf,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
spent  the  first  four  years  of  his  life  in  the  State  of 
his  birth  and  then  went  with  his  parents  to  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  resided  for  some  time.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  English  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  was  thus  well  fitted  for  the  practical 
duties  of  life.  He  entered  upon  the  work  which 
led  to  his  present  business  in  1878,  when  he  began 
land  surveying.  This  caused  him  to  turn  his  at- 
tention to  engineering,  and  he  has  since  made  a 
specialty  of  railroad  construction.  The  first  rail- 
road with  which  he  was  connected  was  what  is 
now  the  Cleveland  tfe  Canton,  in  Ohio,  and  iu 
1883  he  became  connected  with  the  Indiana  branch 
of  the  Chicago  &  Atlantic  Railroad,  occupying  the 
position  of  Division  Engineer  until  that  road  was 
completed.  When  his  work  there  was  over,  Mr. 
Woodruff  then  engaged  for  a  time  in  preliminary 
surveys  of  short  lines,  and  it  was  in  the  winter  of 
1884-85  that  he  was  offered  and  accepted  the  posi- 
tion as  engineer  of  the  Indiana,  Illinois  &  Iowa 
Railroad,commonly  known  as  the  "TUree  I 's"  Road. 

Mr.  Woodruff  was  married  in  .June,  1885,  the 
lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Mary  A.  .Jones,  a 
resident  of  North  .Judson,  Ind.  Their  union  has 
been  blessed  with  a  family  of  three  children,  a  son 
and  two  daughters:  Elsie,  Allen  and  jNiarguerite. 

Since  coming  to  Kankakee,  Mr.  AVoodruff  has 
continued  his  connection  with  the  Indiana,  Illi- 
nois i  Iowa  Railroad,  serving  in  tlie  capacity  of 
Acting  Chief  Engineer,  but  iu  connection  with  this 
he  also  does  much  outside  work.  In  1891  he  held 
the  position  of  City  Engineer  of  Kank.akee.  He 
possesses  a  thorough  knowledge  of  engineering, 
being  unfamiliar  with  no  point,  and  is  noted  for 
the  accuracy  and  completeness  of  his  work.  He 
has  tbe  confidence  of  his  emploj'ers  and  the  respect 
of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact. 
Mr.  Woodruff  is  an  honored  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  and  is  Worthy  Master  of  Kanka- 
kee Lodge  No.  289,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  In  his  politi- 
cal affiliations,  he  is  a  Republican,  taking  a  warm 
interest  in   the  success  of   his  party.     In  Novem- 


ber, 1892,  be  was  elected  Surveyor  for  Kankakee 
County.  Although  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Kan- 
kakee but  a  few  years,  Mr.  AVoodruff  has  been 
intimatel}'  identified  with  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment of  the  city  while  living  here,  and  is  num- 
bered among  its  valued  and  representative  citi- 
zens. He  lias  also  gained  many  friends  during  the 
seven  years  which  have  elapsed  since  he  became 
a  resident  of  Kankakee,  and  we  feel  assured  that 
they  will  receive  with  iiiterest  this  record  of  his 
life  work. 


:|*.^.5.4.i^^;4..i.^..5.F 


^♦•{••{•♦b- 


"jf?  ACOB  KNECHT,  of  the  firm  of  Jacob  Knecht 
I  &  Sons,  of  Kankakee,  merchant  tailors  and 
dealers  in  ready-made  clothing,  gentlemen's 
furnishing  goods,  hats,  caps,  etc.,  is  an  old 
settler  of  Kankakee.  He  is  a  native  of  Wurtem- 
berg,  Germany,  his  birth  having  occurred  on  the 
2d  of  July,  1837.  His  parents,  Thomas  and  Wal- 
purga  (Nagle)  Knecht,  were  also  born  in  Wurtein- 
berg,  the  father  about  the  year  1793,  and  the 
mother  in  1800.  The  former  died  at  the  ago  of 
seventy-two,  and  the  latter  when  sixty-niue  years 
of  age.  The  familj'  consisted  of  eight  children, 
four  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  all  but  one 
are  living. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  his  native  country  and  emigrated  to 
America  in  1855.  Landing  in  New  York  City  he 
there  spent  two  years  in  learning  the  tailor's 
trade.  In  April,  1857,  Mr.  Knechtcame  to  Kanka- 
kee, where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  On  his 
arrival  here  he  commenced  working  as  a  journey- 
man tailor  and  was  employed  for  twenty-three 
j^ears  in  the  shop  of  his  brother,  John  G.  Knecht. 
In  1891  he  began  business  for  himself  in  his  pres- 
ent line. 

On  the  21st  of  April,  1863,  Mr.  Knecht  was 
united  in  marriage  at  Kankakee  with  Miss  Henri- 
etta Schmidt,  a  daughter  of  Peter  and  Juliana 
Schmidt.  Mrs.  Knecht  was  born  in  Nassau,  Ger- 
many, December  1,  18'14,  and  came  to  America 
when  eleven  years  of  age.     To  our  worthy  subject 


rORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


niT 


and  his  wife  have  been  born  five  children,  three 
sons  and  two  daugliters:  Jolin  0.  married  Miss 
Tilla  Sclierer,  and  resides  in  Kankalcec;  Frank 
Jacob  wedded  INIiss  Mar^-  Keorbs,  and  is  now  in 
partnersliip  with  his  fatiier.  The  younger  mem- 
bers of  the  family,  Herman,  Minnie,  and  Mar3',  re- 
side at  home. 

Mr.  Knccht  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  as  are 
also  his  sons.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of 
the  German  Evangelical  Association.  He  is  an  in- 
dustrious, reliable  business  man  and  one  of  the 
most  highly  respected  among  the  German-Ameri- 
can citizens  of  Kankakee. 


-i^- 


'  AMES  K.  EAGLE  is  an  extensive  coal  and 
lumber  dealer  of  Kankakee.  He  was  born 
near  Mohicanville,  Asliland  County-,  Ohio, 
on  the  9tli  of  August,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of 
Edward  and  Eliza  (Everest)  Eagle.  The  father's 
people  carae  from  Harper's  Ferry,  and  the  mother's 
ancestors  from  Oswego,  N.  Y.  'Mr.  Eagle  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  and  followed  that  pur- 
suit during  his  entire  life.  In  188G  he  removed 
from  near  Loudonville,  Ohio,  where  he  had  lived 
for  a  number  of  years,  to  Ottawa,  Kan.,  where  he 
bought  a  farm  in  the  suburbs  of  the  town,  wiiich 
he  afterward  sold,  then^j-emoving  to  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  eiglity  acres  near  Williamsburg, 
of  the  same  county.  On  this  farm  he  resided  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  26th  of  Jul}', 
1892,  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  seventj'- 
six  years.  His  wife  died  about  a  year  previous, 
aged  sevent3'-four  years. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  six  sons  and  six  daugh- 
ters, nine  of  whom  still  survive,  as  follows:  Will- 
iam H.  resides  at  3^Iaeon  City,  Mo.,  where  he 
carries  on  a  f.Trni.  Thomas  B.  now  lives  at  Fol- 
som,  Cal.,  where  he  is  surgeon  for  the  State  Peni- 
tentiary. He  graduated  in  medicine  in  1860,  hav- 
ing just  readied  his  majority,  and  when  the  war 
broke  out  he  enlisted  in  the  first  call  for  volun- 
teers and  served  during  the  entire  war,  remaining 
to  its  close,  at   which    time  he  had    risen   to   the 


rank  of  Brigade  Surgeon.  After  being  niusicie<l 
out,  he  was  commissioned  Surgeon  in  Gen.  Cus- 
ter's corps  in  Dakota.  When  the  medical  and 
Commissary  Department  arrived  at  Yankton,  they 
found  that  Gen.  Custer  had  departed,  but  had 
left  an  escort  for  them.  Through  this  fortunate 
incident  these  departments  escaped  being  in  the 
massacre  in  which  Gen.  Custer  and  all  liis  men 
were  killed.  Stella,  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Eagle, 
when  a  little  girl  learned  the  Indian  language,  and 
was  often  chosen  ;is  interpreter  between  the  Gov- 
ernment and  the  Indians,  the  latter  preferring  the 
simple  statements  of  a  child  to  those  of  the  cunning 
and  experienced  interpreters  who  knew  how  to 
take  advantage  of  them,  and  did  so,  as  they  be- 
lieved. James,  our  subject,  is  the  next  in  order  of 
birth;  Mary  R.  is  the  wife  of  Cj'rus  Lozier,  of 
Loudonville,  Ohio;  Edward  A.  early  turned  his 
attention  to  agriculture,  and  is  the  owner  of  an 
extensive  cattle  ranch  near  Rosemont,  Osage 
County,  Kan.;  Ettie  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Rob- 
inson, now  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Ottawa 
Kan.;  Alvesta  became  the  wife  of  Henry  Glass, 
of  Waverly,  Kan.;  Frances  L.  married  .Tames  Haw- 
ley  and  resides  in  Williamsburg,  Kan.;  and  Jen- 
nie is  the  wife  of  Gard  .Scott,  of  Quenemo,  Kan. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  upon  his 
father's  farm  in  Ohio,  and  obtained  a  fair  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools.  When  about  sixteen 
years  of  age  he  left  the  parental  roof  and  clerked 
in  a  dry-goods  store  of  Wooster,  Ohio,  for  about 
nine  years.  In  the  spring  of  18G9  Mr.  Eagle  came 
to  this  county  and  started  in  theSjoot  and  shoe 
business  with  M.  F.  Metz,  a  gentleman  from 
Wooster.  This  store  they  opened  under  the  firm 
name  of  Metz  &  Eagle,  in  Kankakee,  and  con- 
tinued in  business  together  until  May  8,  1871.  Our 
subject  then  sold  his  interest  to  his  partner  and 
returned  to  Wooster,  where  he  took  charge  of  the 
business  of  D.  Robinson,  Jr.,  in  whose  em|)lo3'  he 
had  been  for  many  j'ears  previously.  With  him 
he  remained  until  the  1st  of  January,  1872.  Again 
returning  to  Kankakee,  he  entered  the  em|)loy  of 
W.  B.  Fonville,  and  remained  with  him  a  few 
months. 

On  the  6th  of  July,  1872,  :Mr.  Eagle  embarked 
in  the  lumber  and  coal   business  with  A  E.  Davis, 


318 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


receiving  a  salary  and  percentage  of  the  profits. 
This  firm  continued  in  operation  until  August 
13,  1874,  when,  with  F.  L.  Merrick,  Mr.  Eagle  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business  at  Moraence,  111. 
In  March,  1875,  AVatson  Bros,  purchased  the  in- 
terest of  Mr.  Merrick,  and  the  st^de  of  the  firm 
became  Eagle  &  Watson  Bros.,  doing  business 
under  that  name  for  the  succeeding  three  years. 
Our  subject  then  purchased  the  interest  of  his 
partners  and  continued  the  business  alone  until 
1880.  lie  then  left  his  business  interests  in  that 
cit3'  in  the  care  of  Charles  Kurtz,  and,  coming  to 
Kankakee,  opened  up  business  on  East  Avenue 
and  Oak  Street.  He  later  established  the  same 
trade, at  Aroma,  Goodrich  and  Irwin.  In  1883  he 
closed  out  all  these  branches  with  the  exception 
of  the  one  at  Kankakee,  which  he  carried  on  until 
Marcli  9,  1891,  when  he  sold  tlie  lumber  yard  to 
II.  II.  Troup  &  Co.,  the  present  proprietors.  Our 
subject,  however,  continues  to  deal  in  lumber  b^' 
the  carload  and  carries  on  the  coal  business. 

On  the  '25th  of  September,  1873,  occurred  the 
maniage  of  Mr.  Eagle  and  Miss  Mary  Dean,  who 
was  ))orn  January  26,  1845,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Algy  and  Betsy  A.  (Dixon)  Dean,  of  Terre  Haute. 
Mr.  Dean  was  born  November  26,  1816,  in  Mary- 
land, and  when  three  years  old  removed  to  Terre 
Haute,  Ind.,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  and  mar- 
ried Miss  Dixon  in  February,  1841.  Slie  was  born 
November  14, 1817,  in  that  citj^,  her  parents  being 
settlers  of  1811,  when  they  had  to  live  in  Ft.  Harri- 
son on  account  of  the  hostiiitj'  of  the  Indians. 
In  1854  Mr.  Dean  came  to  Kankakee  Count}'  and, 
in  company  with  two  brothers-in-law,  purchased 
the  old  Bourbonnais  Mill,  which  he  moved  to  Kan- 
kakee, and  whicli  is  now  known  as  tlie  McGrew 
IMill.  Having  sold  that,  he  purchased  large  tracts 
of  land  in  the  Beaver  Ltlke  countr}',  and  subse- 
quentl}-  took  as  partner  Lemuel  ]Milk,  the  firm  be- 
coming Milk  &:  Dean.  The}'  owned  at  one  time 
fifty  thousand  acres,  a  good  portion  of  which 
the}'  ditched  and  improved.  In  1873  this  part- 
nership w.as  dissolved,  and  the  following  year  Mr. 
Dean  traded  his  land  for  Chicago  property,  but 
through  misfortune  lost  it.  Returning  to  Kan- 
kakee County,  he  made  his  home  with  one  of  his 
children  on  a  farm,  though   he    died   at  the  home 


of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Eagle,  .July  17,1881.  His 
wife,  who  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Chuicli, 
died  many  years  ago,  November  2,  1866. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Dean  was  a  strong  Democrat, 
and  a  man  of  influence  in  party  affairs,  though 
not  an  aspirant  for  official  positions.  However, 
he  was  one  of  the  first  Presidents  of  the  village 
of  Kankakee.  He  was  a  man  of  marked  individ- 
uality and  great  force  of  character.  Althougli 
well  informed,  he  never  attended  school  but 
three  winters.  When  but  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
rode  on  horseback  from  Terre  Haute  to  the  coun- 
try around  the  Red  River  of  the  North.  In  early 
life  he  went  down  the  Mississippi  River  and 
rose  from  a  hand  on  the  boat  to  captain  of ' 
a  steamer.  Subsequently  returning,  he  traded 
down  the  river  to  New  Orleans.  With  the  old- 
fashioned  whipsaw  he  would  saw  out  the  gun- 
nels for  a  flatboat,  .and  when  the  craft  was  com- 
pleted would  load  it  with  such  provisions  as  the 
Southern  planters  needed,  and  start  down  the 
river.  On  the  way  down  he  would  exchange  his 
supplies  for  cotton,  so  that  by  the  time  his  cargo 
was  sold  he  had  a  load  of  cotton,  which  he  would 
sell  along  with  his  boat  in  New  Orleans.  He  is 
said  to  have  built  the  first  one  hundred  foot  flat- 
boat  that  went  down  the  Wabash  River.  Pos- 
sessed of  good  business  ability,  he  would  have 
been  a  wealthy  man  had  not  misfortunes  over 
which  he  had  no  control  come  upon  him.  Of  his 
four  children,  three  are  living,  namely:  Frank, 
widow  of  A.  E.  Davis,  who  resides  in  Minneapolis, 
Minn.;  Mrs.  Eagle;  and  Hazard  W.,  of  Terre 
Haute,  Ind. 

Though  not  a  member  of  any  church  organiza- 
tion, Mr.  Eagle  contributes  liberally  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  church,  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of 
the  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  this 
city.  He  volunteered  his  services  to  the  army  a 
number  of  times,  but  was  not  accepted  on  ac- 
count of  his  poor  health  and  the  fact  that  his 
comparative  measurements  under  the  rules  of  mili- 
tary law  did  not  meet  the  requirements  of  the  re- 
cruiting officer.  Mr.  Eagle  was  reared  a  Demo- 
crat, but,  while  his  preferences  are  usually  for  the 
nominees  of  that  party,  he  is  largely  independent 
in  politics,  especially  at  local  elections,  preferring 


OF  fHE 
^'^'lVl;RSn  Y  OF  ILLINOIS 


l/'i^-' /'>-' 


% 


% 


fefe-^- 


#^,- 


v'ife 


^ 


^.' 


M 


LI"-'  "  'I 

OF  THE 
HNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


323 


to  cast  liis  ballot  in  favor  of  the  man  wlio  in  his 
estimation  is  best  fitted  to  fill  the  duties  of  office. 
Our  subject  has  always  been  temperate  in  liis 
habits,  and  is  upright  and  lionoralile  in  his  deal- 
intifs  with  his  fellow-citizens. 


R.  ABRAM  LENNINGTON  SMALL  is  a 

nurseryman  and  gardener  residing  on 
^^f^     Eighth  Avenue  in  the  citj'  of  Kankakee. 

For  forty-two  years  he  has  been  a  resident 
of  this  count}'  and  well  deserves  representation  in 
its  liistory,  as  he  has  been  an  important  factor  in 
its  growth  and  pi-osperity.  He  is  a  native  of  In- 
diana, born  in  Wayne  County  on  the  5th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1830,  a  son  of  John  and  May  (Lenning- 
ton)  Small.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Virginia 
and  was  reared  to  manhood  in  that  State.  Wiien 
a  young  njan  he  emigrated  to  Indiana,  where  he 
was  married.  Me  first  settled  in  Wayne  Count}-, 
then  a  vast  wilderness,  and  opened  up  a  farm 
there.  He  afterward  removed  to  IMichigau  City 
and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  place.  Af- 
ter a  residence  there  of  four  years  he  went  to 
Door  Prairie,  near  wliich  place  he  located  upon  a 
farm,  wliere  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
until  his  death  in  1857.  He  was  a  man  of  excel- 
lent reputation,  straightforward  and  honorable  in 
all  his  dealings,  and  was  a  worthy  citizen  of  his 
adopted  Slate.  His  wife  survived  him  only  a  few 
years. 

Dr.  Small  is  the  second  cliild  of  his  father's 
farailj',  which  consisted  of  seven  sons  and  four 
daughters,  who  grew  to  maturity.  Onl}-  eight  of 
these  are  now  living.  The  Doctor  spent  his  bo}'- 
hood  days  in  Indiana,  whei-e  he  had  the  advan- 
tages of  the  public  sciiools.  Until  reaching  man- 
hood he  assisted  his  father  in  his  farm  work  and 
then,  determining  to  follow  the  study  of  medicine, 
he  entered  the  olllce  of  Dr.  Standiford  and  re- 
mained with  him  for  some  time,  lie  next  went 
to  La  Porte,  Ind.,  and  took  a  course  in  the  La  Porte 
Medical  College.     He  came  to  Illinois  in  the  win- 

15 


ter  of  1850,  and  located  at  AVilmington,  where  he 
engaged  in  practice  before  completing  his  collegi- 
ate course.  In  Die  winter  of  1861,  he  went  to 
Chicago  and  became  a  student  in  the  Hush  Med- 
ical College,  from  which  he  graduated  the  follow- 
ing year.  Previous  to  this,  however,  he  iiad  prac- 
ticed for  about  two  years  in  Hoekviile,  Kankakee 
County.  It  was  in  the  fall  of  1855  that  he  pur- 
chased land  and  gave  his  attention  for  some  time 
to  the  nursery  business.  The  city  of  Kankakee 
then  numbered  not  more  than  three  hundrcal  peo- 
ple and  Dr.  Small  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
the  place.  He  bought  unimproved  land  and  set- 
tled on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  and  this  lias 
since  been  his  home.  Ever  since  coming  to  this 
county  he  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  nurs- 
ery business,  being  one  of  the  first  to  follow  that 
occupation  in  this  section  of  the  country.  For 
the  past  few  years  he  has  almost  exclusively  de- 
voted himself  to  tlie  raising  of  rhubarb  and  aspar- 
agus for  the  Chicago  markets.  He  now  has  planted 
some  twenty-five  acres  in  rhul)arb  and  seven  in 
as|)aragus.  He  is  a  believer  in  special  branches  of 
agriculture  as  well  as  of  medicine,  and  that  he  has 
been  wise  in  his  choice  has  been  shown  by  his 
marked  success. 

In  Porter  County,  Ind.,  on  the  17th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1853,  Dr.  Small  was  united  in  marriage  Avith 
Miss  Calista  J.  Currier,  who  was  born  in  New 
Hampshire  but  was  reared  to  womanhood  and  ed- 
ucated in  Porter  County.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
John  Currier,  one  of  Porter  County's  first  and 
honored  settlers.  Six  children  have  blessed  the 
union  of  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Small,  live  of  whom 
are  now  living.  Mary  died  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen; Susie  received  a  su[)erior  education  and  is 
an  artist  in  Chicago;  John  is  a  well-known  lawj'cr 
of  Kankakee;  Lenniugton  is  married  and  is  eng.aged 
in  the  nursery  business  in  this  county;  Calista, 
after  receiving  good  educational  advantages,  be- 
came a  teacher  in  the  Kankakee  schools,  where  she 
was  very  successful  as  an  instructor,  but  now  lives 
in  Danville,  111.,  being  the  wife  of  Prof.  AV.  L. 
Pince;  Mabel  is  still  at  home.  .Since  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Republican  party.  Dr.  Small  has  been 
one  of  its  stanch  supporters  and  previous  to  that 
time  was  an  old-line  Whig,  his  first  ballot  having 


324 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


been  cast  for  Hon.  Henry  Clay.  He  has  never 
been  an  aspirant  for  oflicial  positions,  tliougli  talk- 
ing an  active  part  in  local  politics.  He  is  a  firm 
friend  to  our  public  school  system  and  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  a  number 
of  years.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
lodge  and  is  a  Knight  Templar  of  that  order,  with 
which  he  has  been  connected  for  the  past  thirty 
years.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  this  county  for 
fortj'^-two  years  and  is  numbered  among  its  hon- 
ored pioneers.  During  bis  long  residence  here  he 
has  witnessed  vast  changes.  The  count}',  which 
was  then  almost  uninhabited  and  a  wilderness,  is 
now  one  of  the  best  developed  and  enterprising 
counties  in  the  State.  Personally,  the  Doctor  is  a 
man  of  upright  character  and  has  won  the  respect 
of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact  by  his 
many  manly  and  worthy  qualities. 


h  I  I  p  I  I    1  I  ,  ^ 


'     I     '         K±m 


ICHAEL  HEIL,  a  retired  farmer  living  in 
Kankakee,was  born  inWurzweiler,  Bavaria, 
Germany,  on  the  26th  of  April,  1823.  His 
paternal  grandfather  was  a  3'oung  man  at 
his  death.  His  mother's  father  was  a  rich  farmer 
and  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  wealthy 
men  of  the  town  where  he  lived,  Wurzweiler, 
Germany.  The  parents  of  our  subject,  Charles 
and  Dorothea  (Engle)  Heil,  were  both  natives  of 
the  Fatherland,where  the  former  was  a  weaver  and 
small  farmer.  The  year  1840  witnessed  their 
arrival  in  America,  three  of  their  children,  John, 
Dorothea  and  Michael,  coming  with  them.  They 
located  in  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  woi'ked  at  what- 
ever came  to  hand.  In  1842  occurred  the  father's 
death  and  the  mother  was  cared  for  by  her  son, 
our  subject,  with  whom  she  made  her  home  for 
many  years.  By  her  marriage  she  became  the 
mother  of  six  children,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  only  two  of  whom  are  now  living:  John, 
who  makes  his  home  in  Franklin  County,  Ohio; 
and  our  subject. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Michael  Heil  were  spent 
in  the  land  of  his  birth,  where  he  received  a  fair 


education  in  his  native  language.  When  about 
seventeen  3'ears  of  age  he  crossed  the  broad  At- 
lantic with  his  parents  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the 
New  World.  He  learned  the  cooper's  trade,  which 
occupation  he  followed  for  about  ten  3'ears  in 
Columbus  and  other  places  About  18.50  he  deter- 
mined to  devote  his  attention  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  accordingly  purchased  a  farm  of  fifty 
acres  in  Madison  Township,  Franklin  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  lived  about  twelve  years.  He  then  sold 
that  land  and  purchased  one  hundred  and  eleven 
acres,  which  he  cultivated  for  only  a  year,  then  dis- 
posing of  it  and  bu\'ing  a  hundred-acre  farm  in 
the  same  county,  on  which  he  made  his  home  for 
some  three  3'ears.  In  the  fall  of  1867,  Mr.  Heil 
sold  that  farm  also,  and  in  the  spring  of  the  follow- 
ing 3'ear  emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  in  the 
village  of  Chebanse  in  Iroquois  Count3',  where  he 
lived  for  about  one  year.  He  purchased  and 
moved  upon  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  in  Lime- 
stone Township,  Kankakee  County,  on  the  2d  of 
March,  1869.  There  he  lived  for  about  twenty 
years  and  reared  his  family. 

On  the  5th  of  August,  1844,  Mr.  Heil  was  united 
in  matrimony  with  Miss  Elizabeth  K.  Seliger, 
daughter  of  Adam  and  Catherine  (Mauser)  Seliger, 
who  were  also  natives  of  German3'  and  who  came 
to  America  in  1838,  locating  in  Columbus,  Ohio. 
Four  sons  .and  five  daughters  have  graced  the 
union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife.  Elizabetii  K. 
married  George  Butz,  a  farmer  in  Limestone  Town- 
ship and  to  them  have  been  born  four  children: 
Charles,  J«hn,  Amelia  and  William.  Anna  Maria 
became  the  wife  of  George  Falter,  of  Limestone 
Township,  and  by  her  marriage  has  become  the 
mother  of  seven  children:  William,  Michfiel, 
George,  Anna,  Albert,  Frank  and  Katie.  John 
married  Miss  Catherine  Schlefer,  of  Limestone 
Township,  and  to  them  have  been  born  seven  chil- 
dren :  John,  Michael,  George,  Adam,  Ro.sa,  William 
and  Lizzie.  Charles  AV.  married  Miss  Sophia 
Shields  and  they  have  three  sons:  Charles,  Frank 
and  Louis.  Mich.ael  married  Miss  Anna  Graves 
and  two  daughters,  Katie  and  Cora,  grace  their 
union.  Barbara  died  when  two  and  a-half  3'ears 
of  age.  Lizzie  wedded  Gus  Goodknecht,  a  farmer 
on   the  old  two  hundred  acre  homestead.     They 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


325 


have  three  chiUh-en:  Harry  Grover,  All)ert  and 
Katie.  Adam  married  Miss  Ida  Stroehlow.  The^- 
liave  two  children:  Emma  and  Colonel.  Freder- 
icks married  Charles  Bj-ers,  who  is  a  motor  man 
on  the  Electric  Street  Railway  of  Kankakee.  They 
have  one  child,  a  daughter,  Clara. 

AVhile    residing    in    the   country   Mr.  Heil  held 
several  local  positions  of  honor  and  trust.     He  was 
School   Director    for    many   3-cars,  also    Highway 
Commissioner    for  three  years,  and    for  the  .same 
length  of  time  served  as  Supervisor  of  Limestone 
Township.     In  1889,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heil  retired  from 
the  active  work  incident  to  farm  life  and  have  since 
made  their  home  in  Kankakee.     Though  now  well 
advanced  in  years  they  are  still  hale  and  hearty 
and  bid  fair  to  live  many  years  to  come  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  their  hard  labor.     They 
have   accumulated    their    property,  consisting   of 
three  hundred  and  twenty-three  acres  of  valuable 
farming   laud   and   a   home   in   Kankakee,   by  in- 
dustry and  perseverance  and  by  their  qualities  of 
sterling  worth  have  won  the  high  esteem  of  their 
neighbors    and    acquaintances.       The3'    are    both 
members  of    the    German    Evangelical    Lutheran 
Church.   Politically,  Mr.  Heil  always  casts  his  ballot 
in  favor  of  the  Democratic  party,  as  do  all  his  sons. 


—J 


-   —tg'i 


B>^^<^ 


-*»- 


UILLIAM  NOBLES  DUSINBURY.  One  by 
one  the  old  settlers  are  passing  aw.ay   un- 

^^  til  but  few  are  left  who  composed  the  lit- 
tle hamlet  known  in  1853  as  Kankakee  Station, 
which  has  since  grown  to  the  proportions  of  a  large 
and  important  city.  Among  the  few  survivors  who 
have  maintained  a  continuous  residence  here  and 
whose  life  has  been  interwoven  with  the  improve- 
ments and  growth  of  the  citj-,  must  bo  mentioned 
he  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  whose  skill  has 
done  much  to  beautify  the  exterior  and  deco- 
rate the  interior  of  many  of  the  best  homes  and 
business  hou.ses  in  the  cit}'. 

Mr.  Dusinbury  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State 
and  was  born  in  East  Chazy,  Clinton  County,  on 
the  10th  of   June,    1830,  and    is   a  son    of  John 


!    Renjamin    and    Caroline   M.  (Barber)  Dusinbury. 
j    William  Nobles  Dusinbury,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject  and  for  whom  he  was  named,  was  a  son  of 
'   a  Holland  immigrant  who  founded  the  family  in 
I    America  in  Colonial  days.     The    name   originally 
j    was  Von  Dusenberg,  as  known  in  Holland,  but  an 
;    ancestor  of  the  Dusinbuiyssaw  fitto  change  it  after 
j   coming  to  America  as  now  spelled  by  the   subject 
of  this  sketch.     A  large  fortune  was   lost  to   the 
heirs  on  account  of  the  change  of  name  and  their 
consequent  inability  to  satisfactorily  prove  their 
identity.      The  estate,  which    with    interest   now 
amounts   to   over   $20,000,000,    reverted    to    the 
Dutch  government. 

John  B.  Dusinbury,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  South  Hero,  Grand  Isle  County,  Vt., 
on  the  2d  of  June,  1802,  and  died  when  nearly 
eighty-nine  years  of  age,  in  April,  1891.  The 
mother  of  our  subject  was  born  in  the  town  of 
East  Chazy,  Clinton  County,  N.  Y..  in  1812,  and 
died  in  July,  1888.  The  founder  of  the  Dusin- 
bury family  settled  in  the  town  of  Brunswick 
near  Troy,  N.  Y.  He  was  a  Quaker  and  many  of 
his  descendants  still  belong  to  that  sect.  John 
B.  was  a  cloth  manufacturer  and  in  early  days  re- 
sided in  Vermont.  He  also  had  a  factoiy  in  Poes- 
tenkill,  seven  miles  east  of  Troy,  in  Rensselaer 
County,  N.  Y. 

William  N.  Dusinbury  attended  the  common 
schools  and  was  employed  in  his  father's  factories 
until  eighteen  years  of  age.when,  in  1847,  he  with 
his  parents  and  their  family  came  to  Illinois. 
The}'  reached  Chicago  on  the  16th  of  July  of  that 
j-ear,  having  come  from  Buffalo  by  way  of  the 
Lakes,  and  after  one  night  spent  in  the  little  town 
of  Chicago  they  proceeded  to  Lockport,  and  pur- 
ch.ased  a  farm  five  miles  west  of  that  place.  In 
1852  they  came  to  Rockville  Township,  this  county, 
where  the  family  lived  until  1853.  Kankakee  hav- 
ing been  started  as  a  station  on  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad,  they  removed  to  that  place.  In  1879,  Mr. 
Dusinbury,  Sr.,  removed  with  his  wife  to  Oakland, 
Cal.,  where  he  died  after  a  residence  of  twelve 
years.  The  death  of  his  wife  also  occurred  in  Oak- 
land. 

Our  subject  began  learning  the  painter's  trade  at 
Lockport  but  soon  wen*  to  Joliet,  prior  to  the  erec- 


326 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tion  of  the  State  Penitentiaiy  at  that  place,  and  per- 
fected himself  at  his  trade.  In  March,  1853,  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  Kankakoe  and  has  ever 
since  been  a  resident  of  tiiis  place.  He  engaged 
in  painting  in  all  its  branches  and  in  papering 
and  decorating  and  has  been  very  successful  in 
his  line  of  business.  For  twelve  j'ears  he  was  in 
the  Government  eniplo}'  as  mail  carrier  between 
Kankakee  and  neighboring  towns,  entering  the 
service  in  1857;  however,  he  kept  up  his  painting 
business  all  this  time  through  hired  help. 

In  Kankakee,  on  the  13th  of  May,  1860,  Mr 
Dusinbury  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Helen 
M.  Barnes,  who  was  born  in  Grand  Isle  County, 
Vt.,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Lucius  M.  Barnes.  She 
was  a  school  teacher  for  several  years.  Three 
children  were  born  of  this  union.  Fred,  the  eld- 
est, died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  months.  Edward 
married  Miss  .Jennie  ])uga  and  is  a  house  and  sign 
painter  of  Kankakee.  He  and  his  wife  have  one 
child,  a  bright  little  boy  named  Roy,  who  was 
born  November  28, 1889.  Miss  Blanche  M.,  the  only 
daughter  of  our  subject,  since  the  death  of  her 
mother,  which  occurred  .lanuary  6,  1892,  has  been 
her  father's  housekeeper.  Mrs.  Dusinbury,  who 
was  a  woman  possessed  of  many  excellencies  of 
character,  was  taken  from  her  family  after  a  brief 
illness  from  pneumonia,  resulting  from  grip.  Her 
huslxind,  who  was  also  sick  at  the  same  time,  only 
gave  up  at  his  wife's  death  and  was  unconscious 
until  after  her  burial,  his  life  being  despaired  of 
by  his  family  for  a  long  time.  In  early  life  Mrs. 
Dusinbury  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church  but  later  she  with  her  husband  became 
identified  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
The  daughter  holds  membership  with  the  Presby- 
terian Church. 

In  1880,  Mr.  Dusinbury  went  to  California, 
where  he  spent  two  years  for  his  health.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a  stanch  Republican  and  is  an  active, 
prominent  Mason,  being  a  member  of  Kankakee 
Lodge  No.  389,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  of  Kankakee 
Chapter  No.  78,  R.  A.  M.;  and  of  Ivanhoe  Com- 
mandery  No.  33,  K.  T.  He  joined  the  order  early 
in  life  and  learned  the  work  of  his  father,  who  was 
an  old  and  well-posted  Mason.  Our  subject  has 
held  every  office  in  his  lodge  except  that  of  Mas- 


ter and  has  held  that  many  times  pro  tem.  He 
would  never  accept  an  election  to  the  chief  office 
of  the  lodge.  Mr.  Dusinbury  has  led  a  usefiil  and 
upright  life  and  is  highly  respected  among  his  fel- 
low-citizens. 


^OHN  G.  KNECHT,  senior  partner  and  foun- 
der of  the  extensive  clothing  house  of 
John  G.  Knecht  &  Co.,  is  one  of  the  pio- 
neer merchants  of  Kankakee,  and  has  for 
many  years  stood  at  the  head  of  the  largest  con- 
cern in  his  line  in  this  county.  His  birth  occurred 
on  the  15th  of  March,  1830,  in  Wurtembeig,  Ger- 
man}'. He  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Walpurga 
(Nagle)  Knecht,  who  were  also  natives  of  the 
Fatherland.  The  father  was  born  about  the  year 
1793,  and  died  when  seventy-two  years  of  age. 
The  mother's  birth  occurred  in  1800,  and  she  was 
called  to  her  final  home  in  1869.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four 
daughters,  of  whom  our  subject  is  the  fourth  in 
order  of  birth.  With  one  exception  they  are  all 
living  .and  five  of  the  number  are  citizens  of  the 
United  States.  Of  these,  John  G.  is  the  eldest;  .John 
is  a  commission  merchant  of  Chicago;  Jacob  is  a 
merchant  of  Kankakee;  Ursule  is  the  wife  of  Rev. 
George  Vetter,  of  the  Evangelical  Church  in  this 
city;  Susanna,  wife  of  Herman  Kemper,  resides  in 
Chicago. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  school  in  his 
native  country  and  served  a  regular  apprentice- 
ship to  the  tailor's  trade.  He  determined  to  make 
the  United  States  his  place  of  abode  and  in  the 
spring  of  1849  he  emigrated  from  Germany, 
reaching  New  York  City  in  Maj'  of  that  year, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  as  a  journeyman 
tailor  for  six  years.  In  April,  1855,  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  Ivankakee,  then  but  a  rude 
hamlet  of  a  few  hundred  people.  Here  he  worked 
at  his  trade  until  May,  1857,  when  he  opened  a 
shop  and  put  in  a  small  stock  of  ready-made  cloth- 
ing, in  amount  probably  not  to  exceed  $3,000.  His 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


327 


faithful  work  and  honest  dealing  soon  brought 
him  a  rapid  increase  in  trade  and  for  the  past 
twenty-five  years  he  has  had  the  largest  slock  and 
has  conducted  the  most  extensive  business  in  his 
line  in  eastern  Illinois.  When  Mr.  Knecht  began 
business  in  Kankakee  he  had  for  a  partner  a  gen- 
tleman by  the  name  of  Walker,  with  whom  he 
was  associated  until  April,  1861,  when  by  mutual 
consent  the  partnership  was  terminated.  Charles 
E.  Grover  succeeded  Mr.  Walker  as  a  member  of 
the  firm,  and  that  connection  was  continued  for 
about  two  years.  Mr.  Grover  then  retiring,  our 
subject  conducted  the  business  alone  until  his 
son-in-law,  Herman  Kramer,  was  admitted  to  part- 
nership and  the  existing  firm  formed  in  1888. 

On  the  2d  of  September,  1856,  Mr.  Knecht  was 
married  at  Downer's  Grove,  Cook  County,  III.,  to 
Miss  Eliza  Frie,  who  was  born  in  Prussia,  Ger- 
many, on  the  3d  of  October,  1835,  and  emigrated 
with  her  parents  to  America  when  eleven  years  of 
age.  Six  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Knecht,  of  whom  four  are  living.  Kate  is  now  the 
wife  of  Herman  Kramer,  of  the  firm  of  John  G. 
Knecht  &  Co.;  Louis  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
months;  Carrie  is  the  wife  of  Robert  Kramer,  a 
salesman  in  the  store  of  our  subject;  Edward  Ben- 
jamin and  John  George  are  also  clerks  in  the 
father's  establishment;  and  one  child  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

On  the  27th  of  February,  1869,  Mr.  Knecht  sus- 
tained a  heavy  loss  by  fire,  his  store  and  nearly 
all  of  his  stock  being  consumed.  However,  his 
credit  was  so  good  that  he  immediately  received 
letters  of  encouragement  from  the  wholesale  deal- 
ers with  whom  he  had  traded  for  many  years. 
They  offered  him  all  the  goods  he  desired  on  his 
own  terms.  In  1869,  he  erected  the  fine  brick 
block  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Court  Street  and 
East  Avenue.  This  has  a  sixty-foot  frontage  and 
is  ninety  feet  deep,  and  consists  of  three  stories 
and  a  basement.  Mr.  Knecht  occupies  the  west 
forty  feet  for  his  store. 

Our  subject  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Church  of  the  Evangelical  Association.  In  poli- 
tics, Mr.  Knecht  is  a  Re|)ublican  but  has  never  had 
time  or  inclination  to  serve  in  official  capacities. 
In  all  of  the  relations  of  life  it  may  truthfully  be 


said  of  our  subject  that  he  has  borne  his  part  well 
and  faithfully.  Unpretending  and  unassuming,  he 
has  by  modest  merit  and  strict  integrity  won  the 
highest  regard  and  confidence  of  his  fellow-citi- 
zens and  of  all  with  whom  business  has  brought 
him  in  contact.  He  is  enterprising  and  public- 
spirited  and  has  always  borne  his  share  of  the 
burdens  of  public  improvements  with  a  cheerful 
and  liberal  spirit.  He  has  done  much  to  aid  in 
the  upbuilding  and  development  of  this  city  and 
county,  which  have  so  long  been  his  home. 


^'^lS'^@l 


^  AMES  BRADBURY  is  the  chief  engineer  for 
the  Illinois  Eastern  Hospital  for  the  Insane 
and  the  oldest  em ploj'e  of  that  institution 
in  years  of  service.  lie  was  the  first  super- 
intendent of  construction,  and  held  that  position 
for  a  year  prior  to  the  advent  of  Dr.  Dewey,  the 
present  medical  superintendent  of  the  institution, 
under  whom  he  was  appointed  to  his  present  posi- 
tion. All  of  the  immense  and  complicated  machin- 
erv  and  plumbing  of  the  hospital  was  put  in  place 
under  Mr.  Bradbur.y's  supervision  and  has  since 
been  kept  in  repair  by  him.  He  is  an  expert  ma- 
chinist and  has  alwajs  been  an  indefatigable 
worker.  He  commenced  in  the  service  of  the  hos- 
pital on  the  14th  of  October,  1878,  and  has  been 
connected  with  tlie  institution  continuously  since, 
covering  a  period  of  more  than  fourteen  years. 

Mr.  Bradbury  was  born  in  Hyde,  Cheshire,  Eng- 
land, on  the  26th  of  December,  1844,  and  is  a  son 
of  Joseph  and  Lucy  (Savell)  Bradbury,  who  were 
both  natives  of  the  same  shire.  The  father  died 
while  our  subject  was  but  a  lad,  and  in  1857  the 
latter  came  to  America  with  his  widowed  mother. 
The  following  year  they  returned  to  England, 
where  the  mother  has  since  died.  In  December, 
1859,  Mr.  Bradbury  returned  to  the  United  States, 
which  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  settled 
first  at  Lawrence,  Mass.,  wliere  he  began  learning 
the  machinist's  trade, afterward  pursuing  tlie  same 
calling  at  North  Andover   Mills,  and  later  being 


32d 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


employed  in  the  Pacific  Mills,  of  Lawrence,  and 
also  in  Boston. 

On  the  1st  of  August,  1862,  our  subject  en- 
listed from  Lawrence,  Mass.,  as  a  private  soldier 
in  Company  C,  Fortieth  Massachusetts  Infantry, 
and  was  assigned  to  the  Eleventh  Army  Corps. 
Later,  he  was  in  the  Eighteenth  and  Twenty-fourth 
Army  Corps.  He  participated  with  his  regiment 
in  the  battles  of  Cliancellorsville,  Morris  Island, 
Drury's  Bluff,  Cold  Harbor,  and  in  many  skir- 
mishes and  minor  engagements,  receiving  an  hon- 
orable discharge  from  service  on  the  4th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1864. 

Upon  leaving  the  army  our  subject  returned  to 
Lawrence,  where  be  worked  at  his  trade  for  about 
two  years.  Then  going  to  Chicago,  he  obtained 
employment  as  a  steam-fitter  for  James  Davis 
during  the  years  1868  and  1869.  The  next  year 
and  a-half  he  worked  for  Crane  Bros.,  of  that  city, 
and  was  then  employed  five  years  by  John  Davis. 
His  resources  and  experience  warranted  his  open- 
ing a  steam-fitting  shop  on  his  ovvn  account,  which 
he  ran  for  about  eighteen  months. 

On  the  12th  of  May,  1868,  Mr.  Bradbury  was 
united  in  marriage  in  Springfield,  111.,  with  Miss 
Catherine  Hillock,  whose  father,  Henry  Hillock, 
was  a  native  of  the  Province  of  Ontario,  Canada, 
as  was  likewise  Mrs.  Bradbury.  Eight  children 
were  born  to  our  subject  and  his  wife:  John,  now 
married,  lives  in  Chicago;  Margaret  Lucy,  Mary 
Joseph,  George  Francis,  Leon  Burt,  and  three  who 
died  in  infancy  or  early  childhood.  The  mother 
of  these  children  died  on  the  1st  of  July,  1885. 
On  the  29th  of  June,  1889,  Mr.  Bradbury  was 
married  in  Chicago  to  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Thomas  Dowd.  The  lad}^  is  a  native  of  Manitou 
Township,  Kankakee  Count}'.  One  child,  a  son, 
Tiiomas  G.,  has  been  born  of  this  union. 

Mr.  Bradbury  remained  in  Chicago  until  Octo- 
ber, 1878,  when,  coming  to  Kankakee,  he  became  an 
employe  of  the  Illinois  Eastern  Hospital  for  the 
Insane.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church.  Our  subject  holds  a  most  re- 
sponsible position,  the  heating  and  lighting  of 
such  a  vast  number  of  buildings,  and  the  proper 
care  of  the  water  supplj'  and  the  necessaiy  motor 
power,  involving  a   thorough    knowledge    of    the 


business,  besides  the   exercise    of   good  judgment 
and  untiring  energy  and  fidelity.  That  his  services" 
have  been  and  are  satisfactory  to  the  commission- 
ers is  manifest    by  his  long  retention  in  this  re- 
sponsible position. 


_^l. 


€+^ 


[^_ 


i^' 


eYRUS  WOODARD,  who  now  resides  in  Wal- 
dron,  has  been  for  fifty-four  years  a  resi- 
dent of  this  county  and  has  been  an  eye- 
witness of  its  entire  growth  and  development,  has 
watched  its  transformation,  has  seen  its  upbuild- 
ing and  progress  and  has  aided  in  Its  development 
and  advancement.  It  is  with  pleasure  that  we 
present  to  our  readers  a  sketch  of  so  worthy  and 
prominent  a  citizen. 

Mr.  Woodard  was  born  on  the  3d  of  May,  1831, 
in  Bennington  County,  Vt.,  near  where  occurred 
the  battle  of  Bennington,  one  of  the  well-remem- 
bered engagements  of  the  Revolutionary  AVar. 
The  Woodard  family  is  of  English  descent.  The 
father  of  our  subject,  Benjamin  Woodard,  was  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  and  married  S3'lvia  Vale. 
Unto  them  were  born  ten  children:  Ama,  now  de- 
ceased, wife  of  Samuel  Smith;  Edwin,  a  retired 
farmer  residing  in  Kankakee;  Catherine,  wife  of 
John  T.  Leonard;  Harriet,  wife  of  Revilo  Beebe, 
but  both  she  and  her  husband  are  now  deceased; 
Benjamin,  who  is  living  in  Iowa;  Sylvia,  and  Sal- 
lie,  the  wife  of  William  W.  Parish,  both  deceased; 
Cyrus  of  this  sketch;  Willard,  who  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Niishville,  Tenn.;  and  Hiram,  who 
completes  the  family.  The  father  died  in  Ver- 
mont in  1835.  While  passing  through  the  woods 
a  limb  of  a  tree  fell  upon  him,  killing  him.  About 
three  3'ears  later  the  mother  came  to  Illinois  and 
afterward  married  Oliver  Beebe.  She  died  in  the 
year  1862. 

Cyrus  AVoodavd  was  only  about  four  years  of 
age  when  the  death  of  his  father  occurred,  and  was 
a  lad  of  seven  summers  when  he  came  with  his 
mother  and  older  brother  to  Illinois.  This  was  in 
1838.  The  trip  was  made  by  canal  and  the  Lakes, 
and  the  family  located  in  what  is  now  Kankakee 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


329 


County,  hut  was  then  a  part  of  Will  County.  Tliej' 
settled  on  section  12,  Aroma  Township,  although 
the  township  was  not  then  organized.  The  mother 
and  Inotlier  settled  on  a  tract  of  Government  land, 
whicli  tliey  purcliasod  at  the  laud  office  wlien  it 
came  into  market.  A  small  log  cabin  was  erected 
and  in  true  pioneer  style  tlie  family  lived  for  a 
number  of  years.  The  Indians  were  still  in  the 
count}',  but  they  were  generally  peaceable,  giving 
the  wliite  settlers  very  little  trouble.  The  now 
tliriving  city  of  Kankakee  at  that  time  contained 
but  one  house,  and  it  was  a  log  structure.  Mr. 
Woodard  has  picked  blackberries  where  the  court 
house  now  stands.  Their  neaiest  market  was  in 
Chicago,  and  many  times  in  those  early  days  has 
he  hauled  grain  to  that  place. 

Our  subject  acquired  his  education  in  a  log 
schoolhouse,  furnished  with  slab  seats  and  heated 
by  an  immense  fireplace.  He  is  mostl}'  self-edu- 
cated, however,  for  at  the  early  age  of  fifteen 
years  he  began  to  earn  his  own  livelihood,  work- 
ing as  a  farm  hand  b}-  the  month,  and  in  compen- 
sation for  his  services  he  received  the  munificent 
sum  of  ¥5  per  month.  He  continued  to  work  as  a 
farm  liand  until  1861.  Mr.  Woodard  has  en- 
gaged in  breaking  prairie  here  when  as  man}'  as 
seven  yoke  of  oxen  have  been  attached  to  one 
plow.  In  1861  he  rented  land  from  his  brother 
Edwin,  and  operated  that  farm  for  a  period  of 
three  years.  In  the  meantime,  with  the  capital  he 
had  acquired  through  his  industry  and  economy, 
he  purchased  fifty-six  acres  of  partially  improved 
land  on  sections  13  and  14,  Aroma  Townsiiip,  and 
this  farm  he  still  owns.  For  many  years  he  suc- 
cessfully carried  on  agricultural  pursuits,  and  in 
return  for  his  care  and  cultivation,  his  land  yielded 
to  liim  a  golden  tribute.  Thus  he  has  acquired  a 
comfortable  competenc}',  which  now  enables  him 
to  live  a  retired  life. 

Mr.  AVoodard  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Winfield  Scott,  and  was  afterward  a  supporter  of 
the  old  Whig  part}-  until  its  dissolution,  when  he 
joined  the  ranks  of  the  new  Re()ublican  party  and 
has  since  been  one  of  its  stalwart  advocates.  He 
has  never,  however,  souglit  public  office,  prefer- 
ring to  devote  his  time  and  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness interests.     His  duties  of  citizensliip  have  ever 


been  faithfully  performed,  and  he  takes  a  com- 
mendable interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  wel- 
fare of  the  community  and  its  upbuilding.  His 
name  is  inseparably  connected  with  the  history  of 
the  count}^  and  the  part  which  he  has  borne  num- 
bers him  among  the  honored  pioneers  and  well  en- 
titles liim  to  representation  in  this  volume.  His 
honorable,  upright  life  has  won  him  universal 
confidence,  and  the  esteem  of  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances  is  his. 


i|-$l"l^||^; 


^^USTIN  B.  BAKER  is  one  of  the  largest 
V    ll    ^''■^''^^'"S   '"^"'^l   siock-raisers    of    Kankakee 

///  ifi  County,  and  he  is  engaged  in  farming  on 
<^  section  2,  Aroma  Townshiii.    He  was  born 

in  Lawrenceburgh,  Dearborn  County,  Ind.,  on  the 
10th  of  October,  1826,  and  is  a  son  of  Abial  and  Ma- 
ria (Osgood)  Baker.  The  former  was  of  English  de- 
scent and  both  were  natives  of  the  New  England 
States.  At  an  early  day  the  father  emigrated  to 
Indiana,  where  he  was  among  the  honored  pioneers. 
He  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  throughout 
his  life  and  was  quite  successful  in  a  financial  waj'. 
He  belonged  to  the  order  of  Free  Masons.  He 
passed  away  in  1832.  In  his  family  were  six 
children.  Laura  A.  is  still  living  and  makes  her  home 
in  California.  She  became  tlie  wife  of  William 
Woodard,  now  deceased.  Mary  I.  resides  in 
Kankakee  and  is  the  wife  of  Sylvanus  Palmer,  a 
retired  farmer,  .loseph  is  also  a  retired  farmer 
and  makes  his  home  in  Kankakee.  Our  subject  is 
next  in  order  of  birth.  Udora  married  Benjamin 
Sj'lvester  and  died  in  1872.  Henry  is  an  agricul- 
turist of  L3'0ns  County,  Iowa. 

About  ten  or  twelve  years  after  her  husband's 
death,  Mrs.  Baker  was  again  married,  becoming 
the  wife  of  Peaslcy  P.  Danforth.  Three  children 
were  burn  of  this  union:  Charles,  Helen  and 
Robert.  The  mother  died  in  Kankakee  in  1888, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eight}-  years.  She  w-as  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  for  a 
long  jjcriod,  and  died  in  that  faith. 

The  boyhood   days  of  our  subject  were  passed 


330 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


upon  a  farm  and  when  but  six  years  of  age,  on  ac- 
count of  the  death  of  his  father,  he  went  to  live 
with  a  cousin,  with  whom  he  remained  until  four- 
teen years  of  age.  He  then  made  his  home  with 
his  mother  and  stepfather  and  lived  in  their 
household  until  reaching  his  majority.  He  em- 
barked in  the  active  business  of  life  with  $150  as  a 
capital  and  commenced  by  working  for  farmers 
by  the  mouth.  In  1848  he  emigrated  to  Illinois, 
making  the  trip  by  team.  lie  brought  all  of  his 
wordly  possessions  with  him  in  his  wagon  and 
located  in  Aroma  Township,  this  county,  where  he 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixt}'  acres  on  section 
2.  This  tract  was  wild  prarie  land  and  the  price 
he  paid  for  it  was  .§2.50  per  acre.  He  at  once  pro- 
ceeded to  build  a  small  frame  house,  which  he  has 
made  his  home  for  almost  half  a  century  and  where 
be  still  resides.  With  characteristic  energ}'  he  de- 
voted himself  to  the  cultivation  and  development 
of  his  farm  and  soon  plenteous  harvests  rewarded 
his  efforts.  Year  by  year  be  added  to  his  original 
tract  adjoining  land  as  his  means  increased,  until 
he  now  has  seven  hundred  acres  of  most  valuable 
and  highly  improved  land,  which  with  the  excep- 
tion of  sixty  acres  is  all  in  one  body.  He  com- 
menced life  without  means  and  has  by  his  idomi- 
table  will,  energy  and  well-directed  efforts  reached 
his  present  position  as  one  of  the  leading  agricul- 
turists of  the  county.  Upon  his  arrival  in  this 
community'  he  found  an  abundance  of  wild  game, 
and  wandering  bands  of  Indians  were  by  no  means 
an  uncommon  sight.  This  county  was  then  a  por- 
tion of  Will  County  and  it  was  in  the  year  follow- 
ing his  settlement  in  this  section  that  the  first 
survey  was  made  for  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad. 
Kankakee  was  then  a  city  of  the  future  and  com- 
prised but  one  building,  a  log  house  supposed  to 
have  been  erected  b3'  the  Indians  and  which  was 
known  as  the  Balbonis  House. 

Mr.  Baker  was  united  in  marriage  in  1848  to 
Miss  Aurelia,  daughter  of  Almon  and  Pauline 
(Jaquith)  Fairbanks.  The  following  children  have 
blessed  this  union:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Nathaniel 
Uran,  a  farmer  living  in  this  county;  Charles 
residing  on  the  homestead  with  his  parents; 
Fremont,  who  is  engaged  in  business  in  Kankakee; 
Frank, who  is  also  in  the  cit^';   Monroe, who  resides 


at  home;  Myron,  a  liveryman  of  Kankakee; 
Joseph  A.,who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Kankakee 
Township;  and  Ethel,  who  is  at  home. 

Politically  our  subject  was  an  old-line  Whig  and 
cast  his  first  vote  in  favor  of  Gen.  AVilliam  Henry 
Harrison.  On  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  he  became  one  of  its  stanch  supporters  and 
in  the  last  Presidential  election  his  ballot  was  cast 
for  the  illustrious  grandson  of  the  Tippecanoe 
hero.  He  has  never  been  an  office-seeker,  though 
always  doing  all  in  his  power  to  forward  and  pro- 
mote all  public  enterprises.  He  has  lived  in  peace 
with  all  men  and  it  is  a  matter  which  is  worthy  of 
pride  to  him  that  in  all  his  various  dealings  with 
his  fellow-men  he  has  never  had  a  law  suit. 


<ii7  OUIS  SALZMAN  owns  and  operates  a  good 
I  (^  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  on  sec- 
jIL-^  tions  15  and  16,  Limestone  Township,  and 
in  return  for  the  care  he  bestows  upon  it,  the  well- 
tilled  fields  yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute.  The 
life  record  of  our  subject  is  as  follows:  He  was 
born  on  the  7lh  of  December,  1833,  in  Saxony, 
German}',  and  is  the  second  child  in  a  family  of 
three  sons  born  of  the  union  of  Valentine  and 
Margaret  (Salzman)  Salzman.  His  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Germany,  and  in  that  land  spent 
their  entire  days. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth.  He  acquired  a  good  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  during  vacation  he  received  lib- 
eral training  at  work  in  the  fields.  He  remained 
under  the  parental  roof  until  he  had  attained  his 
majority,  when,  with  the  desire  to  try  his  fortune 
in  America,  he  bade  good-bye  to  home  and  friends 
and  sailed  for  the  New  World.  The  voyage  over, 
he  landed  in  New  York  and  at  once  came  to  the 
West,  locating  in  Cook  County,  111.,  where  he  re- 
mained for  about  two  months,  working  as  a  farmf 
hand.  He  then  came  to  Kankakee  County,  and 
hired  out  by  the  month  as  a  farm  laborer.  The 
two  succeeding  years  of  his  life  were  thus  passed. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

m\/mm  of  \iim\s 


o~ii^^d 


Al^-tyi^ 


C>-t^---(^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


333 


On  landing  in  this  country  he  found  himself  a 
stranger  in  a  strange  land  and  without  cai)ital, 
so  that  he  had  at  once  to  earn  his  own  livelihood. 
After  two  years  spent  in  Kankakee  County  he 
started  southward  on  a  trip  to  Louisiana,  but  he 
remained  there  only  a  short  time  and  again  came 
to  Kankakee  County,  111.  On  his  return  he  rented 
a  farm  and  engaged  in  its  operation  for  a  period 
of  five  years,  during  which  time,  through  his  econ- 
omy and  industry,  he  acquired  some  capital,  and 
with  this  purchased  land  in  Limestone  Township, 
I    the  same  on  which  lie  now  resides. 

On  the  IGth  of  June,  1860,  Mr.  Salzmaii  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Burghart,  a  na- 
tive of  Germany,  who  emigrated  to  this  country 
when  quite  young.  Seven  children  were  born 
of  this  marriage,  four  sons  and  three  daughters, 
namely:  Louisa,  who  was  born  December  7,  1861, 
is  now  the  wife  of  Martin  Albeit,  a  contractor  of  this 
county, and  resides  in  the  city  of  Kankakee;  Will- 
iam, born  December  2,  1864,  is  now  married  and  is 
a  prosperous  farmer  of  Limestone  Township;  Al- 
bert is  the  next  younger;  Edward  died  in  infancy'; 
and  Charles  and  Hattie  are  the  youngest  members 
of  the  family.  In  1880  the  mother  died,  leaving 
a  family  of  small  children,  and  in  1883  Mr.  Salz- 
man  was  again  married,  his  second  union  being 
with  Miss  Anna  Ilartman,  a  native  of  Germanv. 
They  have  become  the  parents  of  three  children, 
as  follows:  George,  Lydia  and  Anna. 

When  Mr.  Salzman  purchased  his  farm  it  was  a 
tract  of  wild  land,  but  he  at  once  began  its  devel- 
opment and  soon  acre  after  acre  was  placed  under 
the  plow,  until  now  all  is  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  He  has  also  made  a  number  of  im- 
provements upon  the  place,  and  its  neat  appearance 
indicates  his  thrift  and  enterprise.  Politically  Mr. 
Salzman  is  a  supporter  of  the  Republican  part}'. 
He  has  served  as  School  Director  in  his  district  for 
the  long  period  of  eighteen  years,  and  was  Trustee 
of  the  Scliool  Board  for  three  years,  lie  manifests 
a  commendable  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the 
welfare  of  the  community,  and  is  a  valued  citizen. 
Himself  aiul  family  are  members  of  the  German 
Baptist  ('lunch.  Mr.  Salzman  is  a  self-made  man, 
for  his  possessions  have  been  acquired  entirely 
through  his  own  efforts.     B^'  industry,  enterprise 


and  good  management  he  has  steadily  worked  his 
way  upward,  and  by  his  perseverance  has  sur- 
mounted the  difticiilties  in  his  path,  until  he  has 
acquired  a  comfortable  competence  and  is  num- 
bered among  the  township's  substantial  citizens. 


MORY  COBB,  President  of  the  First  Nati- 
onal l!;ink  of  Kankakee  since  its  organiza- 
tion and  a  leading  business  man  of  ICan- 
kakee  County,  was  born  in  Dryden,  Tompkins 
Count}-,  N.  Y.,  on  tiie  20th  of  August,  1831,  and 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Aciisali  (Bradley)  Cobb. 
The  familj'  is  of  English  origin,  and  while  there  is 
no  authentic  record  of  the  fact,  it  is  believed  that 
the  American  branch  was  est.ablished  here  carl}'  in 
the  seventeenth  century  by  the  emigration  of  two 
brothers,  Morgan  and  Nathan  Cobb.  The  Rev. 
Sylvester  Cobb,  historian  and  novelist,  is  a  de- 
scendant of  Nathan,  and  considers  himself  .as  one 
of  the  seventh  generation,  which  tends  to  conlirm 
approximatel\-  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  two 
brothers  in  tiiis  country.  On  this  subject  William 
Cobb,  of  Warwick,  Mass.,  one  of  the  earl}'  de- 
scendants of  one  of  the  original  emigrants,  Mor- 
gan Cobb,  wrote  May  17,  181 1,  to  AVilliam  Newell 
Cobb,  the  eldest  brother  of  our  subject,  as  follows: 
"  I  have  no  one  to  consult  on  this  subject  except 
my  mother,  who  resides  in  my  family  and  is  now 
ninety-four  years  old,  but  retains  her  menial  f.ac- 
ulties  to  a  good  degree.  The  most  that  I  can 
learn  is  that  two  brothers  by  the  name  of  Colib 
emigrated  from  England  to  America,  but  at  what 
time  I  cannot  ascertain.  One  was  named  I\Iorgan, 
the  other  Nathan.  Our  family  is  descended  from 
Morgan  Cobb.  It  has  been  siiid  thai  we  are  tinc- 
tured with  Scotch  blood.  I  was  born  in  Norton, 
October  27,  1770,  and  am  now  seventy-four  years 
old."  The  connection  of  Emory  Cobb  to  Morgan 
Cobl),  mentioned  in  this  letter  as  the  founder  of 
the  family  in  America,  may  be  traced  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner:  Emory  Cobb,  son  of  William 
Cobb,  who  was  the  son  of  Elisha,  the  son  of  Will- 
iam, who  was  a  son   of  Morgan,  a  grandson    of 


334 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Morgan,  the  original  English  emigrant.  In  Revo- 
lutionary times  this  family  had  become  quite 
numerous  in  Massachusetts  and  New  York,  and 
were  active  and  prominent  Whigs. 

William  Cobb,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation,  but  operated  several  mills 
on  Fall  Creek,  Tompkins  County,  N.  Y.,  and  it 
was  there  that  the  subject  of  this  sketch  passed  his 
time  until  he  was  twelve  years  old,  when,  on   the 
•  death  of  his  father,  he  went  to  live  with  his  grand- 
father, Lemi  Bradley.     He  received   a   common- 
school  education,  and  in  1847  went  to  Ithaca,  N. 
Y.,  to  learn  telegraphy.     The  following  year  he 
secured  a  position  as  operator  at  Fredonia,  on  the 
Erie  &  Michigan  Telegraph  Line,  which  had  just 
been  constructed  by  Hon.  Ezra  Cornell  and  Col. 
J.  J.  Speed  between  Buffalo  and  Milwaukee.     His 
services  gave  such  satisfaction    that  in    1851    he 
was  made  bookkeeper  for  the  company  at  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  and  in  March  of  the  following  year 
became  manager  of  their  office  in  Chicago.     It  was 
during  his  location   in  tlie  Chicago  office  that  the 
first  pool  ever  formed  in   this  country  went  into 
effect.     At   that  time  there  were  three   telegraph 
companies    doing  business  from    Chicago   to   the 
East:   the  Erie   &  Michigan,  the  Ohio,  Indiana  & 
Illinois,  and  the  Southern  Michigan.     In   1853  it 
occurred  to  the  managers  of  these  companies  that 
they  could  unite  their  offices  in  Chicago  and  di- 
vide the  earnings.     They  did  so  under  Mr.  Cobb's 
supervision,  and   the  experiment  was  so  satisfac- 
tory that  it  was  followed  in   1856  by  the  merging 
of  the  companies  into  the  AVestern  Union  Tele- 
graph Company,  Mr.  Cobb  being  retained  as  man- 
aoer  of   the  Chicago  office,  and  his  authority  and 
territory  enlarged  by  his  appointment  as  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Western  Division. 

This  important  dual  position  Mr.  Cobb  held  un- 
til October,  1865,  when  his  health  having  become 
impaired  he  was  given  a  year's  leave  of  absence 
and  went  abroad,  passing  the  most  of  his  time  in 
traveling  lluough  Europe,  Asia  and  Africa.  On 
his  return  in  18G6  he  was  earnestly  solicited  to  re- 
sume his  old  position,  but  fear  of  again  breaking 
down  under  the  growing  cares  and  responsibilities 
incident  to  that  office  led  him  to  decline.  He  af- 
terward served  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Direc- 


tors. He  introduced  the  system  of  transmitting 
money  by  telegraph,  and  with  the  consent  of  the 
Western  Union  Telegraph  Company,  the  manag- 
ers of  which  were  doubtful  of  its  practicability, 
conducted  tlie  business  on  his  own  account  from 
1857  until  1807.  In  these  ten  years  he  established 
agents  in  all  the  principal  Eastern  cities,  and  so 
demonstrated  the  success  and  profit  of  the  busi- 
ness that  the  company  in  1867  withdrew  all  objec- 
tions and  incorporated  the  system  as  one  of  the 
leading  features  of  their  service. 

As  early  as  1861,  Mr.  Cobb  had  made  invest- 
ment in  land  in  Kankakee,  111.,  and  when  he  re- 
tired from  his  position  with  the  Western  Union 
Telegraph  Company  in  1866,  he  sought  a  refuge 
from  the  care  and  worry  of  business  life  by  retir- 
ing to  his  farm  in  this  county,  where  he  settled 
down  as  an   agriculturist   and  stock-raiser.     Tlie 
outdoor  life  soon  built  up  his  health,  which  liad 
been  in  danger  of  being  permanently    shattered. 
In  this  locality  he  became  prominent  as  a  breeder 
of    Shorthorn    cattle,    and     when    the    American 
Shorthorn   Breeders'   Association    was   formed  in 
1881,  he  was  chosen   its  President,  and   with  the 
exception  of  one  year,  when  he  was  absent  in  Eu- 
rope, he  has  held  that  position  ever  since.     This 
association   is  one  of  the  most  important  in  the 
live-stock  industry  in  America.     It  has  eight  hun- 
dred  stockholders,  and  conducts   the    Shorthorn 
register  for  the  breeders  of   those  grades  in  the 
United  States  and  Canada.     Mr.  Cobb  is  still  ac- 
tively interested  in    general  farming   and  stock- 
raising.     He  was  for  many  years  a  member  of  the 
State  Board  of  Agriculture,  serving  as  Vice-presi- 
dent until  he  declined  election  in   1882,  as  he  was 
about  to  make  a  foreign  tour  with  his  family.    He 
started  on  this  voyage  in  that  year,  and  remained 
abroad  for  about  two  years,  visiting  the  most  im- 
portant   Continental    centers.     It    was    in    1883, 
while  in  Europe,  that  Mr.  Cobb,  in  divesting  him- 
self as  much  as   possible  of  exacting  duties,  de- 
clined  the   position  of  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of   the  Illinois  Industrial  University  at 
Champaign,    now    the   University   of   Illinois,  in 
which  position   he  had  served  continuously   from 
1873   until  1883.     Of  the    original  Trustees,  Mr. 
Cobb   is  the  only  one  that  still  retains  a  place  ou 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


33J 


the  Board,  having  been  named  year  after  year  by 
succeeding  Governors  to  this  honorable  position, 
lie  has  been  a  member  of  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee continuously  since  its  organization. 

Of  late  years,  Mr.  Cobb  has  done  much  to  dev- 
oloi)  and  improve  Kankakee,  and  it  is  largely  to 
liiin  that  this  flourishing  city  owes  its  present 
prominence  and  |)rosperity.  In  1884  he  erected 
the  Arcade  lUiilding,  which  is  one  of  the  most 
comi^lele  and  unique  ollico-buildiugs  in  the  .State. 
He  was  instrumental  in  erecting  the  Hotel  River 
View  at  Kankakee,  and  is  President  of  the  hotel 
company.  Our  subject  is  also  largely  interested 
in  the  Kankakee  Electric  Street  Railway  Com- 
[lany.  The  First  National  Rank  of  Kankakee,  of 
which  he  is  President,  owes  its  existence  to  his 
foresight.  Mr.  Cobb  has  also  been  active  in  busi- 
ness enterprises  in  other  commercial  centers.  One 
of  his  manj'  ventures  was  the  organization  of  the 
Bozeman  National  Bank,  at  Bozeman,  Mont.,  in 
1H82,  which  was  conducted  by  his  son,  Charles  H., 
until  he  was  called  home  to  take  charge  of  the 
Kankakee  Electric  Street  Railroad  Company. 

On  the  9th  of  February,  1858,  Mr.  Cobb  mar- 
ried Miss  Isabella,  a  daughter  of  Aaron  Haven, 
one  of  the  pioneer  merchants  of  Chicago.  By 
this  union  have  been  born  three  sons:  Charles 
Haven,  whose  birth  occurred  February  7,  1860,  is 
now  general  manager  of  the  Kankakee  Electric 
Street  Railway;  William  Walter,  born  November 
14,  1862,  is  Vice-president  of  the  Teed  Shoe  Com- 
pany; and  Duwane  Phillips,  born  November  14, 
1.SIJ7,  is  a  graduate  of  Yale  College,  of  the  Class 
of  '91. 

Mr.  Cobl)  is  a  very  public-spirited  man,  and 
while  careful  in  his  investments,  has  always  had 
in  view  the  benefit  of  the  general  public  as  well  as 
his  individual  profit.  He  has  been  uniformly 
successful  in  his  numerous  business  enterprises, 
and  has  amassed  a  comfortable  fortune.  Ho  is  in 
every  respect  a  thoroughly  self-made  man.  His 
judgment  of  men  and  opiiortuuities  is  excellent, 
and  in  his  friendship  he  is  lasting  and  true.  Quick 
to  act  in  important  matters,  he  yet  rarely  makes  a 
mistake,  and  his  opinion  and  advice  are  much 
valued. 

Socially,  Mr.  Cobb  is  a  very  genial  and  affable 


man,  considerate  of  the  feelings  of  others,  while  at 
the  same  time  holding  strongly  to  his  own  views. 
He  was  reared  in  tiie  Methodist  faith,  but  has  been 
for  twent^'-five  years  a  member  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  and  is  very  active  and  prom- 
inent in  all  the  works  of  that  Christian  body, 
whether  in  the  parish,  the  diocese,  or  the  countiy 
at  large.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  vestry  of 
St.  Paul's  Church  of  Kankakee  since  the  parish 
was  organized  in  1863,  and  has  been  a  Warden  of 
the  church  since  1865.  He  is,  however,  as  broad- 
minded  in  religion  as  in  other  tilings,  and  has 
little  sympathy  with  sectarianism  either  in  the 
pulpit  or  in  religious  and  charitable  work. 


^^ 


3^^ 


able 


OSWELL  NICHOLS.  Among  the  early 
and  worthy  pioneers  of  the  territory  now 
embraced  within  the  limits  of  Kankakee 
County,  none  is  more  deserving  of  favor- 
mention  than  he  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch.  A  native  of  New  England,  he  was  de- 
scended from  New  England  ancestors,  whose  set- 
tlement in  that  cradle  of  American  liberty  dates 
back  to  early  Colonial  days  long  prior  to  the  Rev- 
olution. He  was  born  in  Stepney,  Conn.,  on  the 
13th  of  Julj',  1795,  and  was  a  son  of  Josepli  Nich- 
ols, who  was  also  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  of 
English  descent. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a  fair  edu- 
cation and  served  a  regular  apprenticeship  to  the 
trade  of  tanner  and  currier.  About  1814,  Mr. 
Nichols  removed  to  Piiltneyville,  W.ayne  County-, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Maria  Gibson,  who  died  with  her  young  child 
about  a  year  after  her  marriage.  At  Pultneyville, 
on  the21stof  August,  1822,  he  wasagain  married, 
the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Mary  Durfee, 
whose  parents  belonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends. 
Mrs.  Nichols  was  l)orn  on  the  10th  of  February, 
1799,  and  was  the  daughter  of  Lemuel  and  Pru- 
dence Durfee,  natives  of  Rhode  Island  and  des- 
cendants of  worthy  representatives  of  the  Society 
of  Friends  in  that  Colony.     They  were  of  English 


336 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


origin  and  had  settled  at  Palmyra,  N.  Y.,  in  an  early  1 
day.     For  several  years  after  his  second  marriage, 
he  continued  to  reside  at  Pultneyville,  where   his 
three  eldest  children  were  born. 

About  the  year  1828,  Mr.   Nichols  removed    to 
Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  and    settled  on  what  was 
known  as  the  Jo  Smith  farm,  which  he  bought  of 
the  Mormon  Apostle,  and  which  was  situated  not 
far  distant  from  the  town  of  Palmyra.     It  was  on 
this  farm  that  Mr.  Smith  claimed   to  have    found 
the  original  tablets  from  which  the  Mormon  Bible 
was  written.     The  Prophet  occupied  a  log  house 
on  one  corner  of  the  farm  for  some  months  after 
Mr.  Nichols  took  possession,  and    the  sons  of   the 
latter,  now  residents  of  Kankakee,  were  often  wit- 
nesses of  the  so-called  Prophet's  dictation    of  tlie 
Bible  to  his  amanuenses.      Some  years  later  Mr. 
Nichols  removed  to  Palmyra,  the   better  to    edu- 
cate his  children,  still  retaining  and  operating  his 
farm.     In  liie  autumn  of  1841,  being  impressed  by 
the  accounts  he  heard  of  the  great  fertility  of  the 
soil  of  Illinois  and  its  advantages  as  an  agricultural 
country,  Mr.  Nichols  effected  a  trade  for  a  tract  of 
six  hundred  and  forty  acres  situated  on  the  west 
bank  of  the  Kankakee  River,  in  what  is  now  the 
township  of  Limestone,  Kankakee  County,  then  Iro- 
quois County,  for  which  he  exchanged  his  farm  in 
New  York.    The  location  of  the  land  was  favorable 
for  farming  purposes  and  the  soil  was  rich.  Though 
the  larger  part  of  the  tract  was   prairie,  there  was 
enough  timber  and  meadow  land    for   all  of   his 
necessities.     He  afterwards  added  to  his   original 
purchases  until  he  owned  in  all  ten   hundred  and 
forty  acres.     In  the  spring  of   1842,  Mr.   Nichols 
started  with  his  family  by  the  Lakes  to  Chicago,  and 
from  there  moved  by  teams  to  their  log  cabin  liome 
on  the  banks  of  the  Kankakee.     They  found  their 
house  only   partly  roofed,  and    thej^   experienced 
many  discomforts  in  the  fii-st  years  of  their  settle- 
ment in  the  wilderness.      Not  the   least    of   their 
troubles  consisted  in  getting  acclimated,  which,  as 
was  common  in  the  early  days  of  Illinois,  was  at- 
tended by  a  siege  of  fever  and   ague.     So   impar- 
tial was  the  shaking  up,  that  all  except  the  mother 
were  afflicted  at  the  same  time.     When   they  left 
New  York  they  brought  with  them  most  of    their 
household  goods,  many  farming  implements  and  a 


good  supply  of  clothing  for  the  family.  They 
traveled  by  canal  to  Buffalo,  and  thence  by  the  old 
steamer"Chesapeake"around  the  Lakes  to  Chicago. 
From  that  hamlet  the  family  with  their  goods  re- 
quired seven  teams  to  remove  them  to  their  future 
home. 

The  family  arrived  in  Illinois  too  late  in  the 
season  to  secure  a  crop  other  than  a  little  corn. 
Mr.  Nichols  was  obliged  to  buy  all  the  necessaries 
of  life,  and  as  his  supply  of  ready  money  was  lim- 
ited it  soon  became  exhausted.  Serious  trouble 
stared  him  in  the  face;  strangers  in  the  West  with- 
out means  and  friends,  what  were  they  to  do? 
Everything  looked  dark  and  want  seemed  to 
threaten.  Mrs.  Nichols  at  this  point  caused  a  silver 
lining  to  brighten  the  cloud  by  producing  from  a 
hiding-place  8100  in  good  New  York  money,  which 
no  member  of  the  famil3'  was  aware  that  slie  pos- 
essed.  The  money  was  a  gift  from  her  old  Quaker 
mother  at  their  parting,  and  the  daughter  had  been 
enjoined  to  let  no  one  know  of  it  until  a  critical 
time  of  need.  The  surprise  of  her  husband  and  fam- 
ily was  as  great  as  it  was  agreeable,  and  the  timely 
aid  tided  them  over  the  season  of  need.  With 
the  help  of  his  sons,  Mr.  Nichols  developed  and 
improved  his  farm,  erected  buildings,  opened 
roads  and  soon  had  one  of  the  most  valuable  farms 
in  that  section  of  the  State. 

The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nichols  consisted  of 
seven  sons  and  two  daughters.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  one  daughter  the  children  are  all  living 
and  are  useful  and  respected  members  of  society. 
The  eldest  of  the  family,  Argailous  B.,  was  born 
March  27,  1824,  and  was  twice  married,  his  first 
wife  being  Almira  C.  Hawkins  and  his  present 
wife  Sarah  Graham.  He  is  a  resident  of  Kankakee 
and  enjoys  an  extended  acquaintance  throughout 
the  State.  Bailey  H.  was  born  March  In,  1826, 
married  Viola  Potter,  and  is  a  Justice  of  the  Peace 
in  Kankakee.  Judson  D.  was  born  on  the  8th  of 
April,  1828,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  furniture 
business  at  Kankakee.  (See  his  sket<:h  on  another 
page  of  this  volume.)  Anna  Maria,  born  May  13, 
1830,  was  the  wife  of  Dr.  Alexander  Buchanan,  and 
died  on  the  13th  of  March,  1863.  Harriet  C,  born 
January  23,  1832,  is  the  widow  of  Otis  C.  Durfee 
and  makes  her  home  in  Kankakee.  (See  the  sketch 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


U:M 


of  Mr.  Durfee  elsewhere  in  this  volume.)  Roswell 
C,  wliose  birth  occurred  on  the  24th  of  March, 
183 1,  married  Susan  Leslie  and  is  a  retired  live- 
stock dealer  of  Chicago.  Charles  II.  was  born 
March  31,  1837,  married  Miss  Mary  F.  Woodruff, 
and  resides  in  Joliet,  111.  Franklin  A.  married 
Frances  Denn^'  and  resides  on  the  old  homestead 
farm.  Albert  K.  married  Patience  Denn^',  is  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  lives  in  Kankakee.  The 
three  older  children  were  born  in  PultneyA'ille, 
Wayne  County,  N.  Y.,  and  the  others  in  Palmyra, 
Ontario  County,  of  the  same  State.  Franklin  A. 
and  Albert  £.  were  soldiers  in  the  late  war  for  the 
preservation  of  the  Union, and  were  members  of  tlie 
drum  corps  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirteenth 
Regiment  Illinois  Infantry  and  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  a  period  of  three  years. 

Mr.  Nichols  in  early  life  was  a  member  of  the 
Whig  party  and  helped  to  organize  the  Republi- 
can party  in  Kankakee  County,  with  which  he 
maintained  his  connection  throughout  life.  His 
sons  also  gave  allegiance  to  the  same  party.  When 
society  demanded  a  Justice  Court  in  Limestone 
Township,  Mr.  Nicliols  was  chosen  to  fill  the  posi- 
tion of  Justice,  which  he  was  for  many  years.  He 
was  also  the  first  Postmaster  in  that  township  and 
served  as  Postmaster  for  upward  of  a  quarter  of  a 
century.  The  office,  which  was  called  Rinosa,  was 
located  at  his  own  residence  for  some  \ears.  He 
was  succeeded  by  his  son  Franklin.  This  post- 
office  has  since  been  discontinued.  Mr.  Nichols 
remained  upon  his  farm,  engaged  in  the  active 
duties  of  an  agriculturist,  until  1868,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Kankakee,  where  with  his  wife  their  re- 
maining years  were  spent.  His  death  occurred  on 
the  2d  of  August,  1880,  he  having  reached  the  age 
of  eighty-five  years.  His  good  wife  survived  him 
only  three  years  and  passed  away  on  the  9th  of 
May,  1883,  aged  eighty-four  years.  In  his  relig- 
ious views  Mr.  Nichols  adhered  to  the  Presbyterian 
faith  but  was  never  severe  or  strict  in  the  obser- 
vance of  his  religion.  He  was  strictly  temperate 
and  moral  in  his  habits,  upriglit  and  lionorable  in 
business,  and  commanded  tlic  confidence  and  res- 
pect of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  Mrs. 
Nichols  never  abandoned  the  faith  of  lier  parents, 
but  as  there  was  no  community  of  the  Society    of 


Friends  near  lier  home,  ^hc  simph-  Hvcd  licr  hfe  m 
the  simplicity  and  purity  of  lier  earl^-  religious 
training,  teaching  her  children  by  example  as  well 
as  precept  the  principles  of  true  Christianity,  by 
the  observance  of  which  they  might  safely  and 
happily  live  and  die. 


-^ 


UPLEDGE  H.  ENOS  is  a  leading  farmer  of 
Kankakee  Township,  residing  on  section  6. 
\V  We  wish  to  add  to  the  records  of  the  early 
^^  pioneers  and  old  settlers  of  Kankakee 
County  the  honored  name  wiiich  heads  this  sketch. 
Mr.  Enos  has  been  identified  with  the  interests  and 
prosperity  of  this  county  for  nearly  forty  years 
and  has  seen  it  change  from  a  wilderness  to  one 
of  the  leading  counties  of  the  State. 

The  Enos  family  is  of  English  descent  and  its 
members  were  among  the  pioneers  of  Connecticut. 
The  father  of  our  subject,  Jonathan  Knos,  was  born 
in  Connecticut  and  removed  to  the  Empire  State 
when  a  young  man,  settling  in  Cayuga  Count}'. 
He  married  there  C.ynthia  Howard,  who  was  born, 
reared  and  educated  'n  Cayuga  County.  Her  fa- 
ther, Peter  Howard,  was  a  native  of  New  Hamp- 
shire and  emigrated  to  New  York  State  in  ITOG, 
becoming  one  of  tlie  honored  pioneers  of  Cayuga 
Count}',  where  he  engaged  in  farming  for  a  num- 
ber of  j'ears.  In  183G  Jonathan  Enos  moved 
Westward  and  settled  in  Calhoun  County,  Jlich., 
where  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on 
the  9th  of  January-,  1818.  His  wife  survived  him 
several  years  and  also  died  in  Michigan. 

Rutledge  II.  Enos  grew  to  manhood  in  Cayuga 
Count}'  and  received  a  common-school  education. 
He  was  born  in  that  county  on  the  26th  of  April, 
1815.  When  a  young  man  he  determined  to  seek 
his  fortune  in  the  West,  and  went  to  Calhoun 
County,  Mich.,  where  he  lived  for  about  twelve 
j'ears,  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  In  the 
year  1818  he  located  in  Iroquois  County,  III.,  at 
which  time  this  section  was  a  swamp  and  but  little 
inhabited.  For  about  six  years  he  resided  in  Milk's 
Grove,  his  nearest  neighbor  living  on  the  Irocjuois 


338 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


River,  fully  twelve  miles  distant.  The  first  win- 
ter after  his  arrival  in  that  county  he  wintered 
sixteen  hundred  head  of  sheep,  which  belonged  to 
him  and  his  partner.  The  original  flock  Mr.  Enos 
had  driven  from  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.,  to  Calhoun 
County,  Mich.  Later  the  increased  flock  was 
driven  to  Loquois  County.  To  feed  them  the 
first  winter,  Mr.  Enos  planted  one  hundred  acres 
of  corn  on  prairie  sod  and  had  three  hundred  tons 
of  prairie  ha3'  cut  with  a  sc3'the.  Those  were  times 
that  tried  men's  endurance.  For  two  weeks  during 
that  first  winter  the  only  bread  he  tasted  was  made 
from  wheat  ground  in  a  coffee-mill. 

Mr.  Enos  was  among  the  first  and  honored  set- 
tlers of  that  county,  and  after  a  residence  there  of 
about  five  years  he  removed  to  Kankakee  Count}' 
in  the  year  1853.  He  purchased  unimproved  prairie 
land  and  located  on  the  place  where  he  still  resides, 
a  part  of  which  is  now  within  the  corporate  limits 
of  Kankakee.  On  his  farm  are  walnut  trees  fifty 
feet  high,  grown  from  the  nuts  he  planted,  and 
bearing  chestnut  trees  that  have  sprung  from  the 
seed  that  he  brought  from  New  York.  At  that 
time  the  city  had  not  over  fifty  residents  and  but 
a  few  shanties.  The  railroad  had  not  yet  been 
finished  to  the  place  but  was  completed  in  the 
following  September.  Mr.  Enos  proceeded  to  im- 
prove and  develop  his  farm  and  now  has  a  fine 
tract  of  tliree  liundred  and  nineteen  acres,  on 
which  are  substantial  buildings,  a  good  residence, 
commodious  barns  and  other  farm  structures.  He 
well  deserves  the  prosperity  he  has  achieved,  for 
he  has  ever  been  industrious,  enterprising  and  per- 
severing. He  has  been  a  resident  of  this  section  for 
forty-five  years  and  has  been  an  ej'e- witness  of 
and  a  sharer  in  the  prosperity'  which  has  crowned 
this  region. 

In  Genesee  County,  N.Y.,  occurred  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  Enos  and  Miss  Mary  M.  Gilbert,  who  grew 
lo  womanhood  near  Batavia  in  that  count}'.  The 
wedding  ceremony  was  performed  on  the  22d  of 
June,  1854.  Three  children  grace  their  union: 
Fannie  Florence  is  the  wife  of  John  E.  Lydecker, 
a  lawyer  of  Kingman,  Kan.;  Eugene  resides  at 
home  and  is  employed  in  the  Hickox  Bank  in 
Kankakee;  and  Albertina  is  still  at  home. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party. 


Mr.  Enos  has  been  its  hearty  supporter  and  well- 
wisher.  His  first  ballot  was  cast  for  Martin  Van 
Buren,  and  for  many  j'ears  he  voted  v/ith  the  Free- 
soil  part}'.  Mr.  Enos  has  always  been  a  loyal  and 
patriotic  citizen  and  has  discharged  his  duties  as 
one  of  America's  sons  in  a  faithful  and  earnest 
manner,  but  has  never  given  much  time  or  atten- 
tion to  political  offices,  instead  devoting  himself  to 
his  farm  and  business.  He  is  a  supporter  of  the 
cause  of  education.  Mr.  Enos  is  now  seventy- 
seven  3'ears  of  age  and  is  hale  and  hearty  for  a 
man  of  his  j'cars.  He  has  always  been  strictly 
temperate  in  his  habits  and  has  never  used  tobacco 
in  any  form  or  touched  a  drop  of  whisky  except 
for  medicinal  purposes.  He  is  well  and  favorably 
known  throughout  this  section  and  his  many 
friends  and  acquaintances  will  be  pleased  to  read 
this  sketch  of  the  life  of  one  of  its  worthy  pio- 
neers. 


"JllOHN  PETERS,  who  owns  and  operates  a 
fine  farm  of  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
on  section  7,  Otto  Township,  is  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  the  count}',  where  he  has 
resided  for  the  long  period  of  thirty-five  years.  A 
native  of  Germany,  he  was  born  in  Prussia  on 
the  25th  of  October,  1835.  His  father,  Fred  Pet- 
ers, was  also  a  native  of  that  country.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  died  in  CTermany,  after  which  the 
father  accompanied  his  son  John  to  the  New  World 
and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  Kankakee 
County.  His  death  occurred  in  Pilot  Township 
about  1877. 

John  Peters  is  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  seven 
children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of 
whom  came  to  the  United  States.  His  brother 
Christ  resides  in  Chebanse,  and  Charles  is  living 
in  Nebraska.  Two  sisters  make  their  home  in  Chi- 
cago, and  the  ether  one  is  now  deceased.  Our 
subject  remained  in  his  native  land  until  seven- 
teen years  of  age  and  acquired  a  good  education, 
both  in  the  German  and  Latin  languages.  In  Eng- 
lish he  is  wholly  self-educated,  but  experience  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPir.CAL  RECORD. 


339 


observation  have  made  him  a  well-informed  man. 
In  1859,  Mr.  Peters  crossed  the  liriii y  deep  to  the 
New  World,  flailing  from  llanibiug  to  New  York, 
where  he  arrived  after  a  voyage  of  six  weeks  and 
three  days.  The  vessel  in  which  he  sailed  dropped 
anclior  in  the  liarbor  of  New  York  on  the  27th  of 
November.  He  immediatel}'  came  to  the  West, 
joining  an  elder  brother  and  sister  in  Chicago.  In 
the  spring  of  1860,  lie  came  to  Kankakee  County, 
and  began  work  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  montli, 
which  he  continued  until  1801. 

Mr.  Peters  felt  great  sympatliy  for  his  adopted 
country  in  her  hour  of  peril,  and  resolved  to  aid 
in  the  preservation  of  the  Union,  so  in  September, 
he  enrolled  his  name  among  the  boj'S  in  blue  of 
Company  K,  Fourth  Illinois  Cavahy,  and  joined 
the  regiment  at  Ottawa.  Thence  he  went  South  to 
Cairo,  and  participated  in  the  engagements  of  the 
regiment.  His  tirst  duty  was  at  the  capture  of 
Fts.  Henry  and  Donelson.  He  afterward  took  part 
in  the  battles  of  Shiluh  and  .lackson,  the  siege  of 
Yicksburg  and  the  battle  of  Natchez,  where  the 
regiment  remained  on  guard  duty  until  its  dis- 
charge. Mr.  Peters  carries  three  honorable  scars, 
the  result  of  wounds  received  in  the  service.  He 
was  first  wounded  by  a  gunshot  through  the 
shoulder  at  Ft.  Donelson;  at  Shiloh  he  was 
wounded  in  the  right  forearm,  and  at  an  engage- 
ment at  Natchez  his  horse  was  shot  and  fell  on 
his  right  leg,  breaking  that  member. 

His  term  of  service  having  expired,  INIr.  Peters 
was  mustered  out  at  Springfield  in  the  fall  of  1864, 
and  went  to  the  home  of  his  brother,  where  he  re- 
mained for  one  year,  being  unable  to  do  any  work 
on  account  of  the  injuries  he  had  sustained.  He 
then  purcliased  eighty  acres  of  land  wlicre  he  now 
,  resides,  aud  locating  tliereon  began  its  develop- 
I  ment.  Two  years  later  he  added  to  it  a  forty- 
acre  tract,  and  from  time  to  time  he  has  made 
additional  purchases,  until  now  within  the  bounda- 
ries of  the  home  farm  are  comprised  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  of  valuable  land.  The  farm 
is  one  of  the  best  in  the  county.  The  home  is  a 
large  and  substantial  residence,  there  are  large 
barns,  a  granary,  tool  house,  windpump,  well 
house  and  all  other  necessary  outbuildings,  to- 
gether with  a  good  orchard,  etc.     In  fact,  the  Pet- 


ers homestead  is  one  of  the  best  improved  places 
in  Otto  Township.  Mr.  Peters  also  owns  a  farm 
two  and  a-half  miles  south,  located  in  Milk's  drove 
Township,  Iroquois  Count}-.  It  is  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  in  extent,  and  is  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  In  addition  to  this  he  has  an 
improved  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixt}-  acres 
situated  a  mile  from  the  home  farm.  Altogetiier 
he  operates  six  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land, 
which  yields  to  him  a  golden  tribute  for  the  care 
and  labor  he  bestows  upon-  it. 

jNIr.  Peters  was  united  in  marriage,  March  15, 
1869,  with  Miss  Minnie  Peters,  a  native  of  I'rus- 
sia,  Germany,  who  came  to  this  country  when  a 
child  of  two  3'ears.  She  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Chicago,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Christ  Peters, 
of  that  city.  Seven  children  have  been  born  of 
the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife,  and  the 
family  circle  yet  remains  unbroken.  In  order  of 
birth  they  are  as  follows:  Frank,  Ed,  Will,  .John, 
Emma,  .Joseph  and  Arthur.  The  mother  of  this 
familj'  was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  November, 
1883,  and  her  remains  were  interred  in  (Greenwood 
Cemeterj'  of  Chebanse,  where  a  monument  has 
been  erected  to  her  memory. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Peters  is  a  Re- 
publican. He  warmly  advocates  the  principles  of 
that  party,  and  has  supported  each  of  its  Presi- 
dential nominees  since  the  time  when  he  cast  his 
first  Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  m 
1864.  He  takes  an  active  interest  in  politics,  as 
every  true  American  citizen  should  do,  but  has 
never  been  an  oflice-seeker.  For  fifteen  consecu- 
tive years,  however,  he  served  as  a  member  of  the 
School  Board,  and  did  effective  service  in  the  in- 
terest of  education.  Socially,  he  is  a  member 
of  Jaquith  Post  No.  5,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Chebanse, 
and  also  holds  membership  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Mr.  Peters  is  a  public-spirited  and  pro- 
gressive citizen,  and  manifests  a  commendable  in 
terest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  ivelfareof  the  com- 
munity and  its  upbuilding.  During  his  thirty-five 
years'  residence  in  the  county  he  has  done  much 
toward  its  advancement  and  toward  making  it 
what  it  to-day  is,  one  of  the  foremost  counties  in 
the  State. 

Mr.  Peters  started  out  in  life  a  young  man  empty- 


340 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


handed,  but  he  was  determmed  to  win  success.  He 
has  worked  ou  untiringly.  His  life  has  been  a 
busy  and  useful  one.  He  has  overcome  the  ob- 
stacles in  his  path,  and  seemingly  the  ditficulties 
in  his  way  h«ve  served  as  an  impetus  to  his  growth, 
causing  him  to  work  all  the  harder.  A  well-de- 
served prosperity  has  now  crowned  his  efforts,  and 
he  is  justly  ranked  among  the  substantial  and 
highly  respected  citizens  of  the  community. 


#^|^^^ 


LfelLLIAM  HEEBE  is  a  prominent  farmer  of 
'f  Aroma  Township,  making  his  home  on 
^^  section  12,  where  he  has  lived  since  seven 
years  of  age.  He  is  a  native  of  Vermont,  his  birth 
occurring  in  Bennington  County  on  the  2.5th  of 
March,  1831.  He  is  a  son  of  Dudley  and  Dolly 
(Stearns)  Beebe,  the  former  of  Welsh  descent  and 
a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  and  the  latter  a  native 
of  Vermont.  The  father  lived  in  Vermont  until 
1838,  when  he  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Will 
Countj^,  now  a  portion  of  Kankakee  County.  The 
trip  Westward  was  a  great  undertaking  in  those 
early  days,  but  few  railroads  having  tlien  been 
built,  and  much  of  the  country  being  almost  im- 
passable. They  came  in  wagons,  one  other  family 
also  undertaking  the  same  journey  with  them. 
Mr.  Beebe  purchased  a  claim  in  Aroma  Township 
of  Mr.  Jleggs.  This  farm  consisted  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  which  was  slightly  improved 
and  upon  which  was  a  small  log  cabin, built  on  the 
bank  of  the  river.  He  afterwards  bought  the  land 
from  the  Government.  When  Mr.  Beebe  located  in 
this  community,  Chicago  was  the  nearest  trading- 
post,  and  to  that  point  he  was  obliged  to  haul  his 
grain  and  produce  for  several  ^-ears.  He  developed 
his  farm  and  otherwise  greatly  improved  it,  so  that 
at  his  death  his  property  was  considered  quite  val- 
uable. He  departed  this  life  in  1853  and  lies 
buried  in  Beebetown  Cemetery,  a  portion  of  his 
old  homestead.  The  mother  died  many  years  pre- 
vious, in  1840,  and  is  interred  by  the  side  of  her 
husband. 
Eleven  children  were  born  to  Dudle3'  Beebe  and 


his  wife.  Luther,  who  was  born  on  the  23d  of 
March,  1805,  died  February  26,  1843;  Laura  was 
born  on  the  5th  of  June,  1807,  and  departed  this 
life  .January  17,  1865;  twin  children  were  born 
on  the  27th  of  Februaiy,  1813, and  died  in  infancy; 
Lomira,  whose  birth  occurred  on  the  13th  of  May, 
1818,  is  still  living;  Orrille,  born  March  27,  1825, 
died  on  the  29th  of  December,  1890;  Lydia,  born 
February  23,  1826,  died  April  29,  1843;  Asa,  a 
retired  farmer,  now  living  in  Kankakee,  was  born 
May  29,  1827;  William,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
is  next  in  order  of  birth;  and  Joanna,  born  May 
25,  1834,  died  on  the  26th  of  January,  1881. 

The  first  school  attended  b^'  William  Beebe  was 
held  in  an  old  shed  built  at  the  end  of  his  father's 
log  cabin.  This  was  the  first  school  held  in  lliis 
section  of  the  country  and  was  taught  b}'  his  sis- 
ter Lomira.  He  has  been  self-educated  since  ar- 
riving at  mature  years.  He  remained  with  his  pa- 
rents on  the  old  homestead  until  he  was  twenty-two 
years  of  age,  at  whicli  time  occurred  his  father's 
death.  As  one  of  the  heirs  he  inherited  a  portion 
of  his  father's  estate  and  afterwards  bought  out 
the  interests  of  some  of  the  other  heirs.  He  now 
owns  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  acres  of  the  old 
homestead  and  is  the  possessor  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  of  land,  all  in  one  body.  He  is 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising  and  has 
been  veiy  successful  as  an  agriculturist.  He  has 
witnessed  great  changes  in  this  portion  of  the 
State  and  well  remembers  when  the  Indians  were 
scattered  throughout  this  county.  They  were  of 
a  peaceable  disposition  and  gave  the  people  little 
trouble.  In  the  early  days  he  'jas  hauled  many  a 
load  of  wheat  to  Chicago  wii  i  ox-teams,  often 
taking  about  five  days  to  make  the  round  trip. 
Wild  game  was  also  very  plentiful  in  those  early 
days. 

On  March  8,  1855,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Beebe  and  Miss  Mary  F.  Legg,  daughter  of  George 
and  Mary  Legg.  Four  children  have  blessed  their 
union.  p]dgar  F.  is  a  well-known  farmer  of  Aroma 
Township;  Ida  M.  became  the  \^  'fe  of  Emery  Baker 
and  resides  in  Kankakee;  EvaD.  is  the  wife  of 
Prairie  Kibbins,  a  resident  farmer  of  Aroma  Town- 
ship; Tomie  A.  resides  at  home  with  his  father. 

Our  subject  was  a   supporter  of  the  old   Whig 


Ur   IHE 
H">VERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


C7y  c^uyLd 


Of    ir;- 


,,,vtv.snv  Q^uy^' 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


party  prior  to  the  organization  of  the  Republitun 
party,  witli  which  he  has  been  associated  for 
many  years.  Mv.  Beohc  has  always  tulcen  au  active 
part  in  all  worthy  public  enterprises  but  has  never 
lieen  an  ufliee-seekor.  For  many  long  j'ears  he 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order. 


315 


.i^= 
"■^^^^s 


1— 1_] 


US" 


a      I^ILLIAM  II.  ATKIXS,a  retired  farmer  who 

\&J//    makes  his  ho?ne  on  section  5,  is  numbered 

\i^     among  the  early  settlers  of  Pilot  Town- 

siiip.  and  is  a  self-made  man,  wlio  from  an  humble 

position  in  life  has  worked  his  way  upward  to  one 
of  aflluence.  His  upright  career  is  certainly  wor- 
tliy  of  emulation  and  deserves  a  place  in  this  vol- 
ume. 

Mr.  Atkins  was  born  in  Tioga  County,  N.  Y.,  on 

the  21st  of  August,  181G,  and  Is  the  youngest  of 
a  famil}^  of  seven  children,  two  sons  and  five 
daughters.  His  father,  Asa  Atkins,  was  a  native 
of  Connecticut.  There  his  bo3-hood  days  were 
spent,  and  after  attaining  to  man's  estate  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  Neal,  of  the  same  State.  In  1814  he 
emigrated  with  his  family  to  New  York,  locating 
in  Tioga  County  in  the  midst  of  a  wilderness.  He 
was  a  shoemaker  b^'  trade,  but  after  his  removal 
he  made  a  small  clearing  in  the  midst  of  the  forest 
and  began  the  development  of  a  farm.  Finding 
this  operation  distasteful,  however,  he  soon  aban- 
doned it  and  removing  to  Spencer  resumed  his 
trade,  which  he  followed  in  that  place  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  Subsequently  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  joined  his  children,  spending  the  last  3'ears  of 
his  life  in  Newark,  where  his  death  occurred  in 
1863,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  was  a 
highly-respected  citizen.  Of  the  family  our  sub- 
ject is  the  only  survivor,  his  sister,  Mrs.  Sabrina 
Robinson,  who  resided  in  Iowa,  having  died  in 
February,  1893,  at  about  the  age  of  eighty  years. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  who,  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads, 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  his 
native    county.      He    received     good     common- 

16 


school  privileges  and  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  he  had  attained  his  majority,  when  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself.  He  then  followed 
farming,  manufacturing  or  any  business  whereby 
lie  might  earn  a  livelihood. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  1841,  Mr.  Atkins  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Goodrich,  who 
was  born  in  Tompkins  County,  N.  Y.,  February 
10,  1820,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Surial  and  Phu'be 
(Marvin)  Goodrich,  also  natives  of  the  Empire 
State.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Atkins  have  been  born 
three  children.  Charles  H.,  a  farmer,  now  oi)erat- 
ing  a  part  of  the  old  homestead,  married  Miss 
Libbie  Inkster;  Sarah  E.  is  the  wife  of  Albert 
Ayres,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  I'ilot  Town- 
ship; and  Jennie  is  the  wife  of  Horace  Hubbard, 
who  carries  on  agricultural  pursuits  in  Polk  Coun- 
ty, Neb. 

Upon  his  marriage,  Mr.  Atkins  located  upon  a 
farm  in  Tioga  County,  N.  Y.,  where  he  continued 
to  reside  for  about  fifteen  years.  The  year  1856 
witnessed  his  emigration  to  Illinois.  Ileairived  in 
Kendall  County  on  the  1st  of  December  of  that 
year,  soon  afterward  rented  land  and  carried  on 
agricultural  pursuits  at  his  first  home  for  about 
fifteen  years.  In  1867  he  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  5, 
Pilot  Township,  but  did  not  remove  to  this  point 
until  February,  1871.  Although  the  place  had 
not  a  furrow  turned,  and  not  a  house  or  a  stable, 
he  now  has  one  of  the  fine  farms  of  the  commu- 
nitJ^  It  is  divided  into  fields  of  convenient  size, 
whose  great  fertility  yields  him  a  good  income. 
Many  good  improvements  are  upon  the  place,  in- 
cluding a  large  barn,  commodious  outbuildings 
and  a  neat  and  substantial  residence.  His  home 
is  pleasantly  located  al)oiit  two  miles  south  of 
Ilerscher. 

Mr.  Atkins  has  ever  proved  himself  a  valuable 
citizen.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Reiiublican  and 
has  been  identified  with  that  part}' since  its  organ- 
ization. He  was  a  delegate  to  the  first  Republican 
Count}'  Convention  uf  Tioga  County,  N.  Y., which 
body  nominated  Hon.  AV.  E.  Tracy,  ex-Secretary 
of  the  Navy,  then  a  young  man.  Prosecuting 
Attorney  of  Tioga  County,  to  which  position  he  ' 
was  elected.     Mr.  Atkins  cast  his  first  Presidential 


346 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArHlCAL  RECORD. 


vote  for  William  Henry  Harrison,  of  "Tippecanoe 
and  Tyler  too"  fame,  and  has  voted  for  each  nom- 
inee of  the  Republican  part3'.  Since  locating  in 
Pilot  Township  he  was  elected  and  served  for  six 
consecutive  j^ears  as  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  has 
been  School  Trustee  and  Director.  He  gives  his 
support  to  all  worthy  enterprises  or  interests  cal- 
culated to  prove  of  pnbhc  benefit.  Himself  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Herscher  and  take  an  active  interest  in  its  welfare 
and  growth.  The  business  career  of  Mr.  Atkins 
has  been  one  of  honor  and  also  one  of  success.  By 
his  industrious  efforts  and  untiring  energy  he  has 
steadily  worked  his  way  upward,  overcoming  tlie 
obstacles  in  his  path,  until  he  has  reached  a  posi- 
tion among  the  substantial  citizens  of  the  commu- 
nity. His  residence  in  this  county  covers  a  period 
of  almost  a  quarter  of  a  century,  during  which 
time  lie  has  been  prominently  identified  with  its 
growth  and  development. 


11^  R.  ORSON  BAILEY  SPENCER,  homeopath- 
I  Jj]  ist,  is  one  of  the  oldest  physicians  and  sur- 
j^!*^  geons  in  years  of  practice  now  residing  in 
Kankakee,  and  is  one  of  the  few  who  can  boast  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice.  lie  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Winfield,  Herkimer  County,  N.  Y.,  .lune 
2,  1845,  and  is  a  sou  of  Dr.  Nathan  and  Sophrona 
(Bailey)  Spencer.  His  father  was  born  in  Sanger- 
field,  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  in  March,  1809,  and 
was  an  eminent  physician.  His  death  occurred 
December  17,  1874.  The  Doctor's  mother  was 
born  in  Brookfield,  Madison  Coant}^  N.  Y.,  in 
March,  1812.  She  survives  her  husband,  and  still 
resides  on  the  old  homestead  in  Winfield,  N.  Y. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  at  West 
Winfield  Academy  and  at  Falley  Seminary,  at 
Fulton,  N.  Y.  He  studied  medicine  under  his 
father's  preceptorship,  and  when  of  age  became  a 
student  of  Cleveland  Homeopathic  College,  whence 
he  was  graduated  in  the  Class  of  '67-68.  On  re- 
ceiving his  degree,  Dr.  Spencer  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Winfield,  N.  Y.,  where, 


in  spite  of  the  adage  that  "a  prophet  is  not  with- 
out honor  save  in  his  own  country,"  he  succeeded 
in  building  up  a  good  and  satisfactory  practice 
for  the  time. 

In  the  autumn  of  1869  Dr.  Spencer  was  mar- 
ried in  Clinton,  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  to  Miss 
Mary  Butler,  who  died  in  April,  1870.  On  the 
16th  of  October,  1878,  in  the  city  of  Kankakee, 
occurred  his  marriage  with  Miss  Ida  Peebles  Wil- 
cox, who  was  born  in  Rockford,  111.,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Judge  C.  C.  Wilcox,  an  early  settler 
of  Kankakee.  The  Doctor  and  his  wife  have  one 
child,  a  son,  Harry  Stillman  Wilcox,  born  in  Kan- 
kakee October  29,  1879,  and  now  a  student  in 
the  city  High  School.  Mrs.  Spencer  is  a  member 
of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

In  October,  1872,  the  Doctor  came  to  Kankakee 
and  established   himself    in    practice.     Being  suc- 
cessful from  the  start,  his  business  increased  stead- 
ily and  in  a  few  years   he    had  secured    the  most 
extensive  practice  of  any  physician  in  the  county, 
since  which  time    he    has  maintained   a    foremostj 
place  in  the   profession.     In    politics    Dr.  Spencer! 
has  been  a   Republican   since  he  first  exercised  hisj 
right  of  franchise,  but  has  never  had  time   or   de- 
sire to  serve  in  public  office.     He  is  a  M.aster  Ma-| 
son,  a   member  of    Winfield    Lodge,  of    Winfield,! 
Herkimer  County,  N.  Y.,  and  is  a  member  of  thej 
Hahnemann  Medical  Society. 

A  peculiar  feature  of  the  Doctor's  family  liis-3 
tory  is  the  fact  that  his  father,  maternal  grand- 
father, three  uncles  on  the  mother's  side  and  twq 
brothers  were,  or  are,  all  physicians,  and  all  od 
those  now  in  active  service,  save  one,  are  mem^ 
bers  of  the  same  school  as  our  subject,  although 
several  of  them  were  originally  of  the  old  scbooF 
of  practice.  The  Doctor's  grandfather,  Eli  S.  Bai- 
ley, was  of  the  old  school  and  strongly  prejudiced 
against  what  he  considered  an  innovation  on  the 
profession.  On  one  occasion  he  was  attending  an 
old  lady  who,  lie  told  his  son.  Dr.  Silas  Bailey, 
would  certainly  die.  The  young  doctor  asked  the 
father  to  describe  her  s^'mptoms,  and  after  listen- 
ing attentivel3'  replied  that  he  did  not  think  slie 
need  to  die.  Slightly  nettled,  the  old  doctor 
said:  "Well,  if  you  know  so  much  about  it,  may  he 
you  had  better  treat  her,"  and  he  did  homeopath- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


347 


ic.'ill}'.  To  the  surprise  of  the  father  she  was  soon 
restored  to  health.  This  so  far  abated  his  hos- 
tility to  the  new  school  of  medicine  that  he  even 
adopted  their  system  of  medicine. 


♦^^E 


E^ 


YLVESTER  B.  DICKEY,  of  Kankakee,  is 
one  of  the  well-known  substantial  citizens 
of  this  citj',  and  has  been  a  resident  of  the 
county  since  March  14,  IS'JO.  He  at  that 
time  settled  upon  a  farm  in  Otto  Township,  which 
pl.ace  was  only  partially  improved.  It  was  neces- 
sary to  erect  suitable  buildings  and  make  various 
other  improvements,  the  result  being  that  his 
means,  which  then  comprised  only  about  Si, 000, 
were  soon  exhausted,  and  he  necessarily  became  in- 
volved in  debt.  Produce  of  all  kinds  was  low, 
and  the  outlook  became  so  discouraging  that  he 
resolved  to  give  up  the  farm.  After  three  years 
of  hard  work  and  struggling  against  the  inevit- 
able, Mr.  Dickey  abandoned  the  place,  but  soon 
rented  a  farm  in  Pilot  Township.  But  his  misfor- 
tunes were  not  yet  at  an  end.  A  severe  frost  in 
August  practically  destroyed  the  corn  crop  during 
liis  first  3-ear  upon  this  farm,  and  the  death  of  sev- 
eral horses  added  to  his  losses.  He  continued  to 
rent  for  about  five  years,  and  in  1867  purchased 
eiglUy  acres  of  railroad  land.  He  now  had  accum- 
ulated considerable  stock,  whose  numbers  he  in- 
creased as  fast  as  he  was  able.  The  eighty  acres 
of  land  by  degrees  were  added  to  until  his  farm 
property  comprised  seven  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  now  known  as  Dickey's  Siding,  he  becoming 
one  of  the  leading  farmers  and  stock-growers  of 
Kankakee  County. 

Mr.  Dickey  is  a  native  of  the  State  of  Xew  York, 
and  was  born  in  Niagara  County,  January  10, 
18.3(j.  His  father,  JNIarsh  Dickey,  was  born  in  New 
Hampshire,  and  was  a  descendant  of  an  early  New 
England  family  whose  original  ancestors  were  of 
Scotch-Irish  stock.  The  recorded  genealogy  of  the 
family  states  that  in  1729  John  Dickey  and  his 
wife,  Margaret,  witli  their  two  sons,  Adam  and 
Matthew,   emigrated    from    Londonderry    in    the 


North  of  Ireland,  and  settled  at  Londonderry    in 
New  Hampshire.     The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  of 
the  sixth  generation  from  the  John  Dickey  just 
mentioned.     The   father  of  our  subject   married 
Susan  Smith,  a  native  of  Connecticut.     Their  mar- 
riage was  performed  at  Somerset,  Niagara  County, 
N.  Y.,  wliere  he  had  removed  with  his  father's  fam- 
ily, who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  fam- 
ous Genesee  Valle3^     While  still  a  single  man, 
SLnrsh  Dickey  went  from  the  State  of  New  York 
to  the  West,  and  was  in  the  Territory  of  Michigan 
in  1834.     Returning,  he   was  married,  and   made 
his  home  in  Buffalo  and   its  vicinity   until   1810, 
at  which  time  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Cal- 
houn County,  Jlich.     There  he  improved   a   farm 
and  resided  upon  the  same  for  about  twenty-two 
years,  after  which  he  removed  to  Sheridan,  in  tlie 
same  county.     A  number  of  j-ears  ago  he  retired 
from  the  active  duties  of  life,  and  now  lives  in  the 
village  of  Albion,  Mich.,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eightj^-ttve   3^ears,   his  birth    having   occurred    in 
1808.     The  wife  and   mother  died  in    1886.     In 
their  family  were  five  sons,  of  whom  our  subject 
is  the  eldest.     George,  the  second  in  order  of  birth, 
died  at  the  age  of  three  j^ears;  Albert  is  a  resident 
of  Calhoun  Count}-,  Mich.;  Francis  died  when  six- 
teen _years  of  age;  and  the  j-oungest  of  the  family, 
Anderson,  resides  with  his  father  in  Albion,  Mich. 
Sylvester  B.  Dickey  passed  the  greater  portion 
of  his  boyhood  and  early  manhood  in  Michigan, 
as  he  was  only  four  ^-ears  of  age  when  his  parents 
removed  there.     In   1859  he  came  farther  West, 
but  returned   to  Michigan,   where,  on   the  7th  of 
November,  1860,  he  was  united  in  marriage,  Miss 
Mary  Goodrich  being  the  lad}'  of  his  choice.     She 
is  a  daughter  of  Harris  C.  and  Jane  (Bosworth) 
Goodrich,  both  natives  of  Essex  County,  N.  Y., 
but  who  soon  after  their  marriage  removed  to  Mar- 
shall,  Mich.,  which   was    the    birthplace    of   Mrs. 
Dickey,  who  has  the  honor  of  having  been  the  sec- 
ond white  child  born  in  Marshall.     Her  father  was 
a  prominent  citizen  of  Calhoun  County,  and  was 
its  first  Sheriff.     He  was  also  the  founder  of  the 
town  of  Tekonsha,   where  he  filled  the  olflee  of 
Postmaster,  and  was  actively  identified  with  the 
early  history  of  the  county.    His  death  occurred  in 
1816,  and  that  of  his  wife  some  three  years  later. 


348 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


They  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children,  all 
of  whom,  with  one  exception,  attained  to  mature 
years.  Maria  is  the  widow  of  Alien  Tibbitts;  Ellen 
became  the  wife  of  Morey  Frink,  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  they  made  their  home  in  Pilot  Town- 
ship, Kankakee  County,  but  are  now  residents  of 
Chicago;  the  wife  of  our  subject  is  the  next  in  or- 
der of  birth;  Frances,  now  Mrs.  George  Avery,  re- 
sides in  the  township  of  Pilot;  Jane,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  three  j-ears,  was  next  in  order  of  birth; 
and  tlie  3'Oungest  of  the  family,  the  only  brother, 
Charles  Boswortii,  is  a  resident  of  Vallej'  Falls, Kan. 
Three  children,  two  sons  and  a  daughter,  graced 
the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dickey.  Charles  F.  re- 
sides in  Englewood,  III.;  and  Miss  Jennie  Goodrich 
lives  with  her  parents.  Ralph,  the  second  in  order 
of  birth,  died  when  three  years  of  age.  In  1881, 
Mr.  Dickey  removed  to  Kankakee,  where  he  erected 
a  fine  residence  and  where  he  and  his  family  re- 
side. He  still  owns  a  fine  stock  farm,  a  part  of 
which  he  rents,  and  a  portion  of  which  he  still 
operates,  dealing  quite  extensively  in  live-stock. 
Although  his  earlier  life  in  this  county  was  attended 
with  much  discouragement,  yet  by  continued  per- 
severance and  energy  he  has  triumphed  over  ad- 
versity, and  is  now  blessed  with  the  material  com- 
forts of  life.  Mrs.  Dickej'  and  Miss  Jennie  hold 
membership  with  the  Episcopal  Church  of  Kanka- 
kee. In  former  times  our  subject  was  a  Republi- 
can in  liis  views,  but  is  now  independent  in  pol- 
itics. 


-^^ 


'  SBURY  FLEWELLING,  the  popular  pro- 
prietor of  the  Flewelling  Hotel,  of  Wal- 
dron,  and  one  of  its  well-known  citizens, 
wiio  is  also  an  honored  veteran  of  the  late 
war,  claims  Indiana  as  the  State  of  his  nativity. 
Franklin  County  was  the  place  of  his  birth,  and 
the  date  was  August  21,  1843.  He  is  the  fourth  in 
order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  nine  children,  num- 
bering seven  sons  and  two  daughters.  Tlie  father, 
Gilbert  Flewelling,  was  a  native  of  the  Empire 
State.  The  family,  which  was  probably  founded 
in  this  country  at  an  early  da}',  was  of  Scotch  ori- 


gin. The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Sarah  A.  Wiggins.  In  18(j2  the  jiarents 
left  their  home  in  Indiana  and  removed  to  Kan- 
kakee County,  111.,  locating  in  Aroma  Township, 
where  IMr.  Flewelling  followed  agricultui'al  pur- 
suits until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1887.  His 
wife  died  the  same  year.  They  were  estimable 
people,  highly  respected  throughout  tlie  commu- 
nity in  which  they  made  tiieir  home.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Amanda  J.,  who  died  in  infancy;  William 
W.;  Green,  who  died  in  infanc}';  Asbury  of  this 
sketch;  Angeline;  James  M.;  Henry;  Thomas; 
and  John. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  who  was  reared  to  manhood  upon  his  fa- 
ther's farm  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads. 
His  educational  privileges  were  very  meagre,  be- 
ing limited  to  a  few  terms' attendance  at  tlie  com- 
mon district  school  of  the  neighborhood,  but  by 
reading  and  business  experience  in  subsequent 
3'ears,  he  made  himself  a  well-informed  man. 
When  only  eighteen  years  of  age  he  left  home  to 
enter  the  service  of  his  country,  enlisting  in  Au- 
gust, 1861,  as  a  private  of  Company  I,  Twent}-- 
ninth  Indiana  Infantry.  He  was  mustered  into 
service  at  Indianapolis,  and  the  first  active  en- 
gagement in  which  he  participated  was  at  Bowling 
Green.  He  was  also  under  fire  at  the  battles  of 
Nashville  and  Sliiloh  and  at  the  latter  place  was 
wounded  by  a  shell  in  the  right  hand  and  arm, 
and  was  then  taken  to  the  New  Albany  Hospital, 
where  he  remained  for  about  two  months.  On  tin- 
expiration  of  that  period  he  received  an  honorable 
discharge  and  returned  to  his  home  in  Indiana. 

It  was  not  long  afterward,  that  Mr.  Flewelling 
paid  a  visit  to  his  brother  in  Kankakee  County. 
He  was  much  pleased  with  the  country  and  return-j 
ing  to  his  native  State  he  made  arrangements  fo 
his  removal  thither,  and  the  same  year,  in  companl 
with  his  parents,  made  a  permanent  location  her« 
The  family  first  rented  land  in  Aroma  Townshi 
Our  subject  remained  at  home,  aiding  in  the  de 
velopment  of  the  farm,  until    January  17,    186^ 
when  he  was  united   in    marriage  with  Miss  Map 
E.    Shroyer,    daughter   of  William    and    Lucinc 
(Kist)  Shroyer.     In  a  short  time  he  bade  good-bj! 
to  his  bride  and  again  went  to  the  defense  of  hi 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


349 


country.  It  was  on  the  1st  of  JanuaiT,  1864,  that 
he  re-enlisted.  He  again  entered  the  service  as  a 
private,  but  afterward  was  a  non-commissioned 
ollicer  all  through  tlie  war.  Ilis  first  engagement 
after  his  second  enlistment  was  at  Decatur,  Ala. 
In  Majr,  18G4,  he  started  with  his  company  on  the 
Atlanta  campaign,  under  the  command  of  Gen. 
Sherman,  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Smoke 
Gap,  Resaca,  Dallas,  Big  Shanty  and  Kenesaw 
Mountain.  He  also  bore  his  part  in  the  engage- 
ments at  New  Hope  Church  and  Peach  Tree  Creek, 
and  at  the  battle  of  Atlanta  was  again  wounded, 
a  minie-ball  passing  entirely  through  his  left  breast. 
At  the  same  time  he  was  also  taken  prisoner  and 
incarcerated  at  Andersonville,  where  lie  remained 
a  captive  for  over  nine  months,  suffering  all  the 
hardships  of  Southern  prison  life.  His  daily  ra- 
tions consisted  of  half  a  pint  of  cornmeal  and  a 
half-pint  of  beans,  together  with  a  small  piece  of 
beef  about  two  inches  square,  or,  if  the  latter  deli- 
cac3'  was  not  furnished,  a  substitute  of  two  table- 
spoonfuls  of  molasses  was  given  them.  After  the 
assassination  of  President  Lincoln,  Mr.  Flewelling, 
with  a  great  many  other  prisoners,  was  placed  on  a 
freight  train  and  given  his  libert}',  when  he  im- 
mediately returned  to  his  home.  It  can  be  imag- 
ined with  what  feelings  of  relief  and  joy  he  left 
tlie  prison  home  where  lie  had  been  so  long  confined. 
For  three  years  he  faitlifull3^  served  his  countr}', 
being  ever  found  at  his  post  of  dut}'. 

When  the  war  was  over,  Mr.  Flewelling  returned 
to  his  j'oung  wife  and  they  began  their  domestic 
life  upon  a  rented  farm  in  Aroma  Township,  where 
they  resided  for  a  period  of  about  three  years.  He 
then  abandoned  agricultural  pursuits  and,  remov- 
ing to  Waldron,  accepted  a  position  as  engineer  in 
the  paper-mills  of  this  place.  Thus  he  was  em- 
ployed for  about  six  years,  when  he  embarked  in 
business  for  himself,  establishing  a  livery  stable, 
which  he  has  since  carried  on.  He  has  a  first-class 
stable,  well  appointed,  and  has  received  from  tiie 
public  a  liberal  patronage.  In  connection  with 
this  business,  he  is  also  engaged  in  hotel-keeping 
with  good  success. 

Four  children  have  been  born  of  tlic  union  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flewelling,  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, as  follows:  Elmer,  who  is  now  living  in  Har- 


vey, 111.,  where  he  carries  on  a  general  sup))ly 
store;  Jennie,  wife  of  Lincoln  Kibbon,  a  resident 
farmer  of  St.  Anne  Township;  Walter  and  lielle, 
who  are  still  under  the  parental  roof.  The  family 
is  widel}' and  favorably  known  in  this  community. 
On  attaining  his  majority,  Mr.  Flewelling  iden- 
tified himself  with  the  Republican  party,  and  has 
since  voted  in  support  of  its  principles  and  its  can- 
didates. He  is  now  serving  as  Village  Trustee 
and  is  also  Constable,  a  i)osition  he  has  held  for 
the  long  period  of  sixteen  ^-ears.  If  long  service 
is  a  criterion  of  faithfulness,  he  has  certainly  been 
true  to  his  duties,  and  all  his  fellow-townsmen 
will  testify  to  this  fact.  Socially,  he  is  connected 
with  the  Grand  Army  Post.  He  is  a  man  of  good 
business  ability  and  a  valued  citizen. 


n  SAAC  H.  HALL  is  a  well-known  farmer  re- 
I  siding  on  section  21,  Otto  Township,  Kanka- 
[h  kee  County.  He  is  a  native  of  Maine,  and 
was  born  in  Piscataquis  County  on  the  11th  of 
Julj',  1835.  He  is  a  son  of  Isaac  H.  C.  Hall,  who 
was  of  English  descent  and  was  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Maine.  The  father  received  a  fair  edu- 
cation and  cast  his  lot  upon  a  farm.  Upon  arriv- 
ing at  man's  estate  he  married  Miss  Betsy  War- 
ren, daughter  of  Ezekiel  Warren,  both  likewise  na- 
tives of  the  Pine  Tree  State.  Mr.  Hall  met  deatli 
by  accident  when  in  the  prime  of  early  manhood, 
being  but  twenty-eight  3'ears  of  age  at  tlie  time. 

Isaac  II.  Hall,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  passed 
his  boyhood  days  and  youth  in  the  State  of  his 
birth.  He  received  good  common-school  advan- 
tages, and  in  1859  determined  to  seek  his  fortune 
in  the  West.  He  accordingly  emigrated  to  Indi- 
ana and  obtained  employment  in  a  sawmill  situ- 
ated near  Terra  Haute.  After  a  residence  in  Indi- 
ana of  about  three  years,  JMr.  Hall  came  to  Illinois 
and  obtained  employment  on  a  farm  in  Kankakee 
County.  In  1861  lie  rented  land  and  engaged  in 
farming  for  himself  for  about  a  year. 

Mr.  Hall  was  united  in  marriage  in  Bourbonnais 


350 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Township,  on  the  13th  of  February,  1861,  to  Miss 
Annie  McKee,  a  native  of  Canada,  who  came  to 
Illinois  when  a  child  of  about  seven  years  with  her 
father,  Alexander  McKee,  who  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Kankakee  County.  Our  subject 
and  his  wife  have  two  children.  Agnes  May  is  the 
wife  of  J.  I).  Durham,  of  this  country;  Marsell 
Harry  is  now  a  young  man  and  helps  to  carry  on 
his  father's  farm. 

Responding  to  the  call  of  his  country,  Mr.  Hall 
enlisted  as  one  of  the  defenders  of  the  Union  in 
July,  1862,  becoming  a  member  of  Companj^  I, 
Seventy-sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  served  until 
his  discharge  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He  enlisted 
as  a  private  soldier,  and  bj'  meritorious  conduct 
and  faithfulness  was  afterward  elected  Corporal, 
and  later  promoted  to  First-dut}'  Sergeant.  He 
took  part  in  all  of  the  engagements  in  which  his 
regiment  partici)3ated,  among  these  being  the  siege 
and  surrender  of  Vicksburg  and  Jackson.  He  was 
uuder  Sherman  in  the  battle  of  Jackson  Cross 
Roads,  in  INIississippi.  He  also  took  part  in  the 
siege  and  capture  of  Ft.  Blakely,  and  during  his 
service  made  many  weary  tramps  through  Tennes- 
see, Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Texas,  Missouri,  Florida 
and  Alabama.  He  received  a  gunsliot  wound  in 
his  left  side  and  carries  an  honorable  scar  received 
in  the  defense  of  his  country.  He  was  discharged 
from  the  service  at  Galveston,  Tex.,  on  the  26th 
of  July,  1865.  As  a  soldier,  Mr.  Hall  has  a  record 
of  which  he  may  well  be  proud,  for  he  was  ever 
faithful  and  true  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties, 
and  was  one  whom  his  superior  officers  could  rely 
on  with  all  confidence. 

Upon  leaving  the  army  Mr.  Hall  returned  to 
his  home  in  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  joining  his  family 
at  that  point.  The  next  three  3'ears  he  resided  in 
Terre  Haute,  and  in  August,  1868,  finally  removed 
to  Kankakee  County.  He  located  near  the  city  of 
the  same  name  and  engaged  in  the  milk  and  dairy 
business  for  a  short  time.  In  October,  1869,  he 
settled  upon  a  farm  in  Bourbonnais  Township, 
where  he  remained  for  about  four  years.  He  next 
went  to  Rockville,  near  which  he  purchased  a  small 
farm  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for 
eight  years  there.  For  the  three  years  following 
he  rented  a  farm  near  the  city,  and  in  1884  bought 


the'  place  where  he  now  resides.  This  tract  con- 
sisted of  about  eighty  acres,  which  had  some  im- 
provements upon  it.  Mr.  Hall  has  made  exten- 
sive additions,  has  erected  good  buildings  and  has 
added  to  his  original  purchase  one  hundred  acres 
of  good  farming  land  adjoining,  which  makes  his 
farm  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in  extent.  He 
commenced  his  life  in  the  West  a  poor  man  and 
without  means,  and  has  by  his  characteristics  of 
industiy,  perseverance  and  good  business  methods, 
become  a  leading  and  well-to-do  farmer  of  this 
section. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Hall  has  been  identified  with  the 
Republican  party  since  its  organization,  casting 
bis  first  ballot  in  the  Presidential  election  in  1860 
for  Hon.  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  has  never  aspired 
to  official  positions  and  is,  and  ever  has  been,  most 
friendly  to  the  cause  of  education.  He  has  served 
for  many  years  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board, 
and  has  done  all  in  his  power  to  promote  educa- 
tional measures.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  the 
Kankakee  Grand  Ann}'  Post,  and  the  boys  in  blue 
have  a  warm  place  iu  his  afi'ections.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hall  are  consistent  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Our  subject  is  a  man  of  strict 
integrit}'  and  well  deserves  the  confidence  and 
friendship  of  his  fellow-citizens.  He  has  been 
identified  with  much  of  the  growth  and  develop- 
ment of  this  county  and  has  seen  marvelous 
changes  in  its  progress  from  a  wilderness  to  its 
present  prosperity. 


»!<*§- 


4 


(|j^^ELSON  BROUILLETTE,  a  coal   and   lum- 
[(    J))  ber  dealer  of  St.  Anne,  was  born  near  Que- 


/i\^^>)  bee,  Canada,  on  the  16tli  of  June,  1853, 
and  is  a  son  of  Landrie  and  Emile  (Fortin)  Brouil- 
lette,  who  were  both  natives  of  Canada  and  of 
French  descent.  The  former's  father, Bernard  Brou- 
illette,  was  about  seventy  years  of  age  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  and  was  a  farmer  in  Canada.  The 
maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  Captain 
in  the  Patriot  War  and  was  born  in  France.  His 
family  consisted  of  eleven  daughters,  but  he   had 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


^:>\ 


no  sons.  He  was  a  well-to-do  and  extensive 
farmer  near  Quebec,  and  died  in  Canada  at  an  ad- 
vanced age. 

Tlie  father  of  our  subject  was  for  man}'  years  a 
farmer,  both  in  his  native  land  and  in  this  country. 
He  came  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  ISoS,  settling  at 
Kuurbonnais,  and  about  two  years  later  removed  to 
St.  Anne,  where  he  oi)ened  a  meat-market  and  al- 
so dealt  in  flour.  This  was  his  home  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  September,  1878.  Though 
past  the  .age  for  admission  in  the  arm}',  he  enlisted 
in  Company  K,  One  Hundred  and  Fortj-scventh 
Infantry,  and  served  one  year.  From  the  effects  of 
a  long  and  forced  march  he  was  obliged  to  be 
sent  to  the  hospital,  from  whicli  he  was  linall}- dis- 
charged on  account  of  disabilit}'.  His  wife  lived 
until  March,  1890,  when  she  was  called  to  herflnal 
rest.  Of  their  family  of  four  sons  and  eight 
daughters,  eight  are  yet  living,  as  follows:  Philo- 
man,  Marie,  Delima,  Tellesfor,  Delphis,  Jean  Bap- 
tiste,  Narcis  and  Zephyrine. 

Almost  the  whole  life  of  our  subject  has  been 
passed  in  this  count}-,  for  he  was  a  babe  of  only  a 
few  months  when  iiis  parents  removed  to  Illinois. 
He  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  St. 
Anne  and  the  Savior's  College,  conducted  b}-  Rev. 
Charles  Chiniquy,  the  celebrated  es-Catholic 
priest.  Until  eighteen  years  of  age  he  gave  all 
his  earnings  to  his  parents  and  was  a  dutiful  and 
filial  son.  For  a  number  of  3ears  after  completing 
his  studies  he  worked  at  farm  labor,  first  renting 
a  farm  for  two  j'ears  and  afterwards  purchasing 
one  of  eighty  acres  near  Hoopeston,  Vermilion 
County.  This  property  he  afterwards  sold  and  at 
once  he  removed  to  Ford  County,  where  he  bought 
an  unimproved  farm  of  eighty  acres,  nine  miles 
southwest  of  Paxton,  and  this  was  his  home  for  the 
succeeding  thirteen  years,  during  which  time  he 
placed  it  under  good  cultivation  and  also  was  en- 
abled to  purchase  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  in  the  same 
county,  three  miles  from  his  other  farm. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  1878,  Mr.  Brouillette  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Margie,  daughter  of 
Michael  and  Margaret  (Pollock)  Goff.  Five  chil- 
dren have  blessed  this  union:  Lorena  Belle,  Ida 
May,  Ralph  Herbert,  Georgia  and  Jessie. 

In  the  spring  of  1890,  Mr.  Brouillette  sold  one 


of  his  farms  in  Ford  County,  still  retaining  inc 
other.  In  Januarj',  1891,  removing  to  St.  Anne, 
he  purchased  the  coal  and  lumber  business  of 
Perry  &  Ireland.  In  addition  he  also  handles 
lime,  cement  and  stone  and  is  agent  for  the  .Sand- 
wich hay  press.  Assisted  by  his  estimable  wife, 
he  has  acquired  a  good  competence,  the  result  of 
his  careful  business  transactions,  industry  and 
ability. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brouillette  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  and  occupy  an  enviable  po- 
sition in  social  circles.  He  is  a  member  of  Maple 
Camp  Xo.  1321,  M.  W.  A.,  and  casts  his  ballot  in 
favor  of  the  Republican  party.  He  is  at  present 
one  of  the  Village  Trustees,  and  takes  an  active 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  fellow-citizens. 


-^1= 


c=iJLr=, 


-4^^ 


m 


(OHN  H.  WEBSTER,  a  stock-dealer  of  W.al- 
dron,  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  hon- 
ored pioneers  of  this  county,  the  famil}- 
having  been  connected  with  its  history  since 
1845,  or  for  a  period  of  forty-seven  consecutive 
years.  His  father,  Alvah  Webster,  was  born  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  not  far  from  Niagara 
Falls,  and  was  of  English  descent.  After  attain- 
ing to  mature  years  he  married  Susan  Harmon, 
who  was  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  was  of  Ger- 
man lineage.  Five  children  graced  their  union, 
the  eldest  of  whom  is  the  subject  of  our  sketch. 
He  has  one  sister  living,  Mary,  who  is  now  the 
wife  of  Sidney  Lowe,  a  resident  of  Kansas.  The 
other  three  died  j'oung,  Caroline  in  1858,  Per- 
melia  in  1842,  and  the  death  of  Daniel  occurred 
in  1844.  The  mother  of  this  famil}-  was  called  to 
her  final  rest  in  September,  1844,  after  which  Alvah 
Webster  was  again  married,  and  b}'  his  second 
union  he  had  five  children:  M^'ron,  who  is  living 
in  Bonfleld,  III.;  Emma,  who  died  in  1855;  Will- 
iam, now  a  resident  of  Tennessee;  Alvah,  who 
makes  his  home  In  Monroe  Count}',  Iowa;  and 
Uuljy,  wife  of  James  Clififord,  a  grocer  living  in 
Kankakee. 

It  was  in    1823  that  Alvah    Webster   left    the 


352 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Empire  State  and  emigrated  to  Indiana.  He  be- 
came one  of  the  earl_v  settlers  of  Fountain  County 
and  there  he  made  his  home  for  a  number  of  j-ears, 
following  farming  until  1844,  when  he  came  to 
Kankakee  County,  111.  Here  he  purchased  from 
the  Government  eight\'  acres  of  wild  pr.airie  land 
in  what  is  now  Aroma  Township,  but  was  then  a 
part  of  Will  County,  and  built  a  log  cabin  there- 
on. After  he  had  thus  made  some  preparations 
for  establishing  a  home,  he  returned  to  Indiana, 
where  he  remained  until  the  following  Januarj'. 
He  then  again  came  to  Illinois,  and  that  winter 
made  rails  on  the  Iroquois  River  with  which  to 
fence  forty  acres  of  land.  In  the  spring  of  1845, 
he  removed  his  family  to  the  new  home,  the 
journey  being  made  with  three  yoke  of  oxen  and 
a  horse  team.  Mr.  Webster's  land  bordered  on 
the  Indian  reserve,  and  when  he  came  to  the 
county'  there  were  stdl  a  few  of  the  red  men  resid- 
ing in  this  locality.  Our  subject  at  once  began 
the  development  of  his  land,  and  carried  on  farm- 
ing in  this  county  until  his  death.  He  passed 
away  in  April,  1885,  and  his  remains  were  interred 
in  the  Waldron  Cemeterj'.  A  faithful  mcmlier  of 
the  Methodist  Church,  he  lived  an  upright  life  and 
had  the  resi)ect  and  confidence  of  all  who  knew 
him.  For  a  number  of  years  in  the  early  days  of 
this  county  he  served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace. 

John  n.  Webster,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
was  born  on  the  10th  of  January,  18.35,  in  the  lit- 
tle village  of  Newtown,  in  Fountain  County, Ind., 
but  up  to  within  the  past  two  years  has  spent  his 
entire  life  on  a  farm.  When  a  lad  of  ten  years  he 
accompanied  his  father  on  his  removal  to  this 
county,  and  amid  the  wild  scenes  of  frontier  life 
he  was  reared  to  manhood.  With  the  family  lie 
experienced  all  the  hardships  and  privations  which 
fall  to  the  lot  of  a  pioneer,  and  his  education  was 
acquired  in  log  schoolhouses.  Chicago  was  their 
trading-post  in  tlie  pioneer  days  and  it  was  a  place 
of  not  very  great  pretensions.  All  grain  was 
hauled  there,  the  trip  being  made  about  once  in 
six  months.  Mr.  Webster  was  early  inured  to  the 
hard  labor  of  developing  wild  land,  for  he  began 
work  in  the  fields  as  soon  as  he  w.as  old  enough  to 
handle  the  plow.  To  his  father  he  gave  the  bene- 
fit of  liis  services  until  nineteen  years  of  age,  when 


he  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  Entering  the 
employ  of  Belden  &  De  Forest,  he  bought  cattle 
here  in  Illinois  and  shipped  to  New  York  City 
F'or  four  years  he  worked  for  that  firm  and  then 
followed  various  employments  for  some  time. 

A  marriage  ceremon}^  performed  in  1859  united 
the  destinies  of  Mr.  Webster  and  Miss  Augusta 
De  Witt,  daughter  of  Austin  and  Sally  Ann 
(Tiiacker)  De  Witt.  Ten  children  were  born  of 
the  union  of  this  worthy  couple,  but  four  are  now 
deceased:  Austin,  who  died  in  1863;  Jessie,  who 
died  in  1871;  Nellie,  whose  death  occurred  the 
same  j'car;  and  Katie,  who  died  in  1888.  Those 
living  arc,  Ciiarles,  Dick,  Mattie,  Viola,  Stella,  and 
Daniel. 

During  the  late  war,  Mr.  Webster  responded  to 
the  President's  call  for  volunteers  and  enrolled 
his  name  as  a  private  among  the  boys  in  blue  of 
Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Thirteenth  In- 
fantry. He  was  mustered  into  service  in  Kan- 
kakee and  soon  afterward  went  to  the  front. 
The  first  important  engagement  in  which  he  par- 
ticipated was  at  the  battle  of  Vicksburg  in  the  fall 
of  1862.  He  was  also  in  the  battles  of  Arkansas 
I'ost,  Guntowu  and  Eastport,  and  participated  in 
the  long  and  hotly  contested  siege  of  Vicksburg 
from  its  beginning  until  the  capture  of  the  city. 
Mr.  Webster  was  very  fortunate,  in  that  he  was 
never  wounded  or  taken  prisoner.  After  almost 
four  years  of  service,  in  which  he  faithfuU}'  de- 
fended the  old  flag,  he  was  mustered  out  on  the 
20th  of  June,  1866,  and  received  an  honorable 
discharge. 

When  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  ser- 
vices, Mr.  Webster  returned  to  his  home  and  rented 
land  (his  father's  old  farm,  upon  which  his  boy- 
hood d.a3'S  were  passed)  and  there  resided  until 
the  spring  of  1870.  He  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  1890,  when  he  removed  to  Waldron, 
and  has  since  been  engaged  in  buying  stock.  He 
is  a  man  of  good  business  ability,  sagacious  and 
far-sighted,  and  his  well-directed  efforts  have 
gained  him  a  comfortable  competence.  In  his  po- 
litical views,  Mr.  Webster  is  a  Republican,  but  has 
never  sought  or  desired  the  honors  or  emoluments 
of  public  otlice.  Public-spirited  and  progressive, 
he  takes  an  active  interest   in   all   that  pertains  to 


UBHAnY 
OF  THE 

"""'"^■'^  Of  urns 


./^ 


^^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


35.5 


tlie  welfare  of  the  coiniminity,  and  gives  his  siip- 
ixiit  to  all  woitliy  public  enterprii-es.  His  long 
residence  in  the  eommunitj-  has  made  him  well  ac- 
fpiainted  with  the  history  of  the  county,  and  h(! 
deserves  representation  among  its  early  settlers. 


rf_^ENRY  MRRTENS.  One  of  the  most  desir- 
IjWj  iihle  resident  portions  of  tiie  city  of  Kan- 
kakee is  Henry  Mertens'  subdivision,  which 
lies  north  of  the  "Three  I's"  dejiot  and 
contains  sixteen  anda-half  acres.  Thissiibdivision 
W.1S  laid  out  and  platteil  by  Mr.  Mertens  in  De- 
cember, 18'J1.  It  is  well  drained  by  a  complete 
system  of  sewerage  and  has  a  fall  to  the  Kankakee 
Kiver  of  sixty  feet.  Its  streets  are  all  in  accord- 
ance with  the  city  grade,  to  produce  which  desira- 
ble condition  Mr.  Mertens  has  sjicnt  ¥1,500.  An- 
other ver}'  important  feature  is  the  fact  that  solid 
rock  is  found  but  a  few  feet  below  tlie  surface,  so 
that  buildings  erected  on  any  of  the  sixt3--five  lots 
have  this  for  a  foundation.  The  subdivision  is 
certainly  a  verv  important  addition  to  the  growing 
and  prosperous  city  of  Kankakee. 

Mr.  Mertens,  owner  and  proprietor  of  this  prop- 
erty, is  a  native  of  Waltringhauseu,  Kurhessen, 
Germany.  He  was  born  November  3,  1843,  being 
a  son  of  William  Mertens,  and  is  one  of  a  family 
of  five  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  earl}-  life. 
His  brother  William  was  in  the  Franco-Prussian 
War,  and  received  a  wound  which  resulted  in  his 
death  five  years  later.  The  other  brother,  John, 
died  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  while  serving  an  ap- 
[n'enticeship  to  the  tailor's  trade.  Our  subject  is 
the  onl}-  one  of  the  family  who  ever  left  his  native 
land.  He  attended  school  until  fourteen  years  of 
age,  as  the  youth  of  Germanj'  are  compelled  bj- 
law  to  do.  It  was  necessarj'  that  he  should  earn 
his  living  while  still  young,  and  upon  leaving 
school  he  worked  for  three  years  in  a  coal  mine, 
some  three  hundred  feet  below  the  surface  of  the 
earth.  Then  going  to  the  city  of  Hanover,  he  was 
employed  in  a  mitten  factory  for  about  a  year  and 
a-lialf,  after  which  for  some  time  he  worked  for  a 


liquor  manufacturer.  Jlr.  Mertens  had  long  wanted 
to  come  to  America,  but  had  not  the  means  neces- 
sar_y  to  pay  his  pass.age,  noi-  was  liis  father  able  to 
assist  him.  At  last  a  chance  came.  A  favorite 
aunt,  living  in  his  native  town,  received  money 
from  friends  in  tlie  United  .States  to  pay  her  pas- 
sage across  the  Atlantic.  She  thought  a  great  deal « 
of  our  subject,  and  decided  with  tlie  money  she 
had  received  to  help  p.ay  his  passage  as  well  as  her 
own  to  America. 

Accordingl}-,  aunt  and  nephew  bade  adieu  to 
their  native  land  and  took  passage  (Jb  a  sailing- 
vessel  bound  for  New  York,  where  they  arrived 
after  a  long  and  storm}'  p.-issage.  This  was  in 
1865,  the  year  that  witnessed  .the  close  of  the  great 
rebellion  in  this  country.  He  with  his  aunt  pro- 
ceeded at  once  to  Will  County,  111.,  where  friends 
of  the  famil}'  were  then  living,  and  as  soon  as  he 
could  obtain  employment  he  made  it  his  principal 
object  to  pay  back  the  mone}'  wliicii  had  been 
given  him  for  his  passage  to  this  country.  This 
was  soon  done,  he  returning  ever.y  dollar  that  had 
been  expended  in  his  behalf.  The  aunt,  who  was 
a  friend  in  need  to  Mr.  Mertens,  is  still  living, 
though  now  veiy  aged,  in  Washington  Township, 
Will  County. 

For  the  first  year  and  a-half  Mr.  Mertens  worked 
for  neighboring  farmers,  and  then  for  a  short  time 
engaged  in  coal-raining  in  Will  County.  That 
occupation  was  not  at  all  to  his  taste,  so  he  en- 
gaged in  ditching  in  that  county  and  in  Lake 
Count}',  Ind.,  working  hard  and  faitiifully  at  that 
business.  He  next  came  to  Momence,  in  tiiis  county, 
and  for  three  years  worked  by  the  day  at  a  hay 
press;  then  for  seven  and  a-half  years  ran  a  sample 
room  in  Momence,  and  for  ten  years  in  Kank.akee. 
After  about  three  3'ears  he  became  convinced  that 
one  could  not  run  such  a  [ilace  decently  and  allow 
gambling,  so  he  excluded  it  and  never  afterward 
would  permit  it  in  his  house  under  any  considera- 
tion. He  continued  a  resident  of  Momence  for 
about  eleven  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
time  he  came  to  Kankakee,  which  has  since  been 
his  home.  He  bought  the  property  comprising  the 
subdivision  in  1890. 

In  Chicago  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Mer- 
tens and  Miss  Mary  Ivruse,  who  was  born  in  AVii- 


356 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


zendorf,  Hanover,  Germany,  December  5,  1850- 
They  became  the  parents  of  six  children,  two 
sons  and  four  daughters:  Emma,  Henry,  Minnie 
(deceased),  Mary,  William  and  Clara.  Mr.  Mer- 
tens  is  a  well-known  citizen  of  Kankakee,  and  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  City  Council  for  four 
^years.  Politically,  he  was  a  Republican  until  1884, 
but  believing  a  change  in  the  administration  of 
affairs  for  the  best  interests  of  the  country,  he  h.as 
since  voted  the  Democratic  ticket.  Both  himself 
and  wife  were  reared  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  to  which  he  is  a  liberal  con- 
tributor. 


''    '    °^ 


El^ 


^=^EORGE  FANNING,  a  retired  farmer,  was 
[If  j__^  born  in  Kingston,  Ontario,  Canada,  on  the 
%^\  10th  of  October,  1814.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  of  Scotch  descent,  and  followed  black- 
smithing  in  Scoharie  County,  N.  Y.  His  maternal 
grandfather  was  of  Dutch  birth.  The  parents  of 
our  snbject,  Frederick  and  Hannah  (Davis)  Fan- 
ning, were  residents  of  Canada  for  many  \'ears. 
The  father  went  to  Canada  from  New  York  about 
1806,  was  there  married  and  resided  until  his  death, 
which  occured  on  the  12th  of  April,  1854.  The 
mother  afterward  came  with  our  subject  to  Illinois 
and  made  her  home  with  him  tintil  her  death  on 
the  22d  of  April,  1874,  at  which  time  she  had  at- 
tained the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-five  years.  Her 
father  was  a  United  Empire  Lo3'alist,  and  at  his 
death  she  received  two  hundred  acres  of  land  in 
Canada  from  the  Government.  In  the  famih^  of 
Frederick  and  Hannah  Fanning  were  ten  children, 
eight  of  whom  were  sons.  The  living  children  are 
George,  .John  B.,  Isaac,  David,  S\-lvester  and  Su- 
sanna. Those  who  have  passed  away  are  Henry, 
Charles,  .James  and  Grace. 

Mr.  Fanning,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  re- 
moved to  the  United  States  in  1865,  and  settled 
upon  a  farm  of  four  hundred  and  ninety -six  acres 
in  Otto  Township,  Kankakee  County,  four  miles 
from  Chebanse,  where  he  lived  for  about  nine 
years.     He  then  removed  to  Chebanse  and  built  a 


large  and  comfortable  home,  where  he  resided  for 
three  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  re- 
turned to  his  farm  and  turned  his  attention  once 
more  to  the  tilling  of  the  soil.  In  1880  he  again 
removed  to  Chebanse,  and  has  made  his  home  in 
his  former  residence  up  to  the  present  time. 

On  the  25th  of  February,  1835,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Fanning  and  Miss  Sarah  Ostrom, 
daughter  of  Gilbert  and  Hannah  (Lawrence)  Os- 
trom. By  this  union  eight  children  have  been 
born.  Hannah  Ellen  married  Henry  Hogle,  who  is 
a  retired  farmer  and  lives  iu  Orillia,  Canada.  They 
have  one  child,  Ida,  who  is  married  and  has  two 
sons,  Perc3'  and  Claude,  thus  making  our  subject  a 
great-grandfather.  Harriet  Matilda  became  the 
wife  of  Dowen  Lucas,  a  farmer  of  Hastings  County, 
Canada,  where  they  still  make  their  home.  Thej' 
have  had  five  children,  but  none  of  them  are  now 
living.  Sarah  Elida  married  Thomas  H.  Milburn, 
and  their  present  home  is  in  the  city  of  Beatrice, 
Neb.,  where  Mr.  Milburn  is  engaged  in  the  real- 
estate  business.  Three  children  grace  their  union, 
George,  Albert  and  Ella.  Rilla  Agnes  has  been 
twice  married  Her  first  husband  was  Frank  Grosse, 
by  whom  she  had  five  children,  two  only  now  liv- 
ing, Stella  and  Frank.  Mr.  Grosse  was  killed  by 
lightning  the  same  day  oh  which  the  death  of  Gen. 
Grant  occurred.  Her  second  husband  is  Benjamin 
J.  Wj'nneparry,  a  manufacturer  of  compass  oil  in 
Detroit,  Mich.,  which  is  now  their  home.  They 
have  one  child,  George  Durward.  Frederick  W. 
married  Miss  Caroline  Myers,  daughter  of  John 
Myers,  of  Sidney,  Canada.  They  now  live  in  But- 
ler, Ind.,  where  Mr.  Fanning  is  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  medicine.  Thej-  have  two  children, 
Charles  and  Frank.  Richard  Gilbert  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  Marine,  of  Kankakee,  and  now  is  engaged  | 
in  agricultural  pursuits  near  Leoti,  Kan.  To  them 
have  been  born  four  children,  Aureiia,  Emma, 
George  and  Benjamin  J.  W.  George  Baldwin  mar- 
ried Miss  AVood,  of  Aroma  Township,  and  to  them 
have  been  born  four  children.  He  is  engaged  in 
farming  near  Storm  Lake,  Iowa.  John  Nelson, 
the  youngest  of  the  family,  married  Miss  Wiley 
of  this  county,  and  one  child,  Daisy,  graces  their 
union. 

On    the    8th    of    March,    1874,    the   mother    of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


357 


these  children  departed  this  life,  and  was  buried  in 
the  cemetery  of  Chebanse.  She  was  a  devoted 
member  of  the  Jlethodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
left  many  friends  who  sincerely  mourned  her  loss. 
On  the  21st  of  September,  1874,  Mr.  Fanning  was 
again  married,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss 
Eliza  Ann  (Gilbert,  daughter  of  Caleb  and  Sarah 
(Ross)  Gilbert,  of  Thurlow,  Hastings  County,  Can- 
ada. Four  children  have  graced  llieir  union, 
.Tames  .T.,  Mary  Maud,  Mj'rtle  Kerr  and  May  Gew, 
twins.  Only  one  of  these  is  now  living,  Mar^'  Maud, 
who  lives  with  iier  father.  Her  brother  and  one  sis- 
ter died  of  scarlet  fever  on  the  same  day.  Mrs.  Fan- 
ning, who  was  born  on  the  8th  of  May,  1844,  passed 
away  onthe  8th  of  .July,  1890,  and  lies  buried  in 
Chebanse  Cemetery.  Both  she  and  her  husband 
were  for  many  years  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  with  which  denomination  Mr. 
Fanning  has  been  identified  for  fiftj'-lwo  years, 
and  is  now  one  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
church  in  Chebanse. 

Our  subject  has  now  been  a  resident  of  this 
county  for  twentj-seven  3'cars,  and  has  a  large  ac- 
quaintance in  this  vicinity.  While  he  has  acquired 
a  comfortable  competence  for  his  old  age,  he  is 
plain  and  unostentatious  in  manner,  and  is  one  of 
the  genial  characters  whe  draw  people  to  them, 
thus  being  able  to  count  his  friends  by  the  score. 
For  a  number  of  j'ears  he  served  .is  Road  Commis- 
sioner and  School  Director,  and  has  served  for  about 
six  3'ears  on  the  Village  Board  of  Trustees.  He 
has  never  sought  office,  but  has  had  the  honor 
thrust  upon  him.  Politically  Mr.  Fanning  is  a 
stanch  and  loyal  Republican,  and  cast  his  first  Pres- 
idential vote  for  Gen.  Grant. 


-Wr 


'i^^  EWELL  BEEBE,  a  retired  farmer  of  Mo- 
I  J  mence  Township,  who  now  resides  on  sec- 
ll\/Lsi  tion  19,  is  a  worth}-  representative  of  one 
of  the  honored  pioneer  families  of  tiiis  county.  He 
was  born  on  tiie  20th  of  September,  1818,  in 
Windhall,  Bennington  County,  Vt.,  not  far  from 
the   famous    old    battle-ground   of    Bennington, 


where  the  Colonists  achieved  an  important  vic- 
tory during  the  Revolutionary  War.  His  parents, 
Hardin  and  Susan  (Mellen)  IJeebe,  were  botli  na- 
tives of  Connecticut,  and  were  respectively  of 
Welsh  and  Irish  extiaction,  their  respective  fam- 
ilies having  been  established  in  New  England  dur- 
ing Colonial  days.  In  his  early  life  the  father 
was  a  farmer,  but  afterward  engaged  in  keeping 
an  hotel  in  the  Green  Mountain  State.  In  1836 
he  determined  to  try  his  fortune  in  the  AVest,  and 
with  his  family  emigrated  in  C)ctober  to  Illinois, 
locating  upon  a  piece  of  Government  land  at 
Beebe  Grove,  Kankakee  County.  Here  he  again 
resumed  agricultural  pursuits,  but  he  was  not  long 
permitted  to  enjoy  his  new  home,  iiis  death  occur- 
ring two  3-ears  later,  December  16,  1840,  behaving 
been  horn  April  30,  1783.  The  mother  also  died 
in  this  county,  being  called  to  the  Imme  beyond 
in  1864,  her  Inrtli  occurring  October  13,  1790. 
This  worthy  couple  had  a  family  of  four  children, 
two  sons  and  two  daughters,  the  brother  of  our 
subject  being  Judge  Beebe,  who  was  Probate 
Judge  of  this  district  for  eight  years. 

Newell  Beebe,  whose  name  heads  tiiis  record,  is 
the  youngest  of  the  family.  He  remained  at  home 
with  his  parents  in  the  State  of  his  birth,  aiding 
his  father  in  the  operation  and  management  of 
the  hotel.  He  received  a  good  education  in  the 
public  schools,  and  was  thus  well  fitted  for  the 
practical  duties  of  life.  He  was  a  young  man  of 
eighteen  years  of  age  when  with  his  parents  he 
came  to  this  county,  where  his  life  has  since  been 
passed.  For  a  time  after  his  arrival  he  worked  as 
a  farm-hand  b}"  the  month  and  was  also  employed 
in  a  mill.  As  he  was  a  poor  bo}'  he  had  to  make 
his  own  way  in  the  world,  and  during  the  three 
j-ears  that  were  spent  in  the  emplo}'  of  others  he 
earned  the  capital  wliicli  gave  him  a  stait  in  life. 
With  the  money  that  he  acquired  througli  his  in- 
dustrj',  perseverance  and  economy,  in  1845  he 
purchased  forty  acres  of  land,  a  part  of  the  farm 
on  which  he  now  resides. 

On  the  2d  of  December,  1847,  Mr.  Beebe  mar- 
ried Mi.ss  Sarah  A.  Mellen,  of  this  count}', 
who  was  born  in  Windiiall,  Vt.,  February  25, 
1829.  Her  parents,  however,  were  natives  of  Mass- 
achusetts, and  her  father  was  of  English   extrac- 


358 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


tion,  while  her  mother  was  of  Irish  descent.  It 
was  in  1838  that  they  left  their  Eastern  home  and 
emigrated  Westward,  making  a  location  in  Kan- 
kakee County,  111.  The  father  secured  a  tract  of 
wild  land  and  began  the  development  of  a  farm, 
devoting  himself  to  agricultural  pursuits  through- 
out the  remainder  of  his  life.  l>oth  he  and  his 
wife  spent  their  remaining  daj-s  in  this  county, 
and  died  at  a  ripe  old  age. 

B}'  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beebe  have  been 
born  five  children,  but  only  two  are  now  living, 
Arthur,  Harden  N.  and  Carrie  M.,  being  now  de- 
ceased. One  son  and  one  daughter  still  survive. 
Roswell,  who  is  a  very  highl}'  educated  gentle- 
man, devotes  himself  to  the  teachers'  profession; 
he  was  for  seven  years  Principal  of  the  schools  in 
Geneva,  111.,  and  is  now  Superintendent  of  the 
l)ublic  schools  in  Minonk,  Woodford  County,  111. 
Elmina  is  now  the  wife  of  J.  D.  Mills,  of  Grand 
Forks,  N.  Dak.,  who  is  general  agent  in  that  State 
for  the  Northwestern  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Com- 
pany. Two  children  have  been  born  unto  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Mills,  Arthur  D.  and  Edna. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Beebc  was  a 
Whig  till  the  rise  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
though  he  takes  an  interest  in  the  success  of  his 
party,  has  never  sought  or  desired  tlie  honors  or 
emoluments  of  public  office.  Himself  and  wife 
have  been  faithful  and  consistent  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  thirty-six  j^ears, 
and  have  always  taken  an  active  part  in  church 
work  and  everything  pertaining  to  the  upbuilding 
of  the  communit3'.  The  poor  and  need}'  find  in 
them  a  friend,  and  their  lives  embod}-  their  pro- 
fession. During  the  late  war,  Mrs.  Beebe  was 
President  of  the  Soldiers'  Aid  Society,  and  many 
of  the  boys  in  blue  who  went  from  this  State  to 
the  front  remember  gratefully  the  kindness  and 
favors  they  received  at  her  hands. 

Mr.  Beebe  is  numbered  among  the  pioneer  set- 
tlers of  Kankakee  County,  where  for  the  long  per- 
iod of  fifty-six  consecutive  years  he  has  made  his 
home.  He  has  done  much  for  the  upbuilding  of 
the  count3',  and  has  taken  a  just  pride  in  its 
growth  and  advancement.  He  has  not  onlj' 
watched  the  rapid  strides  of  progress  and  the 
transformation  that  followed,  but  in   all  possible 


ways  has  aided  in  bettering  and  improving  his 
adopted  countj'.  When  he  began  farming,  Mr. 
Beebe  had  nothing  except  a  small  tract  of  land, 
and  this  had  been  acquired  through  his  own  ef- 
forts, but  he  steadily  worked  his  way  upward,  and 
by  his  perseverance  and  industry  overcame  the 
difficulties  and  obstacles  in  his  path.  Thus,  rising 
step  b}'  step,  he  has  gained  a  competence  whicli 
enables  him  to  live  retired.  Upon  his  valuable 
farm  of  fifty  acres,  adjoining  the  city  limits  of 
Momence,  he  is  now  resting  in  the  enjoj'ment  of 
the  fruits  of  his  former  toil.  He  has  led  a  life 
worthy  of  emulation,  and  it  is  with  pleasure  that 
we  present  to  our  readers  this  record  of  liis  career. 


OUIS  II.  SCHNEIDER,  a  well-known  farmer 
living  on  section  28,  Sumner  Township, 
is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Erie  Count}',  on  the  30th 
of  December,  1848.  He  is  a  son  of  Frederick 
and  Phrebe  (Kline)  Schneider,  the  former  a  native 
of  Germany.  Their  familj-  consisted  of  nine  chil- 
dren. In  1858  the  father  emigrated  to  Will 
County,  111.,  where  he  resided  untd  18C8,  when 
he  came  to  Kankakee  County,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1877.  The  wife  and  mother  had  died 
two  years  previously,  and  side  by  side  they  lie 
buried  in  the  Sumner  Cemetery.  They  were  both 
consistent  members  of  the  German  Evangelical 
Church,  and  by  their  lives  of  unobtrusive  goodness 
won  the  friendship  and  high  regard  of  all  who 
knew  them. 

Tiie  earlj'  years  of  Louis  Schneider  were  passed 
in  his  native  county,  and  when  ten  years  of  age 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois.  He  assisted 
his  father  in  the  care  of  his  farm  and  attended 
school  during  the  winter  months  until  seventeen 
years  of  age.  He  lived  on  the  old  homestead  until 
twenty-seven  years  old,  at  which  time  he  started 
out  in  the  world  to  make  a  living  for  himself. 
For  some  four  j'ears  he  worked  at  farm  labor  and 
was  careful  and  saving  of  his  resources.     This  en- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


359 


nhled  liiiii  to  piirilmse  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  upon 
wliic-li  he  lias  lived  up  to  the  present  da3'.  To 
this  he  has  added  forty  acres  and  now  owns  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  a  bod3',  which  is  all 
under  good  cultivation  and  where  lie  carries  on 
general  farming  and  stock-raising.  When  he  left 
home  he  had  not  a  dollar  in  the  world  and  he  has 
acquired  his  present  comfortable  competence  by 
his  own  energy  and  well-directed  efforts. 

February  9,  1876,  Mr.  Schneider  wedded  Miss 
Ellen  Aniniann,  and  bj'  their  marriage  were 
born  four  children,  all  sons:  Louis  J.,  Charlie  (now 
deceased),  Charlie  C,  and  William. 

Politically,  Mr.  Schneider  is  a  firm  supporter 
of  the  Democracy,  and  has  served  his  fellow-citi- 
zens in  various  offices  of  trust  and  honor;  among 
others  he  has  held  those  of  Township  Collector, 
Commissioner  of  Highways,  Township  Assessor, 
School  Trustee  and  School  Director.  The  cause 
of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm  friend  and  in  its 
success  he  is  much  interested.  He  and  all  the 
family  hold  membership  with  the  German  Evan- 
gelical Church,  and  socially  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America.  During  his  long 
residence  of  twenty-five  years  in  this  county,  Mr. 
Schneider  has  made  for  himself  many  friends,  for 
he  is  always  honorable  and  upright  in  his  business 
transactions  and  takes  an  active  part  in  the  pro- 
motion of  enterprises  calculated  to  benefit  the 
community. 


^-^I<^^ 


1/  OKEXZC)  1).  LEGG,  a  retired  farmer,  resides 
on  section  18,  Aroma  Township.  Probably 
no  man  living  in  Kankakee  County  is  more 


familiar  with  its  pioneer  history,  or  has  borne  a 
more  important  part  in  the  upbuilding  and  de- 
velopment of  the  county'  in  its  progress  and  ad- 
vancement, than  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads 
this  record,  and  we  feel  assured  that  this  sketch  of 
his  life  will  prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our 
readers. 

Mr.  Legg  was  born  in  Shelby  County,  Ky.,  April 
5,  181 G,  and  is  one  of  four  children  whose  parents 


were  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Legg.  The  father 
was  a  native  of  Tennessee  and  was  of  English  de- 
scent. Of  the  famil3',  Lizziedied  in  188',);  Lorenzo 
is  the  next  younger;  Jane  died  in  1891;  and 
Matthew,  a  tailor  b^'  trade,  is  now  living  in  St. 
Louis.  In  1833  Isaac  Legg  left  Kentucky  and 
with  his  family  emigrated  to  Chicago,  111.,  which 
was  then  a  mere  hamlet.  The  trip  West  was  made  by 
ox-teams  and  part  of  the  land  upon  which  the  city 
now  stands  was  comprised  within  his  farm.  There 
he  continued  to  reside  until  1837,  when  he  came 
to  Kankakee  County',  locating  in  Bourbounais 
Township,  where  he  purchased  land  from  the  Gov- 
ei'nment  and  engaged  in  farming  for  ft)ur  j'ears. 
It  was  in  1841  that  he  removed  to  Aroma  Town- 
ship, where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1870.  Throughout  his  life  he 
followed  farming  and  was  a  leading. agriculturist 
of  this  community.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
was  called  to  her  final  home  four  3'ears  previous  to 
the  death  of  her  husband. 

No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  during 
the  early  boyhood  days  of  Lorenzo  Legg,  which 
were  spent  upon  his  father's  farm  in  his  native 
county.  He  attended  the  subscription  school,  held 
in  a  log  building,  and  acquired  a  good  English  edu- 
cation. At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  came  to  the 
West  with  his  parents  and  saw  Chicago  in  the  days 
of  its  earliest  infancy.  In  fact,  he  was  one  of  its 
first  residents.  At  the  time  the  family'  located  there 
the  city  was  a  hamlet,  containing  two  stores  and 
two  taverns.  Mr.  Legg  there  continued  to  make 
his  home  until  1837,  when  he  came  to  Kankakee 
County  with  his  parents.  Under  the  parental  roof 
he  remained  until  1839,  and  aided  in  the  arduous 
task  of  developing  from  the  wild  prairie  a  good 
farm.  At  length  he  left  home  and  began  life  for 
himself.  During  one  summer  he  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  by  the  month  and  then  rented  land  for  about 
three  years.  With  the  capital  he  acquired  during 
that  period  as  the  result  of  his  industry  and  econ- 
omy, he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section 
18,  Aroma  Township,  from  the  Government,  at  the 
usual  price  of  «1.2r)  per  acre.  This  was  in  1810, 
and  for  fifty-two  years  Ids  home  has  been  upon 
that  farm.  His  first  homo  was  a  small  log  cabin,  in 
which  he  resided  for  some  years.   ■  The  Pottawato- 


360 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


mie  Indians  were  still  numerous  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  tlie  county  was  all  wild  and  unimproved 
and  gave  little  evidence  of  the  rapid  progress  and 
development  which  were  so  soon  to  transform  it 
and  give  it  rank  among  tlie  leading  counties  in  this 
great  commonwealth. 

On  the  5th  of  March,  1842,  Mr.  Legg  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Martha  J.  Lowe,  daughter 
of  Peter  and  Harriet  Lowe.  Her  death  occurred 
in  1845.  Unto  them  were  born  two  sons,  both  of 
whom  gave  their  lives  in  defense  of  the  Union. 
John  11.  enlisted  in  1862  as  a  private  of  Company 
F,  Seventy-sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Vicksburg  sustained  a  wound,  the  eflfects  of 
which  terminated  his  life  on  the  25th  of  February, 
1864.  Ilis  remains  were  brought  back  and  interred 
in  the  Leggtown  Cemetery,  the  family  buryiug- 
ground.  Peter  L.  enlisted  in  the  same  company  and 
regiment  as  his  brother  and  died  at  La  Grange, 
Tenn.,  in  1862.  His  body  was  also  brought  back 
and  laid  to  rest  in  the  same  cemeterv. 

Mr.  Legg  was  again  married,  in  1847,  tliis  time  to 
Miss  Ann  M.  Gleason,  daughter  of  Eber  and  Laura 
Gleason.  They  had  a  family  of  six  children, 
namely:  Dee,  a  farmer  now  residing  in  St.  Anne 
Township;  Edgar,  who  is  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  in  Aroma  Township;  Laura,  wife  of  Will- 
iam Storrs,  who  resides  in  Ganier  Township;  Ben- 
jamin, a.  farmer  of  Aroma  Township;  Ella,  wife  of 
Wendell  Brooks,  who  follows  farming  in  St.  Anne 
Township;  and  Edna,  who  completes  the  family. 
The  mother  of  these  children  departed  this  life  on 
the  8th  of  May,  1880,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the 
family  gravej'ard. 

For  a  period  of  thirty  years,  Mr.  Legg  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  belonging  to 
the  lodge  in  AValdron.  He  takes  a  great  interest 
in  politics  and  gives  a  warm  support  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Republican  part3^  For  seven  years 
he  has  served  his  township  as  School  Treasurer,  and 
the  cause  of  education  flnds  in  him  a  warm  friend. 
He  is  public-spirited  and  progressive  and  does  all 
in  his  power  to  promote  the  county's  best  in- 
terest. AVith  the  experiences  of  pioneer  life,  Mr. 
Legg  is  certainly  familiar,  and  he  has  the  honor  of 
having  hauled  the  lirst  load  of  wheat  to  Chicago 
which  was  sold  on  the  market  of  that  city.     This 


was  in  the  autum  of  1838.  His  life  has  been  a  busy 
and  useful  one  and  he  may  truly  be  called  a  self- 
made  man,  for  through  his  own  industry,  enterprise 
and  good  management  has  been  acquired  all  that 
he  now  possesses.  His  farm  comprises  three  hun- 
dred acres  of  rich  land  and  the  improvements 
thereon  stand  as  monuments  to  his  thrift  and  en- 
ergy.  He  is  now  living  retired,  enjo^'ing  a  well-  j 
earned  rest  and  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil. 


A  FAYETTE  H.  PERRY,  a  dealer  in  grain, 
lumber,  coal,  wagons,  farm  implements,  etc.,  1 
^  at  St.  Anne,  is  a   native    of    the    Empire 
State.     He  was  born    in    Madison   County,  on  the  ■ 
7th  of  August,  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  Hamilton  and  ] 
.Jane  M.  (Nichols)  Periy,  both  natives  of  New  York. 
Grandfather  Nichols  was  a  shoemaker  in  Perry  ville,  j 
N.  Y.     He  was  born    in   1795,  and  died  in   1880. 
He  was  a  soldier  and  captain  in  the  war  of    1812,  ] 
and  was  thrice  married  and  reared  a  large  family  j 
of  children.     At    the    time    of    his    death  he  was] 
eighty-five  years    of  age.     Grandmother  Nichols] 
died  in  1869,  in  her  seventh-sixth  year. 

Hamilton  Perry  was  a  farmer  b}'  occupation  and 
for  many  years  carried  on  a  farm  in  New  York.  Leav- 
ing there  in  1857,  he  moved  to  Wisconsin,  where  hej 
located  upon  a  farm  near  Fond  du  Lac,  which  he 
tilled  until  1861.  That3'ear  witnessed  his  removal ' 
to  Illinois,  where  he  located  some  three  miles  south 
of  Momence.  His  death  occurred  in  1879,  in 
Aroma  Township,  Kankakee  County.  His  wife 
still  survives  and  has  now  reached  her  sixtieth 
year.  Their  family  consisted  of  two  sons  and  a 
daughter,  our  subject  being  the  eldest.  The  sec- 
ond is  Lucy  J.,  born  March  13,  1855,  wife  of  Jerry 
Dugan,  of  Aroma  Township;  Edwin  J.  born  July 
3,  1863,  is  a  resident  of  St.  Anne. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were  passed  in 
the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  and  when  but 
thirteen  years  of  age  he  struck  out  for  himself, 
continuing  at  farm  work  until  reaching  his  major- 
ity. His  school  privileges  until  that  time  were 
those  of  the    district   country   schools.     He  after- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


3f)l 


ward  entered  the  commercial  department  of  the 
Valparaiso  Normal  School  of  Indiana  and  was 
graduated  from  there  in  1875.  For  six  years  Mr. 
Perr3'  engaged  in  teaching  school  in  this  countj^ 
for  five  j'ears  of  the  time  being  in  district  No.  2, 
the  remainder  in  Papincau  Township. 

On  the  28th  of  December,  1881,  Mr.  Perry  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Ireland,  daughter  of  Hon. 
Silas  and  Matilda  (Michael)  Ireland,  of  Summer- 
ville,  Mich.  To  them  have  been  born  live  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  two  daughters,  as  follows: 
Earl  I.;  born  December  14, 1882;  Hazel  D.,  January 
16,1885;  Myrtle  P..,  March  25,  188G;  La  Fayette 
D.,  June  10,  1887;  and  Roscoe  J.,  June  27,  1889. 

In  1882,  Mr.  Perry  embarked  in  the  grain,  lum- 
ber and  co.al  business  in  St.  Anne,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Davis  <fe  Perry.  Afterward  Mr.  Perry 
continued  alone  for  some  time  and  then  went 
into  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law,  F.  A. 
Ireland.  After  four  years  this  partnership  was 
dissolved,  and  he  has  since  conducted  the  business 
alone.  For  eight  years,  Mr.  Perry  w.as  one  of  the 
Village  Trustees  and  previous  to  that  time  was 
Village  Clerk.  Socially,  he  holds  membership 
with  Aroma  Lodge,  A.  F.  ife  A.  M.,  and  is  Banker 
of  Maple  Camp  No.  1321,  M.  W.  A.  Politically, 
he  uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the 
Republican  party. 


-mi^ 


i='f;=i 


PERRIN  EASTON  is  a  prosperous  farmer 
ttr^(  who  resides  in  Herscher.  His  farm,  which 
iSi  *  consists  of  seven tj'-seven  acres,  is  well  im- 
proved and  very  valuable,  being  situated 
within  the  corporate  limits  of  the  town  of  Her- 
scher. He  was  born  in  Trumbull  County,  Ohio, 
on  the  23d  of  December,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  R.  Easton,  born  in  the  same  county.  The 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  John  Easton, 
was  of  English  descent  and  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts, in  which  State  his  ancestors  were  among  the 
early  settlers.  In  1816,  he  removed  to  Ohio,  at 
which  time  it  was  a  vast  wilderness  and  had  been 
but  recently  admitted  as  a  State.     He  was  one  of 


the  very  first  settlers  of  Trumbull  County  uml 
cleared  a  farm  in  the  forest.  There  he  reared  his 
family  and  spent  his  remaining  days.  The  father 
of  our  subject  spent  his  youth  in  Trumbull  County 
and  on  arriving  at  man's  estate  wedded  Mrs. 
Gratia  Jane  Southwell,  who  was  in  her  maiden- 
hood Miss  Barnard,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Bar- 
nard, who  was  born  in  the  Empire  State,  and  re- 
moved to  Ohio.  She  was  born  and  reared  to 
womanhood  in  New  York.  For  some  j-ears  after 
his  marriage  Mr.  Easton  farmed  in  Trumbull  and 
Portage  Counties.  In  November,  186'J,  he  re- 
moved westward  to  Illinois,  locating  first  at  Lock- 
port.  Will  County,  where  he  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising for  three  }-ears.  Selling  out  his  business,  he 
bought  an  improved  farm  in  Ford  County,  upon 
which  he  located  in  1872.  He  carried  on  that 
farm  for  several  years,  and  in  the  spring  of  1882 
purchased  a  farm  in  Pilot  Township,  which  he 
operated  for  some  seven  j-ears.  He  is  now  living 
retired  from  the  arduous  business  cares  of  life  in 
Buckingham  and  is  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  j'cars 
of  labor. 

Perrin  Easton  is  the  onl}'  son  of  the  family  and 
came  to  Illinois  when  but  eleven  years  of  age.  He 
has  lived  in  Will,  Ford  and  Kankakee  Counties,  in 
all  of  which  his  educational  advantages  were 
good.  Until  reaching  his  m:ijority  he  assisted  his 
father  on  his  farm,  and  on  the  21st  of  September, 
1882,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Katie  A. 
Munger,  the  ceremony  being  performed  in  Iro- 
quois County.  Mrs.  Easton  was  born  in  Kendall 
County,  March  22,  1862,  but  passed  her  girlhood 
in  Iro(iuois  County.  Two  children  have  been 
born  to  them:  Nellie  M.  and  Clyde  M.,  who  are 
both  attending  the  Herscher  school. 

In  1889,  Mr.  Easton  purchased  the  place  where 
he  now  resides,  on  which  was  erected  the  finest  and 
most  complete  residence  in  Pilot  Township,  and 
which  is  located  within  the  town  limits.  As  every 
American  citizen  should  be,  he  is  interested  in  pol- 
itics and  supports  the  Republican  part}'.  His  first 
ballot  was  cast  in  1880  for  Hon.  James  A.  Garfield. 
He  was  elected  and  is  now  serving  as  one  of  the 
Village  Trustees  and  advocates  all  measures  tending 
to  the  welfare  and  advancement  of  the  commu- 
nity's best  interest.    Mrs.  Easton  holds  membership 


362 


JfOKTEAlT  AND  BIOGEAPHICAL  RECORD. 


with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Cimrch  of  Herscher, 
where  slie  is  held  in  high  regard.  Though  a 
young  man,  our  subject  has  developed  good  busi- 
ness methods  and  is  capable  and  active.  By  his 
many  qualities  of  personal  worth  he  has  the  well- 
merited  respect  and  friendship  of  all. 


kUSCIOUS  M.  CASE,  one  of  the  highly  re- 
spected citizens  of  Aroma  Township,  Kan- 
kakee County,  is  engaged  in  working  at 
his  trade  of  carpentering.  As  he  has  a  wide  ac- 
quaintance and  is  so  well  known  throughout  the 
community,  we  feel  assured  that  this  record  of  his 
life  will  prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our  readers. 

Mr.  Case  is  a  native  of  Connecticut.  He  was 
born  in  New  Haven  County  on  the  23d  of  Sej)- 
tember,  1810,  and  is  a  son  of  Grove  and  Lena 
(Bondell)  Case.  His  parents  were  also  natives  of 
the  Nutmeg  State,  and  were  of  German  and  English 
descent  respectively.  A  family  of  fourteen  children 
were  born  of  their  union,  and  all  grew  to  manhood 
and  womanhood,  namely:  Mahala,  Hiram,  Will- 
iam, Washington,  Eliza,  Elisiah,  Luscious  M.,  Clin- 
ton C,  Kittle,  Levi,  Cynthia,  Spencer,  Hammond  and 
Sadie.  The  father  of  this  family  was  a  farmer  bj' 
occupation,  and  followed  that  business  in  pursuit 
of  fortune  throughout  his  entire  life.  His  death 
occurred  in  1852,  and  his  wife,  who  survived  him 
about  eight  years,  passed  away  in  1860. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  and  reared 
under  the  Blue  Laws  of  Connecticut.  His  educa- 
tional privileges  were  quite  limited  and  were  all 
received  prior  to  the  age  of  sixteen  3rears.  He  at- 
tended subscription  schools,  which  convened  in  pri- 
vate homes  and  log  houses.  At  the  early  age  of 
fourteen  years  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself, 
and  has  since  been  dependent  upon  his  own  efforts. 
He  began  empty-handed,  so  that  whatever  suc- 
cess he  has  achieved  is  the  result  of  his  own  in- 
dustry and  perseverance.  Learning  the  trade  of 
a  carpenter,  he  has  followed  it  through  the  greater 
part  of  his  life.  Witii  his  parents  he  removed  to 
the  Empire  State,   the    family    locating   in    Chau- 


tauqua County,  and  in  New  York  Mr.  Case  re- 
mained until  1833,  which  year  witnessed  his  emi- 
gration Westward.  Having  bade  good-b^e  to  his 
old  home,  he  came  to  Illinois,  taking  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Jacksonville,  where  he  spent  six  months. 
He  made  the  trip  westward  by  water.  After  the 
half  year  spent  in  that  State,  he  went  to  St.  Louis, 
where  he  afterwards  remained  for  six  months, 
and  then  became  a  resident  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
Subsequently  he  made  a  location  in  Chicago,  and 
built  the  blocking  for  the  first  vessel  which  was 
ever  constructed  in  that  city.  He  remained  in 
Chicago  until  the  summer  of  1836,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Joliet,  III.,  remaining  in  that  place  for 
about  a  year  and  a-half,  during  which  time  he 
worked  at  his  trade  of  carpentering.  We  next  find 
him  living  in  Beloit,  Wis.,  where  he  made  his  home 
until  1839. 

That  year  witnessed  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Case  in 
Kankakee  County,  111.,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home.  He  at  once  located  upon  a  farm  in 
Aroma  Township,  purchasing  two  hundred  acres 
of  partially  improved  land,  which  under  his 
thorough  cultivation  and  systematic  care  has  been 
transformed  into  one  of  the  finest  farms  of  the 
locality.  Acre  after  acre  was  placed  under  the 
plow,  and  the  well-tilled  fields  soon  yielded  golden 
tribute  in  return  for  the  care  and  labor  he  be- 
stowed upon  them.  He  also  made  man}-  excellent 
improvements  upon  the  place. 

Three  j^ears  after  coming  to  this  couiitj',  Mr. 
Case  was  married,  in  1842,  to  Miss  Anna  Randall, 
and  unto  them  was  born  a  son,  Albert,  now  a 
resident  farmer  of  Waldron.  The  mother  died  in 
1845,  and  Mr.  Case  was  again  married,  in  1846, 
the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Olive  John- 
son. Three  children  were  born  of  this  union,  but 
the  eldest,  Mary  Jane,  is  now  deceased;  Ellen  is 
now  the  wife  of  Samuel  Cooper,  an  agriculturist 
of  Aroma  Township;  and  Willie,  the  youngest, 
carries  on  the  home  farm.  The  members  of  the 
family  are  widely  known  in  this  locality,  and  are 
held  in  the  highest  regard  by  all. 

Mr.  Case  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  John 
Quincy  Adams.  An  Abolitionist  in  principle,  he 
joined  the  Republican  party  on  its  organization, 
and  has  since  been    one  of  its  stalwart  supporters, 


iY 
OF  THE 
HNIVERSIl  Y  Of  ILLINOIS 


iJ!.™-" 


^ 


m 


S^ 


^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


365 


warmly  advocating  its  principles.  He  has  never 
been  an  otficc-scelcer,  bul  has  been  a  public-spirited 
and  progressive  citizen,  who  has  manifested  a  com- 
mendable interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  wel- 
fare of  the  coniraunit3\  More  than  half  a  cen- 
tury has  passed  since  he  came  to  the  count3^  He 
lias  been  an  eye-witness  of  almost  its  entire  growtii, 
li.as  seen  its  raw  prairies  transformed  into  lieautiful 
homes  and  f.arms,  its  hamlets  grow  into  cities  and 
thriving  towns,  while  schoolhouses  and  churclies 
have  been  Iniilt,  and  progress  has  marched  steadily 
forward,  until  the  Kankakee  County  of  to-day 
bears  little  resemblance  to  that  of  fifty  years  ago. 
Mr.  Case  has  ever  done  his  part  in  its  develop- 
ment, and  well  deserves  mention  among  its  hon- 
ored pioneers.  He  has  now  reached  the  age  of 
eighty-two  years,  but  is  still  hale  and  heart}',  so 
much  so  that  he  yet  works  at  his  trade. 


'1^  ENRY  E.  RANTZ,  a  highly  respected  farmer 
Yj  and  stock-raiser,  who  resides  on  section  17, 
Limestone  Township,  has  the  honor  of  be- 
•Jj  ing  a  native  of  the  county  which  is  still 
his  home,  and  therefore  (me  of  its  pioneer  settlers. 
He  was  born  on  Christmas  Day,  1847,  in  the  town 
of  Rourbonnais,  and  was  the  thirteentii  child  in  a 
family  of  fourteen  children,  including  six  sons 
and  eight  daughters.  The  parents  were  William 
and  Elizabeth  (Snyder)  Rantz.  The  father  was 
born  in  Columbia  Count}',  Pa.,  on  the  30th  of 
July,  1803,  was  reared  to  manhood  upon  the  farm, 
and  in  the  Keystone  State  met  and  married  Miss 
Suyder.  He  afterward  emigrated  to  Ohio,  where 
he  lived  for  about  eight  years,  when  he  sold  his 
property  in  that  State  and  came  to  Kankakee 
Countv,  111.  Mr.  Kantz  here  made  a  claim  of  one 
hundred  and  twentj-  acres  of  land,  which  he  en- 
tered from  the  Government.  It  is  located  in  what 
is  now  Bourbcmnais,  Limestone  Township,  and 
upon  the  farm  which  he  there  developed  he  re- 
sided until  his  death,  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits.    He  lived   in   the   township  for  over   Bftj' 

17 


years  and  was  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  the 
county.  His  de.ath  occurred  .luly  IC,  1871.  His 
wife  was  born  in  Orange  County,  I'a.,  February 
22,  1807,  and  was  of  German  extraction.  The 
Rantz  family  is  also  of  German  origin.  The  pa- 
ternal grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  Revolu- 
tionary soldier  and  fought  in  tiie  war  for  inde- 
pendence under  Gen.  AVashington. 

Mr.  Rantz,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  spent  the 
days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  upon  the  home 
farm,  remaining  under  the  parental  roof  until  he 
had  reached  his  majority.  The  common  sciiools 
afforded  him  his  educational  privileges  and  his 
business  training  was  received  upon  the  farm. 
Like  a  great  many  other  young  men,  he  started  out 
in  life  without  a  dollar,  but  he  w.as  energetic  and 
has  worked  his  way  steadily  upward  to  success. 
He  rented  a  farm  for  a  couple  of  years  and  then 
rented  the  old  homestead,  which  he  operated  suc- 
cessfully for  seven  years.  Having  in  that  time 
acquired  some  capital,  he  then  purchased  a  farm, 
upon  which  he  resided  until  February,  1891,  when 
he  purchased  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides, 
comprising  two  hundred  acres  of  land  of  great  fer- 
tility, located  on  section  17,  Limestone  Township, 
and  which  has  since  been  his  home.  The  entire 
amount  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  .and 
the  place  is  well  improved  with  all  the  accessories 
of  a  model  farm.  Mr.  Rantz  is  largely  interested 
in  stock-raising,  making  a  specialty  of  the  breed- 
ing of  fine  cattle  and  hogs. 

On  the  29th  of  September,  1868,  our  subject 
married  Miss  Louisa  Trimble,  daughter  of  .John 
and  Louisa  (Bovine)  Trimble.  Her  parents  are 
both  of  French  descent  and  are  natives  of  Canada. 
The  father  w.as  born  in  1830,  and  the  birth  of  the 
mother  occurred  on  the  10th  of  February,  1833. 
In  1853  they  emigrated  with  their  family  to  this 
county,  where  they  have  since  resided.  They  are 
now  living  in  Bourbonnais.  Mrs.  Kantz  w.as  born 
in  Canada  on  the  21th  of  July,  1850,  and  is  the 
eldest  in  a  family  of  eleven  children.  She  came 
with  her  p.arents  to  this  count}'  in  1853,  and  has 
here  since  made  her  home.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rantz  have  been  horn  four  children,  a  son  and 
three  daughters.  Emma  M.,  who  was  born  July  5, 
1869,  attended  the  common  schools,  was  afterward 


366 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  student  in  the  High  School  of  KaHkakce,  and  is 
now  successfully  engaged  in  teaching  in  this  county. 
She  manied  Frederick  D.  (ioodknecht,  who  resides 
in  Bourbonnais.  Carrie  E.,  born  August  13,  1870, 
is  a  well-educated  young  lady,  who  is  now  cm 
ployed  as  teacher  in  the  graded  schools  of  Bon- 
field.  John  William,  born  on  the  5th  of  October, 
1873,  and  Agnes,  who  completes  the  family  and 
was  born  March  29,  1875,  are  still  under  the  i)a- 
rental  roof. 

Mr.  Rantz  is  numbered  among  the  substantial 
agriculturists  of  this  community.  He  owns  one 
of  the  best  farms  in  the  county,  comprising  two 
hundred  acres  of  well-improved  land,  which  is  un- 
der a  high  state  of  cultivation.  An  important 
branch  of  his  business  is  stock-raising,  he  making 
a  specialty  of  fine  cattle  and  hogs.  Our  subject  is 
a  man  of  excellent  business  ability,  enterprising 
and  progressive,  and  by  his  well-directed  efforts 
has  gained  a  comfortable  competence.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  supporter  of  the  Democracy,  and  for 
ten  years  he  has  filled  the  office  of  School  Direc- 
tor. Mr.  Rantz  is  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  is 
held  in  high  regard  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and 
acquaintances. 


^l 


H' 


J.  B.  HAWKINS  resides  on  section  25, 
Limestone  Township.  In  presenting  a 
sketch  of  this  worth3'  gentleman  to  our 
readers,  we  record  the  life  work  of  not 
only  one  of  the  leading  farmers,  but  of  one  of 
the  most  honored  pioneers  of  the  county.  For  al- 
most sixty  years  he  has  resided  in  this  community, 
and  few,  if  any,  have  so  long  been  numbered 
among  the  citizens  of  Kankakee  County'.  He  cer- 
tainly deserves  representation  in  this  volume,  for 
he  has  ever  borne  a  prominent  part  in  the  upbuild- 
ing and  development  of  the  community. 

Mr.  Hawkins  was  born  on  the  2d  of  July,  1815, 
in  Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  and  is  a  son  of  Eben- 
ezer  and  Rebecca  (Jepson)  Hawkins.  The  father 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  April  22, 
1772.     The  grandparents  of  our  subject  were  also 


born  in  New  England,  but  the  great-grandparents 
were  natives  of  England,  and  were  founders  of  the 
Hawkins  family  in  America.  The  mother  of  our 
subject  w.as  born  in  Massachusetts,  January  6, 
1773.  Her  parents  were  also  natives  of  New  Eng- 
land, and  were  of  Englisli  extraction.  Ebeuezer 
and  Rebecca  Hawkins  were  married  in  Goshen, 
Mass.,  February  16,  1792,  and  shortly  afterward 
removed  to  Burlington,  Vt.  Their  residence  in 
that  localit}',  however,  was  of  short  duration,  for 
soon  they  emigrated  to  the  Empire  State,  wliere 
Mr.  Hawkins  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  pot- 
tery. 

In  1825  our  subject's  father  emigrated  with 
his  family  to  "N^ermilion  County,  111.,  and  pur- 
chased from  the  Government  a  small  farm.  This 
land  was  all  wild  and  uncultivated,  with  no  im- 
provements, but  he  at  once  began  its  development 
and  transformed  the  ravv  prairie  into  one  of  the 
best  farms  in  the  counts.  His  death  occurred  at 
his  home  on  the  22d  of  September,  1828,  at  the  age 
of  fifty-six  years,  and  his  many  friends  assembled 
to  pay  the  last  tiibute  of  respect  to  the  man  whom 
the}'  had  honored  in  life,  and  whose  death  the}- 
deeply  regretted.  He  will  ever  be  held  in  loving 
remembrance  by  the  old  settlers  who  knew  him,  and 
by  his  children.  He  had  borne  with  the  pioneers 
the  trials  and  hardships  of  pioneer  life,  and  was 
ever  ready  to  speak  a  cheering  word  to  the  dis- 
couraged, and  to  aid  those  who  alone  seemed  un- 
able to  perform  their  hard  labor  or  surmount  the 
difficulties  which  had  to  be  encountered  by  all 
earl}'  settlers.  His  life  was  an  honorable,  upright 
one,  filled  with  good  deeds.  The  Golden  Rule  he 
faithfully  and  conscientiously  observed,  doing  to 
others  as  he  would  have  them  do  unto  him.  He 
was  truly  one  of  Nature's  noblemen. 

Mrs.  Hawkins,  mother  of  our  subject,  died  Au- 
gust 25,  1850,  in  Danville,  111.,  and  her  remains 
were  interred  by  the  side  of  him  to  whom  she  had 
ever  proved  a  loving  companion  and  helpmate 
along  the  journey  of  life.  A  monument  has  been 
erected  to  the  memory  of  this  worth}' couple.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hawkins  were  parents  of  nine  children, 
four  sons  and  five  daughters. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  the  eighth 
in   order  of  birth,    was  born  and  reared    on    the 


4 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


367 


home  farm.  His  education  was  limited  to  the  ad- 
vantages aflforded  by  the  district  schools  of  this 
new  c'ciintry.  lie  was  only  eleven  years  of  age 
when  the  family  came  to  the  West,  and  when  a  lad 
of  thirteen  was  deprived  of  a  father's  watchful 
care.  He  remained  on  the  old  liomcjtead  with  his 
niollier,  and  like  a  dutiful  son  aided  her  in  the  care 
of  the  farm  until  nineteen  j-ears  of  age,  when  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself.  His  capital  consisted 
of  only  a  young  man's  bright  hope  of  the  future 
and  a  determination  to  succeed.  He  came  at  once 
to  what  is  now  Kank.akee  Countv,  but  which  was 
then  a  part  of  Iroquois  Count}-.  This  was  in  1834. 
He  settled  on  a  tract  of  Government  land,  which 
he  ])re-empted  five  j-ears  later,  and  thereon  built 
the  first  frame  house  in  the  county.  He  imme- 
diately began  the  improvement  of  his  land,  which 
was  hitherto  a  barren  tract,  and  as  acre  after  acre 
■was  placed  under  tlie  plow,  he  received  a  golden 
iiarvest  in  return  for  his  care  and  labor.  At  that 
time  there  were  onl}^  three  other  settlers  in  the 
count}'.  There  were  no  roads,  no  improvements, 
nothing  but  a  wild  region,  and  the  hardships  and 
trials  of  pioneer  life  were  many,  but  our  subject 
met  them  bravel}-,  and  by  a  determined  will  and 
untiring  industry  overcame  them. 

In  1845,  when  thirtj'  years  of  age,  Mr.  Hawkins 
married  Miss  Matilda  Legg,  and  his  wife  was  soon 
duly  installed  as  mistress  of  the  pioneer  home. 
Three  children  were  born  of  their  union,  but  all 
are  now  deceased.  The  mother  died  in  1849, 
and  .Tune  4,  18.50,  Mr.  Hawkins  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  with  Miss  Harriet 
M.  Lowe,  who  was  born  September  2,  1823,  in  Ox- 
ford Township,  Butler  County,  Ohio.  She  is  a 
most  estimable  lady,  and  is  held  in  the  highest  re- 
gard b}-  all  who  know  her.  To  her  husband  she 
has  indeed  proved  a  helpmate,  and  to  her  assist- 
ance he  owes  much  of  his  success.  By  their  union 
the  following  children  were  born:  Peter  L.,  born 
on  the  1st  of  March,  18.')1,  died  on  the  24th 
of  October  of  the  same  year;  Edwin,  born  July 
29,  18.52,  died  August  26,  1854;  Micah  J.  B. 
was  born  March  11,  18;54;  Joel  B.,  born  April  8, 
1856,  was  married  February  16,  1886,  to  Mary  A. 
O'Brien,  a  lady  of  Irish  extraction,  and  they  have 
three  children,  one  son  and  two  daughters.     A.  B., 


bora  on  the  10th  of  September,  1857,  wedded 
Liddy  J.  Ilines,  of  Custer  Township,  Will  County, 
111.,  and  they  have  two  sons  and  two  daughters; 
Harriet  M.,  born  August  2,  1861,  died  June  14, 
1867;  Mark,  born  March  10,  1864,  aids  in  the  cul- 
tivation of  the  home  farm;  Julia  Ann,  born  June 
27,  1866,  died  June  31,  1871;  David  N.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1870,  completes  the  family.  The  latter  is 
a  wide-awake  young  man  of  twent3--two  years,  who 
acquired  a  good  education,  and  is  well  informed  on 
all  matters  of  general  interest.  He  still  resides 
under  the  parental  roof.  Joel  is  a  well-informed 
man,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  politicians  in  this 
community.  He  has  served  as  Town  Clerk  for 
three  years,  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  pros- 
perous farmers  of  Limestone  Township. 

In  political  sentiment  in  early  life,  Mr.  Hawkins 
was  a  supporter  of  the  Whig  party,  and  cast  his 
first  Presidential  vote  for  William  Henry  Harri- 
son. At  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party, 
he  joined  its  ranks,  and  has  since  fought  under  its 
banner.  Of  its  principles  he  is  a  warm  advocate. 
His  last  ballot  was  cast  for  Hon.  Benjamin  Harri- 
son, the  illustrious  grandson  of  the  Tippecanoe 
hero.  Throughout  his  residence  in  this  county, 
Mr.  Hawkins  has  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  now  owns  a  valuable  farm  containingsome  of 
the  most  fertile  land  in  Kankakee  County,  which 
yields  to  him  a  golden  tribute  as  the  reward  for 
his  cultivation.  His  beautiful  home  is  located  on 
the  banks  of  the  Kankakee  River,  and  it  is  the 
abode  of  hospitalit}',  being  ever  open  for  the  re- 
ception of  the  many  friends  of  the  famih'. 

We  see  in  Mr.  Hawkins  a  self-made  man,  who 
started  out  in  life  in  very  limited  circumstance, 
but  b}-  industiy,  economy  and  good  business  abil- 
ity has  won  a  handsome  competence.  He  is  an 
honored  pioneer,  who  for  fifty  long  3'ears  has  re- 
sided in  this  community.  He  has  witnessed  the 
entire  growth  of  the  county,  for  on  his  arrival  the 
prairies  were  still  in  their  primitive  condition, and 
the  echoes  of  the  forest  had  not  then  been  awak- 
ened bj'  the  woodman's  ax.  The  cities  of  Joliet 
and  Kankakee  were  not  then  in  existence.  He  has 
seen  the  honored  march  of  progress  and  the  im- 
provement and  advancement  that  has  followed  in 
its  footsteps,  has  watched  the  wonderful  growth  of 


368 


POKTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


towns  and  cities,  has  seen  the  transformation  of 
the  waste  lands  into  beautiful  homes  and  farms, 
and  has  ever  borne  a  prominent  part  in  this  great 
work.  Mr.  Hawkins  has  now  reached  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years.  He  can  look  back  over  his 
past  life  with  no  regrets,  and  forward  to  the  future 
with  no  fears.  The  high  respect  which  is  tendered 
him  is  justly  his. 


«4^ 


eHARLES  E.  SWANNELL,  senior  partner 
of  the  firm  of  C.  E.  &  A.  Swaiinell, 
merchants  of  Kankakee,  successors  to  Fred- 
erick Swannell,  are  proprietors  of  the  largest  and 
oldest  established  house  in  their  line  in  Kankakee 
County  and  are  dealers  in  dry  goods,  cloaks  and 
carpets.  This  house  was  established  by  the  father 
of  the  present  proprietors  in  1857,  and  by  him  the 
business  was  conducted,  he  having  for  a  time  his 
eldest  son  for  a  partner,  until  about  1876,  when  his 
second  son,  Cliarles  E.,  was  admitted  to  the  firm. 
This  connection  was  continued  until  August,  1882, 
when  the  existing  firm  was  established,  the  two 
sons  purchasing  the  father's  interest,  and  they  have 
since  conducted  the  business  with  marked  success. 
The  building  occupied  by  C.  E.  and  A.  Swannell  is 
the  property  of  their  father  and  is  50x90  feet  in 
area,  two  stories  high  with  a  basement,  and  is  sub- 
stantially built  of  brick.  Tiie  first  floor  is  one 
large  salesroom,  which  is  heavily  stocked  and 
tastefully  arranged. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Momence, 
Kankakee  County,  111.,  on  the  IGth  of  March, 
1856,  and  is  the  second  child  of  Frederick  and 
Eliza  (Paddon)  Swannell,  whose  sketch  is  given 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  His  education  was  ob- 
tained in  the  public  schools,  at  Lake  Forest  Aca- 
demy, and  at  .Jacksonville  Business  College.  His 
taste  was  early  directed  in  the  mercantile  line  in 
his  father's  store  and  counting-room,  where  he 
commenced  in  1871.  Five  years  later  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  partnership  with  his  father  and  so  con- 
tinued until  August,  1882,  at  which  time  he  was 
joined  by  his  brother  Arthur,  and  together  they 


purchased  their  father's  interest  in  the  business 
and  the  existing  firm  was  formed.  They  have 
now  been  engaged  in  business  for  ten  3'ears  and 
have  ever  maintained  the  familj^  reputation  and 
credit  in  the  mercantile  world  in  a  manner  that 
places  them  among  the  successful  and  prosperous 
merchants  of  Eastern  Illinois. 

On  the  31st  of  July,  1879,  in  Kankakee,  oc- 
curred the  marriage  of  Mr.  Swannell  and  Miss 
Ella  Huckins,  a  daughter  of  George  and  Isabel 
Huckins.  Mrs.  Swannell  was  born  in  Elgin,  111., 
and  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  By  her  marriage 
she  became  the  mother  of  three  children:  Isabel; 
Harry,  deceased;  and  Margaret.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Swannell  hold  membership  with  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Kankakee. 

Politicall}',  our  subject  affiliates  with  the  Re- 
publican part3'  and  is  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Arcanum.  He  and  his  brother  are  descended  from 
a  family  of  merchants  and  seem  to  have  inlierited 
the  sterling  business  qualifications  which  character- 
ized the  career  of  their  father  and  grandfather, 
whose  lives  were  distinguished  by  strict  integritj- 
and  correct  business  methods. 


'\fj  OHN  SMALL,  who  is  prominent  among  the 
younger  members  of  the  Kankakee  County 
^~,  1  Bar,  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
(^^  sketch.  He  is  the  present  Master  in  Chan- 
cery for  the  Eleventh  .Judicial  District,  and  also 
Public  Guardian  for  Kankakee  County.  He  is  a 
native  of  this  city  and  was  born  on  the  4th  of 
March,  1858,  at  the  old  homestead  where  his  par-, 
ents  now  reside.  His  father.  Dr.  Abrain  L.  Small 
was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  county,  having 
settled  in  Roekville  Township  in  1851.  A  sketcl 
of  Doctor  Small  is  given  on  another  page  of  thii 
work. 

The   subject    of    this    sketch    obtained    a    goo( 
knowledge  of  the  nursery  business  in  his  younge 
da3'S,   and    at    the  same  time  attended  the  pubU!J 
schools  of  the  city.     Later,  Mr.  Small  took  a  comij 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIUCAL  RECORD. 


369 


mercial  course  of  instruction  in  the  Northern 
Indiana  Normal  School,  of  Valparaiso.  lie  en- 
gaged in  teaching  and  reading  law  at  the  same 
time,  after  which  he  entered  the  law  olfice  of  Will- 
iam Potter  in  Kankakee  .ind  at  the  end  of  a  two- 
years  course  of  reading  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in 
1883.  Mr.  Small  was  appointed  Master  in  Ciian- 
cery  in  December,  1889,  to  Gil  the  unexpired  term 
of  his  predecessor,  and  later  was  reappointed  for  a 
full  term  by  the  Circuit  Court.  The  office  of 
Public  Guardian,  which  he  holds,  was  established 
by  an  act  of  tlie  Legislature,  approved  June  3, 
1889,  and  on  the  1st  of  November  of  the  same 
year  Mr.  Small  received  his  commission  from 
Gov.  Fifer  and  was  the  first  to  serve  in  that  capac- 
ity. Our  subject  is  thorough!}'  educated  in  his 
profession  and  possesses  the  confidence  and  re- 
spect of  his  legal  brethren  and  of  the  community 
at  large. 


^(  AMES  H.  PETERSON,  County  Superintend- 
ent of  Schools  in  Kankakee  County,  resides 
in  the  city  of  that  name.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  Hamilton  County,  Ohio,  on  the 
16th  of  May,  1843.  Ills  father,  Elisha  A.,  was  also 
a  native  of  the  same  county,  where  his  birth  oc- 
curred on  the  10th  of  June,  1810.  He  departed 
this  life  in  February,  1889.  The  mother,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Eliza  D.  Brown,  was  born  in 
the  Empire  State  and  died  in  1850. 

James  H.  Peterson  was  reared  to  manhood  and 
was  educated  in  his  native  State.  He  was  em- 
ploj'ed  as  a  clerk  for  his  father  and  others  and 
later  was  a  bank  clerk  at  Ken tland,  Ind.  On  the 
25th  of  November,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  late 
war  for  three  j-ears  as  a  member  of  Comiiany  D, 
Fourth  Ohio  Cavalry.  He  served  in  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  and  participated  with  his  regiment  in 
many  battles  and  skirmishes.  He  was  in  vari- 
ous conflicts  with  the  noted  Confederate  officer. 
Gen.  Jlorgan,  in  Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  Ala- 
bama during  the  first  year;  was  in  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga  and   was  with  Sherman  through  the 


Atlanta  campaign,  in  the  battle  of  Knoxville, 
Tenn.,  where  his  command  .a-ssisted  in  driving 
Longstreet  out  of  the  State,  and  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Jonesboro,  Tenn.  He  was  mustered  out 
at  Louisville,  Ky.,  November  25,  18G1. 

Mr.  Peterson  settled  in  St.  Anne,  Kankakee 
County,  in  1872,  and  engaged  in  the  coal,  grain  and 
insurance  business  until  he  was  elected  to  the  po- 
sition he  now  fills.  He  has  held  various  local  of- 
fices .and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Village  Board  of 
Trustees.  Mr.  Peterson  has  one  hundred  and 
forty-seven  schools  under  his  supervision,  includ- 
ing the  graded  schools  of  villages  and  cities,  and 
his  administration  of  the  important  ollicc  he  holds 
has  been  distinguished  by  ability,  fidelity  and  im- 
partiality. Since  entering  ujion  the  duties  of  the 
office  he  has  been  a  resident  of  the  county  seat. 

On  the  11th  of  October.  1876,  Mr.  Peterson 
wedded  Miss  Harriet  J.  Sutton,  a  daughter  of  Moses 
and  Mary  (Lemon)  Sutton.  Mrs.  Peterson  was 
born  in  Cambridgeshire,  England,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  They  have  one 
son  and  two  daughters:  Nettie  E.,  Hervy  Hall 
and  Irene. 

Mr.  Peterson  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  so- 
cially is  a  member  of  Kankakee  Lodge  No.  389, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  Past  Commander  of  Palli- 
sard  Post  No.  396,  G.  A.  R.,  of  St.  Anne,  but  is 
now  connected  with  Whipple  Post  No.  414,  of 
Kankakee.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  Maple 
Grove  Camp  No.  1321,  M.  W.  A.,  of  St.  Anne. 


^^>^^<^ 


)HE  KANKAKEE  TIMES,  Livingston  * 
Burroughs,  proprietors,  editors  and  publish- 
ers, is  the  successor  of  the  Kankakee  Review. 
Tiie  present  firm  was  organized  b}-  the  admission 
of  Mr.  Burroughs  in  1892.  About  1865  tlie  Kan- 
kakee Review  was  started  by  N.  l\.  Taylor.  In  this 
paper  Thom.as  Kelley  purch.ased  an  interest,  and  it 
continued  to  be  ])ublished  under  tiiis  name  until 
it  was  sold  to  W.  F.  Keadj',  who  sold  to  George 
B.  Keadj'  &  Co.,  who  in  turn  disposed  of  their  in- 
terest   in    1881   to  Livingston  &   Keady,  and  Mr. 


370 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Keady  has  now  sold  his  interest  to  Ernest  Shaw. 
At  the  date  of  the  purchase  of  the  office  by  W. 
F.  Keady,  the  name  was  changed  to  the  Kan- 
kakee Times.  Originally  the  paper  was  indepen- 
dent in  politics,  but  subsequently  it  became  Repub- 
lican. About  the  year  1872  it  became  a  supporter 
of  Greeley,  and  then  became  the  organ  of  the  In- 
dependents or  Greenbackers.  In  the  campaign  of 
1880,  however,  the  Times  was  a  warm  partisan  of 
Garfield,  and  under  its  present  management  is 
strongly  Republican.  It  is  a  very  popular  and 
prosperous  paper,  and  has  an  extensive  circulation 
throughout  this  portion  of  the  State. 


r 


ellAELES  A.  SMYTH,  a  photographer  of 
Momence,  was  born  on  the  banks  of  the 
Ohio  River  in  Indiana,  near  Madison,  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  cities  of  that  State,  on  the 
5th  of  January',  1834.  His  grandfather,  Benja- 
min Smyth,  was  a  resident  of  Pennsylvania  and  a 
strict  Puritan  in  religious  belief.  He  lived  to  be 
about  ninety-three  years  of  age,  and  his  wife  also 
lived  to  an  extreme  old  age,  being  ninety-fuur 
years  at  her  death.  He  was  a  farmer  and  entered 
Government  land  near  Madison,  Ind.,  upon  which 
he  erected  a  house  in  1817  or  1818,  which  is  still 
standing  in  a  fair  state  of  preservation.  The  ma- 
ternal grandfather  of  our  subject,  Amos  Mount, 
lived  to  be  over  eighty  years  of  age,  and  his  wife, 
Martha  Mount,  who  died  previously,  also  lived  to 
be  very  old.  He  followed  the  calling  of  an  agri- 
culturist and  also  settled  near  Madison,  Ind.,  about 
the  same  time  as  did  the  Smyth  family. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  John  P.  and  Martha 
(Mount)  Smyth,  were  born  and  reared  in  Shelby 
County,  Ky.  Mr.  Smyth  was  a  carriage-maker  by 
trade  and  followed  that  vocation  in  Kentucky 
until  1874,  when  he  sold  out  his  business  to  his 
son,  Abner  C,  and  became  a  resident  of  Madison, 
Ind.,  where  he  died  some  three  years  later.  His 
birth  occurred  in  Kentucky  in  the  year  1802,  and 
with  his  parents,  who  were  of  (lerman  descent  and 


formerly  lived  in  Pennsylvania,  he  removed  to 
Indiana  in  1818.  The  mother  of  our  subject  de- 
parted this  life  in  Milton,  Ky.,  at  the  home  of  her 
son  Abner  C,  about  the  year  1880,  at  which  time 
she  w!is  nearly  seventy-four  years  of  age.  Two 
daughters  and  six  sons  composed  her  family: 
Thomas,  who  died  wlicn  about  fifteen  years  of  age; 
William  B.,  James  M.,  Charles  A.,  Abner  C,  Ed- 
ward, Hannah  M.  and  Martha  J.,  who  are  all  living 
with  the  exception  of  the  eldest. 

When  a  boy  Charles  A.  Smyth  learned  the  carriage 
and  wagon  maker's  and  blacksmith  trades  in  his  fa- 
thcr'sshop.  This  calling  he  followed  for  tweutj'-one 
j'ears,  until  failing  health  compelled  him  to  accept 
a  less  arduous  line  of  business.  He  decided  to 
take  up  photography,  and  when  commencing  this 
line  of  work  he  made  the  old-fashioned  daguerreo- 
tj'pes.  He  has  continued  in  this  business,  ever 
keeping  abreast  with  the  various  improvements, 
until  the  present  time,  when  photography  has 
achieved  a  high  place  among  the  sister  arts. 

On  the  28th  of  November,  1855,  Mr.  Smyth  was 
joined  in  marriage  with  Miss  Cassander  J.,  daugh- 
ter of  Jonathan  and  Elizabeth  (Veatch)  Woods, 
both  natives  of  Kentucky.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smyth 
are  the  parents  of  two  children,  a  son  and  daugh- 
ter. Laura  J.  became  the  wife  of  George  Aus- 
tin, a  manufacturer  of  gas  and  electric  light  fix- 
tures in  Chicago;  they  have  three  children,  Ruby 
D.,  Edith  and  Lawrence  J.  Ben  married  Miss 
Emma  Doak,  of  Iloopeston,  111.,  and  they  live  in 
Mapleton,  Iowa,  where  he  is  operator,  station  and 
express  agent  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Rail- 
road Compan}-. 

After  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smyth  they 
went  to  Missouri,  living  at  Independence  for  a 
few  months  and  then  removed  to  Miami  County, 
Kan.,  settling  in  Paola,  the  county  seat.  After  a 
residence  there  of  eight  _years  they  removed  to 
Madison,  Ind.,  where  they  remained  until  after  the 
death  of  our  subject's  father,  and  they  then  became 
residents  of  Iloopeston,  111.,  where  they  lived  for 
nearly  ten  years.  In  1887  Mr.  Sm3th  came  to 
Momence  and  opened  a  photograph  gallery,  which 
he  is  still  managing. 

Socially,  Mr.  Smyth  is  a   member  of  Moment? il 
Lodge  No.  481,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  of  Iloopeston  J 


I! 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


371 


Chapter  No.  181,R.  A.  M.,  of  Iloopeston.  His  wife 
holds  membership  with  the  Baptist  Churcli,  where 
she  is  one  of  the  active  workers.  Our  subject  uses 
his  right  of  franchise  in  favor  of  the  Republican 
party,  having  cast  liis  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Abraham  Lincoln. 


■iip)i>  ii  I   I  I 


ENRY  H.  BALDWIN  has  been  for  twenty- 
i'  five  j-ears  a  jeweler  and  watch-maker  of 
Momenee.  Ilis  birth  occurred  in  Cuyahoga, 
Ohio,  near  the  city  of  Cleveland  on  the 
4th  of  M.arch,  1844.  He  is  a  son  of  Albert  S.  and 
Maria  .J.  (Harding)  Baldwin,  both  natives  of  Eng- 
land and  of  English  ancestry.  The  father  was 
quite  young  when  he  emigrated  to  America  with 
Lis  parents,  who  first  located  in  Connecticut  but 
were  afterward  for  man}'  years  residents  of  Ohio, 
living  upon  a  farm.  Tiie  paternal  grandfather  of 
-our  subject  was  a  physician  and  died  of  the  chol- 
era in  1854,  near  Cleveland.  The  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  on  his  mother's  side,  was  a  chair-maker 
by  occupation  and  died  when  a  young  man. 

Albert  Baldwin  came  to  Illinois  in  1853,  locat- 
ing upon  a  farm  near  Kankakee,  where  he  lived 
for  two  seasons  and  then  moved  to  Beeljelown, 
this  county,  and  after  a  residence  there  of  a  few 
years  settled  in  Leggtown,  seven  miles  from  Mo- 
menee, which  he  made  his  home  for  about  twenty 
years.  Then  retiring  from  the  active  duties  of 
^farm  life  he  moved  to  Momenee,  and  after  living 
here  for  about  five  years  was  called  from  this  life 
in  August,  1890,  being  about  sixty-three  years  of 
age  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  had  been  a  resi- 
dent of  this  county  for  thirtj'-seven  years  and  was 
one  of  the  pioneer  settlers,  much  respected  through- 
out this  section.  In  his  family  were  eight  chil- 
dren, six  sons  and  two  daughters,  five  of  whom 
are  now  living,  are  married  and  have  families. 
Tiiey  are,  Henry  IT.,  Francis  A.,  .John  II.,  Mar- 
llia  and  Charles. 

Henry  II.  Baldwin  was  reared  to  manhood  on  a 
farm  in  Kankakee  County,  and  received  such  ed- 
ucation as  could  be  obtained  in  the  district  schools 


of  the  neighborhood  where  he  lived.  On  the  22d 
of  April,  18f)5,  he  wedded  Miss  JNIary  J.  Griswold, 
whose  parents,  Richard  and  Amelia  (Ridgeway) 
Griswold,  were  among  the  early  residents  of  Kan- 
kakee Count}-,  and  were  formerly  from  New  York. 
Thej'  are  both  still  living,  the  father  having 
reached  the  age  of  cightj--eiglit  and  the  motlier 
seventy-nine  years.  Twelve  children  have  blessed 
the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baldwin,  seven  sons 
and  five  daughters.  Tliose  living  are  Elora  N., 
who  became  the  wife  of  George  Chapin,  of  Kanka- 
kee, and  by  her  marriage  has  become  the  mother 
of  two  children,  INIyrlle  and  Harry;  Burt  II.,  Cora 
M.,  Arthur  and  Benjamin.  The  other  children 
died  in  infancy. 

While  working  upon  the  farm  in  early  life  IMr. 
Baldwin  received  an  injury  which  necessitated  his 
leaving  the  heavy  work  incident  to  farm  life,  and 
when  seventeen  years  of  age  he  went  to  Oberlin, 
Ohio,  where  he  learned  the  watchmaker's  business. 
Afterward  he  worked  in  Kankakee,  but  twenty- 
five  years  ago  opened  a  watch-making  and  jewelry 
establishment  in  JMomence,  which  business  he 
has  steadily  followed  to  the  present  time.  He  is 
an  industrious  and  good  citizen  and  has  lived  in 
this  count}'  for  thirty-nine  years,  taking  an  active 
interest  in  its  prosperity.  In  politics,  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, having  cast  his  first  vote  for  Lincoln,  but 
has  never  been  an  aspu-ant  for  official  positions, 
preferring  to  devote  his  whole  attention  to  his 
business.  Mrs.  Baldwin  is  a  member  of  the  Episco- 
pal Cluuch  of  this  city  and  our  subject  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 


_o<::xvc 


i.^i^S^5:i^2a- 


■55- 


OCITE  T.  ALLARD,  who  carries  on  a 
meat-market  in  St.  Anne,  is  one  of  the 
prominent  citizens  of  the  place,  having 
been  born  licre  on  the  4th  of  October, 
He  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Adeline  (Barth- 
iaume)  Allard,botli  of  French  origin  and  natives  of 
Canada.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
whose  Christian  name  was  also  Joseph,  was  a 
blacksmith   by  trade,  and  emigrated  to  the  United 


1857. 


372 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


States  about  forty  years  ago  with  his  family,  set- 
tling at  St.  Anne.  Here  he  pureliased  land  and 
owned  the  property  where  the  depot  has  since 
been  erected.  He  followed  his  trade  more  or  less 
throughout  life  and  previous  to  leaving  Canada 
made  bayonets  and  daggers  for  the  soldiers  in  the 
Patriot  War  of  1838.  He  was  twice  married  and 
reared  a  famil}'  of  five  children.  He  departed  this 
life  in  1887,  at  the  age  of  seveuty-eight  years. 
Our  subject's  maternal  grandfather,  Francis  Barth- 
iaunie,  was  born  in  France  but  was  reared  to  man- 
hood in  Canada.  On  arriving  at  mature  years  he 
went  to  Vermont,which  was  his  home  for  some  time. 
He  was  married  three  times  and  lived  to  be  about 
eightj^  years  of  age,  his  death  occurring  in  1882. 
He  was  in  the  British  army  during  the  AVar  of  1812. 

Joseph  Allard,  Jr.,  was  reared  to  the  life  of  a 
farmer  and  remained  with  his  parents  until  grown. 
He  was  educated  in  the  Canadian  schools  in 
the  French  language,  and  in  1853  he  was  first 
married.  His  wife  died  in  the  winter  of 
1887,  at  the  age  of  flfty-three  years.  In  1889, 
Mr.  Allard  again  married,  his  second  union 
being  with  Mrs.  Margaret  De  Fosser.  Nine  chil- 
dren were  born  of  the  first  marriage,  seven  of 
whom  are  yet  living:  Joseph,  George,  Docite, 
Pauline,  Josephine,  Euphemie  and  Abbie. 

The  boyhood  d.ays  of  our  subject  were  passed  in 
St.  Anne  and  when  nine  years  of  age  he  went  to 
live  with  an  uncle,  Simon  Allard,  who  reared  and 
educated  him.  In  1881,  he  was  for  some  time  a 
conductor  on  one  of  the  street  car  lines  of  Chi- 
cago. On  the  3d  of  July,  1882,  in  the  city  of 
Kankakee  occurred  the  wedding  of  Mr.  Allard 
and  Miss  Delia  Bollard,  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Lucretia  (Chartier)  Bollard,  the  former  a  native  of 
Canada,  and  the  latter  of  the  Empire  State.  The 
father,  who  is  still  living,  was  of  French  parentage, 
while  his  wife,  whose  death  occurred  in  Kankakee 
on  the  22d  of  February,  1888,  was  of  French  and 
English  descent.  Mrs.  Allard  was  born  and  reared 
to  womanhood  in  Kankakee. 

After  his  marriage  in  1882,  our  subject  entered 
the  employ  of  Moses  Chartier  as  a  clerk.  After  a 
few  months'  time  he  opened  a  meat  market,  which 
has  since  engaged  his  attention.  He  has  associated 
with   him   at  the   present  time  William   Saindon, 


under  the  firm  name  of  Allard  &  Saindon.  In 
1890,  he  purchased  a  farm  of  sixty  acres  adjoining 
the  'corporation  limits  at  the  west  of  St.  Anne,  a 
portion  of  the  old  homestead  formerly  belonging 
to  his  father.  The  cultivation  of  this  farm  he 
superintends  and  also  owns  a  comfortable  home  in 
the  village,  conv^enient  to  his  business. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allard  hold  membership  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  He  has  held  various  mun- 
icipal offices,  among  which  were  those  of  Village 
Trustee,  Town  Clerk  and  Village  Treasurer,  and  is 
at  present  Secietaiy  of  the  St.  Anne  Building  and 
Loan  Association.     Politicallj^,  he  is  a  Republican. 


-^]. 


"S) 


^+^[ 


"^r^RANK  G.  MARTIN,  editor  of  the  St.  Anne 
p;j|g'  Record,  was  born  in  this  town  on  the  20th 
),  of  April,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  Severe  and 
Zoe  Martin,  who  were  both  born  in  Canada,  and 
were  of  French  parentage,  with  the  exception  of 
the  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  was 
a  native  of  Scotland.  Our  subject  is  one  of  eight 
children,  three  daughters  and  five  sous,  as  follows: 
Levi,  Delia,  Frank  G.,  Nelson,  Eli,  Abbie,  Lillian 
and  Fred. 

The  boyhood  days  of  Frank  G.  Martin  were 
passed  on  a  farm  and  his  education  received  in 
the  neighboring  school.  When  about  eighteen 
3'ears  of  age  he  commenced  learning  the  printer's 
trade  in  the  office  of  the  Sibley  Index,  which  was 
then  carried  on  by  P.  A.  Coal,  now  of  Gibson  Citj-, 
111.  He  remained  in  his  employ  nearly  three  years 
and  then  for  one  season  operated  a  farm,  at  the 
same  time  having  the  management  of  the  Sibley 
Index.  \i\  1885  he  went  to  Fairbury,  111.,  where 
he  worked  on  the  Independent  Blade.  Afterwards 
going  to  Streator,  he  remained  for  nearly  three 
years  in  the  office  of  the  Daily  Free  Press,  and  fvom 
there  went  to  Worthington,  Minn.  After  work- 
ing for  a  while  on  a  salary  he  took  control  of  the 
Worthington  Globe,  of  which  paper  he  was  editor 
and  manager  for  three  years.  On  the  10th  of 
December,  1891,  he  returned  to  St.  Anne  and 
bought  out  the   Record,  since   which  time    he  has 


OF  m 

"'^'^^^Slli  OF  ILLINOIS 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


375 


continued  its  publication.  The  paper  is  Republi- 
can in  politics,  is  well  edited  and  lias  a  large  cir- 
culation in  this  vicinity. 

In  February,  188."?,  Mr.  Martin  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  I.aura  L.  Darby.  Tlie  lad}'  is 
a  daughter  of  James  W.  and  Violetta  (Carr)  Darby, 
of  Gibson  City,  III.  The  father  is  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  the  mother  was  born  in  Ohio.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Martin  have  one  child,  a  little  daughter, 
Ethel  Edna,  who  is  the  sunshine  of  their  home. 

Mr.  Martin  is  a  member  of  Oiiafena  Lodge  No. 
72,  K.  P.,  of  Worthington,  Minn.,  also  of  Maple 
Camp  No.  1321,  JI.  W.  A.  His  wife  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  St.  Anne, 
and  both  are  highly  esteemed  in  the  social  circles 
of  this  place. 


jf?  AWRENCE  BAB8T.  This  biographical 
I  (^  record  of  Kankakee  County  gives  the 
/l^^^  lives  of  many  of  its  3'ounger  citizens — men 
who  have  not  j'et  passed  the  zenith  of  life  but 
liave  become  so  closely  identified  with  the  business 
interests  of  their  town  or  countv,  its  growth  and 
prosperity,  that  the  events  of  Iheir  lives  form  a  part 
of  its  historj'.  Prominent  among  this  class  of 
citizens  is  Lawrence  Babst,  the  gentleman  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch,  a  well-known  general 
hardware  merchant  of  Kankakee. 

Our  subject  is  also  a  representative  of  one  of  the 
early  families  of  this  city  and  has  the  honor  of 
being  a  native  of  the  .State  of  Illinois.  He  was 
born  in  Naperville,  Du  Page  County,  on  the  8th 
of  February,  1849,  his  parents  being  Alois  and 
Elizabeth  Babst,  both  natives  of  Alsace,  which 
then  belonged  to  France  but  is  now  a  province  of 
Germany.  Tlie  birth  of  the  former  occurred  in 
1822.  He  was  reared  in  his  native  country  and 
there  learned  the  trade  of  cabinet-making.  In  the 
year  1848  he  was  married,  and  a  few  months  later 
emigrated  with  his  wife  to  the  I'nited  States, 
hoping  to  benefit  his  financial  condition  by  his 
removal    to   this   country.      He  came  at  once  to 


Illinois,  locating  at  Naperville,  -wiiere  he  embarked 
in  the  cabinet-m.aking  Inisiness,  which  he  followed 
in  that  place  for  about  nine  3'ears,  or  until  1857. 
He  then  came  to  Kank.akee  and  embarked  in  the 
furniture  business,  which  he  carried  on  for  some 
time.  His  death  occurred  December  22,  1884. 
The  wife  and  mother  i)assed  away  several  years 
previous  to  the  death  of  her  liusband.  Alois 
Babst  was  a  worthy  and  respected  citizen,  whose 
loss  in  tiie  community  was  deejily  regretted.  In 
religious  belief  he  was  a  Catholic  and  a  devoted 
member  of  the  church  in  tliis  place.  He  mani- 
fested a  great  interest  in  all  church  work,  and  be- 
fore the  erection  of  the  German  Catholic  Church 
in  Kankakee  services  were  frequently  held  at  his 
residence.  He  was  also  liberal  and  chai-itahle  and 
gave  freely  of  his  means  for  the  support  and  ad- 
vancement of  any  enterprise  or  interest  calculated 
to  prove  of  public  benefit.  In  manner  he  was  oenial 
and  social,  and  w.as  recognized  as  a  valued  and 
poi)ular  citizen  of  the  community. 

Unto  Alois  and  Elizabeth  Babst  were  born  seven 
children,  five  of  whom  are  j^et  living  at  this 
writing,  in  the  winter  of  1892.  Lawrence,  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch,  is  the  eldest  of  the  family; 
Charles  is  now  a  resident  of  Naperville;  Heniy 
makes  his  home  in  Moorehead,  Minn.;  Mary  R. 
is  the  wife  of  C.  W.  Walker,  a  resident  of  Kan- 
kakee; Fklward  W.  is  in  the  employ  of  his  brother 
Lawrence.  Andrew  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen 
years,  and  a  sister  at  the  age  of  eleven. 

Mr.  Babst,  whose  name  heads  this  record,  has 
spent  his  entire  life  in  Illinois.  He  received  his 
primary  education  in  the  public  and  paiocliical 
schools,  supplemented  by  a  course  of  stiidj'  inWood- 
ruff  Academy,  where  his  school  life  was  ended, 
lie  entered  upon  his  Inisiness  career  in  1861,  wlien 
he  was  ai)prenticed'  by  his  fatiier  to  Thomas  and 
Andrew  Kan  to  learn  the  trade  of  tinner.  He 
faithfully  served  a  three-years  apprenticeship, 
during  which  he  thoroughly  mastered  the  business, 
and  then  worked  as  a  journeyman,  being  thus  em- 
ployed until  1869.  In  that  year  he  embarked  in 
business  for  himself.  A  partnership  w.as  formed 
with  Mr.  Morceau  under  tlie  firm  name  of  Morceau  & 
Babst,  and  they  established  a  general  liardware 
store.    Together  they  carried  on  operations  until 


376 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1872,  when  Mr.  Babst  bought  out  his  partner's 
interest  and  has  since  conducted  the  business  alone. 

On  the  25th  of  October,  1871,  our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Josephine  Bott, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Bott,  a  resident  of  tliis  city. 
Her  fatlier  was  a  native  of  Germany ,who  emigrating 
to  America,  became  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Kankakee,  where  he  made  his  home  until  his  death, 
whicli  occurred  several  j'cars  ago.  By  the  union  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Babst  liave  been  born  two  children, 
a  son  and  a  daughter.  The  latter,  Laura,  was  born 
in  1872,  and  the  former,  William  C,  was  born  in 
1876.  All  the  family  are  members  of  the  Catholic 
Church. 

Mr.  Babst  now  carries  a  full  and  complete  line 
of  general  liardware,  both  shelf  and  heavy,  and  by 
his  courteous  treatment,  fair  dealing  and  excellent 
stock,  has  won  a  liberal  patronage  and  secured  the 
confidence  of  his  man\-  customers.  In  addition 
to  his  other  interests  he  is  also  a  Director  in  the 
City  National  Bank.  In  his  political  affiliations, 
he  is  a  Democrat.  He  has  been  one  of  the  faithful 
and  efficient  membeis  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen 
for  nine  years  and  is  at  present  a  member  of  the 
City  School  Board.  In  official,  in  business  and 
in  private  life  his  career  has  been  one  that  has 
gained  him  universal  confidence  and  esteem,  and 
he  maj'  truthfull}'  be  classed  among  the  most  suc- 
cessful business  men  of  Kankakee.  Energj',  close 
attention  to  the  details  of  his  business,  and  enter- 
prise, combined  with  strict  integrity  in  all  his 
dealings,  are  the  elements  of  his  success,  which  is 
certain!}'  well  deserved. 


^1 


ll@^ 


im 


^  IIARLES  P.  LIVINGSTON  is  the  senior 
fl(  memlier  of  the  firm  of  Livingston  &  Bur- 

^^/J  roughs,  editors  and  proprietors  of  the  Kan- 
kakee Times.  Our  subject  is  one  of  the  oldest 
newspaper  men  in  years  of  active  work  in  this  sec- 
tion. His  birth  occurred  on  the  28th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1842,  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Rosanna  (Jacobs)  Livingston.  The  fa- 
ther, who  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  died  in 


New  York  in  1852.  The  mother  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  and  departed  this  life  in  Chicago  in 
1889. 

When  about  a  year  old,  our  subject  removed 
with  his  parents  to  New  York,  and  in  1855  came 
to  Kankakee.  He  began  learning  tlie  printer's 
trade  in  the  office  of  the  Kankalvee  Gazette  in  the 
fall  of  1856,  and  was  associated  with  that  paper  as 
compositor  and  foreman  until  the  fall  of  1861, 
when  he  entered  the  military  service  of  the  United 
States  for  the  defense  of  the  Union.  He  became  a 
member  of  Company  I,  One  Hundredth  Regiment, 
New  Yorli  Infantrj',  and  served  for  three  years 
and  three  months.  He  participated  in  the  battles 
of  Fair  Oaks,  Deep  Run,  Weldon  Railroad,  Gaines' 
Mills,  and  was  in  the  first  advance  on  Charleston, 
S.  C,  in  the  siege  of  Ft.  Wagner,  the  charge  on 
Sumter  and  Morris  Island,  and  served  under  Col.' 
Payne  about  Charleston.  Three  months  after  his 
term  of  enlistment  had  expired,  he  was  wounded 
severely  in  the  side  b^'  the  bursting  of  a  shell  at 
the  battle  of  Deep  Run,  and  received  an  honorable 
discharge  in  December,  1864. 

Soon  after  his  return  from  the  war,  Mr.  Living- 
ston resumed  his  place  in  the  Gazette  office,  and 
subsequently  bought  a  third  interest  in  that  paper, 
maintaining  his  connection  with  it  until  the  fall 
of  1868.  At  that  date  he  purchased  a  half-interest 
in  the  Kankakee  Times,  of  which  he  became  sole 
proprietor  in  1887.  In  1892  he  sold  a  half-inter- 
est in  the  paper  to  B.  E.  Burroughs,  at  which 
time  the  existing  firm  of  Livingston  &  Burroughs 
was  formed.  The  Times  was  established  in  1867 
bj'  W.  F.  Keady,  and  has  had  a  continuous  exist- 
ence of  a  quarter  of  a  century.  The  Weekly  Times 
is  an  eight-column  quarto,  and  the  daily,  which 
was  established  in  1885,  is  a  seven-column  folio. 

On  the  17th  of  September,  1868,  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Livingston  and  Miss  Ella  R.  Hen- 
dricks, the  ceremony  being  performed  in  Kanka- 
kee. Mrs.  Livingston  was  born  in  Waldron,  this 
county,  and  is  a  daughter  of  James  F.  Hendricks,  ij 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Kankakee  County.  ^ 
Four  children  have  blessed  this  union,  two  sons 
and  two  daughters:  Charles  A.,  Emma,  John  R. 
and  Annie.  Mrs.  Livingston  holds  membership 
with  the  Presbyterian  Cliurch. 


4 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


377 


In  politics,  oursiibject  is  an  earnest  Republican, 
and  this  fact  has  made  the  Times  a  potent  factor  in 
canii)aign  work,  for  it  shows  with  no  uncertain 
sound  that  it  is  in  thorough  accord  with  the  prin- 
ciples and  policy  of  the  Republican  part}'.  So- 
cially, our  subject  is  a  member  of  Howard  Lodge 
No.  208, 1.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  Whipple  Post  No.  414, 
G.  A.  R. 


^wp^RANK  L.  AVILKINS  is  the  genial  and  efli- 
■=^  clent  Postmaster  of  St.  Anne.  He  was 
[  born  in  the  city  of  Cailskrona,  Sweden,  on 
the  29th  of  August,  1847,  and  is,  a  son  of  Alfred 
and  Matilda  Wilkins,  both  natives  of  Sweden, 
where  they  lived  and  died.  The  father's  death 
occurred  in  1852,  and  that  of  his  wife  in  1875. 
During  nearly  his  entire  life  he  w.as  engaged  in 
general  merchandising  in  Cailskrona.  Three  sons 
and  two  daughters  were  born  to  himself  and  wife, 
all  of  whom  yet  survive.  p]rnst  is  a  tailor  of  To- 
peka,  Kan.;  Thomas  is  a  contractor  and  builder  of 
Chicago;  Ingeborg  is  the  wife  of  William  Olmgren, 
a  carriage  painter  of  Topeka,  Kan.,  where  they 
make  Iheir  home;  Hannah  still  resides  in  Sweden; 
and  Frank  L.  completes  the  family. 

When  a  boy  of  twelve  years  Mr.  Wilkins  of  this 
sketch  left  his  native  land  and  crossed  the  Atlantic 
to  America  in  company'  with  friends  who  were 
seeking  a  change  of  fortune  in  the  New  World. 
He  located  in  Philadelphia  and  during  eleven 
j'ears  was  most  of  the  time  a  sailor  on  the  high 
seas.  He  had  but  very  little  regular  schooling, 
but  while  on  shipboard  managed  to  do  considera- 
ble studying  and  reading.  In  1870,  he  left  Phila- 
delphia and  went  to  Chicago,  making  that  his 
headquarters  for  three  years,  during  which  time 
lie  sailed  upon  the  Lakes.  In  1875  he  determined 
to  turn  his  attention  to  some  other  pursuit  and 
accordingly  removed  to  St.  Anne,  where  for  six 
years  he  carried  on  a  large  creamery  business. 

When  but  sixteen  3'ears  of  age,  Mr.  Wilkins 
donned  the  blue  in  defense  of  his  adopted  country 
and  became  a  member  of  Companj'  G,  Seventh 


New  York  Infantry.  He  was  thirty-four  months 
in"  the  service,  in  which  time  he  participated  in  a 
number  of  the  hnrd-fouglit  battles  of  the  war.  He 
took  part  in  the  P.atlle  of  the  Wilderness  and  that 
of  Pittsburg  Landing  and  was  all  through  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg.  He  was  under  Grant  at  the 
time  of  Lee's  surrender.  As  a  soldier  he  was 
lo3'al  and  faithful,  ever  to  be  depended  upon  to 
do  his  duty  in  every  emergency. 

In  St.  Anne  ou  Christinas  Day  of  1875,  Mr. 
Wilkins  was  married  to  Miss  Emeline  Morin,  a 
daughter  of  Moses  and  Amelia  (Mayotte)  Morin, 
both  natives  of  Canada  and  of  French  origin.  Six 
children  have  blessed  the  union  of  our  subject  and 
his  most  estimable  ladJ^  They  are:  Sidney, 
Emory,  Edna,  Pearl,  Grace  and  Irene. 

Mr.  Wilkins  was  appointed  Postmaster  by  Pres- 
ident Harrison  in  1888,  and  has  discharged  the 
duties  of  the  position  most  acceptably  to  his  fel- 
low-citizens. For  eiglit  3-ears  he  was  Deputy 
Sheriff  of  Kankakee  Count}-  under  Sheriffs  Le- 
tourneau  and  O'Brien.  Sociality  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Ancient  Order  of  I'nited  Workmen.  In  his 
political  afliliations  he  is  a  Republican  and  takes 
an  active  interest  in  political  and  local  affairs.  He 
attends  the  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  his  wife 
is  a  member  and  to  which  he  gives  his  support. 


LEXANDER  MuKAY,  a  retired  fanner  re- 
siding in  St.  Anne,  was  born  in  County 
Id  Antrim,  Ireland,  near  the  Giant's  Cause- 
waj-,  Ma}'  5,  1818.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel 
and  Mary  (McCullough)  McKay,  both  natives  of 
the  Emerald  Isle,  where  they  spent  their  entire 
lives.  Tiie  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
John  McKay,  was  a  farmer  of  Ireland,  as  was  also 
Patrick  McCullough,  the  maternal  grandfather. 
The  father  followed  agricultural  pursuits  during 
life  and  was  of  a  quiet,  unostentatious  disposition. 
He  was  one  whose  delight  was  in  his  family  and 
home,  rather  than  that  of  mingling  in  public  af- 
fairs.    He  was   seventy-six  years  of   age   at    the 


378 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


time  of  his  death,  in  1860.  His  wife  had  passed 
away  about  four  yea.rs  prior  to  that  time,  at  the 
age  of  sixtj'-eight.  The^'  were  both  faithful  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbj'terian  Church. 

Until  reaching  liis  majority  Alexander  McKay 
lived  at  home  with  his  parents,  assisting  them  in 
carrying  on  the  farm.  His  education  was  received 
in  the  common  schools  of  Ireland.  In  1840,  bid- 
ding farewell  to  his  home  and  friends,  he  sailed 
for  America,  and  after  his  arrival  worked  for  a  few 
mouths  at  Jleriden,  Conn.  From  there  he  went 
to  Boston,  Mass.,  and  engaged  in  gardening  and 
dairy  work  for  about  four  years. 

In  1847,  Mr.  McKay  returned  on  a  visit  to  his 
native  land,  where,  on  the  12th  of  August  of  that 
year,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Nancy 
Ann  McConaughy,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Esther 
(Gibben)  McConaughy,  both  natives  of  Ireland. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McKay  have  been  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Robert,  who  was  married  to  Miss 
Sarah  Templeton  and  makes  his  home  in  Pembroke 
Township,  six  miles  from  St.  Anne.  They  have 
three  children,  Alexander,  Richard  and  Nancy 
Ann.  Esther  is  the  wife  of  William  Powell  and 
lives  in  Chicago,  where  her  husband  is  engaged  in 
the  grain  and  feed  business.  They  have  three 
daughters,  Grace  Ann,  Nellie  and  Eva.  Nancy 
Ann,  wife  of  Michael  Corcoran,  lives  nearWatseka 
in  Iroquois  Count}'.  Mary  became  the  wife  of 
Henr}^  Whittemore,  a  farmer  of  Pembi'oke  Town- 
ship. They  have  four  children.  May,  Minnie, 
Harry  and  Hiram.  Catherine  is  the  next  in  order 
of  birth.  Maggie  died  at  the  age  of  six  years,  and 
her  sister  Jane  when  five  j'ears  of  age.  Sarah  re- 
sides in  Pembroke  Township,  and  is  the  wife  of  J. 
H.  Templeton.  Their  family  consists  of  three 
children,  Nancy  Ann,  John  and  Arthur. 

In  1864,  Mr.  McKay  returned  to  America  and 
located  on  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  in  Pembroke  Township,  this  county.  There 
he  was  actively  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
until  1884,  at  which  time  he  removed  to  St.  Anne 
and  retired  from  active  business  life.  He  is  the 
owner  of  five  hundred  acres  of  valuable  farm  land 
and  also  owns  his  fine  residence  propert}'  in  St.  Anne. 
While  he  has  accumulated  considerable  land,  Mr. 
McKay's  principal  business  for  many  years  was  that 


of  stock-raising.  His  prosperity  is  entirely  the 
result  of  his  own  industry  and  economy,  for  at  the 
time  he  landed  in  America  lie  was  without  means  or 
resources.  He  was  the  first  Assessor  of  Pembroke 
Township,  which  office  he  held  during  his  entire 
residence  there.  He  secured  the  post-ottice  for 
the  town  and  was  Postmaster  there  for  manj' years. 
He  was  many  times  called  upon  to  hold  positions 
of  responsibility  and  trust,  among  these  being 
that  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  School  Director. 
Politically  he  is  a  lo3'al  Republican  and  in  relig- 
ious faith  both  he  and  his  wife  are  Presbyterians. 


'J-i-i-'i-i-P 


ylLLIAM  J.  BROWN,  a  resident  of  Mo- 
mence,  was  born  at  the  Rookery,  near 
Watford,  in  Herefordshire,  England,  on 
the  25th  of  January,  1824.  His  paternal  grand- 
father, James  Brown,  was  a  millwright  by  trade, 
and  died  in  England  when  in  his  prime.  His  ma- 
ternal grandfather  was  a  lawj'er  in  England,  and 
in  1802  was  Chief  Justice  of  the  Colonies  of  Cape 
Breton,  Nova  Scotia  and  Prince  Edward  Island. 
About  the  year  1804  he  died,  and  his  wife  re- 
turned to  their  native  land.  He  was  a  law  stu- 
dent under  the  tutelage  of  William  Tidd,  a 
celebrated  English  law3'er.  The  maternal  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject,  William  Woodfall, 
was  editor  of  the  London  Morning  Advertiser  for  a 
number  of  years,  dating  back  to  the  Colonial 
times.  He  was  imprisoned  for  publishing  the 
famous  Junius  Letters,  and  because  he  advocated 
the  Colonial  rights  in  America.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  the  Old  Bailey  Prison,  the  far-famed 
prison  of  London.  He  was  of  Welsh  stock,  and 
left  his  native  home  in  early  jears,  working  as  a 
journeyman. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  James  and 
Emily  (Woodfall)  Brown,  both  natives  of  Eng- 
land. Their  family  consisted  of  two  sons  and 
eight  daughters,  five  of  whom  are  now  living. 
Mary  Harriet,  Henry  Thomas,  Clara  A.  and  Emily 
reside  in  Chicago;  and  our  subject  completes  the 
famil}-.     Ellen  died  in  Tulare,  C.al. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


379 


William  Brown  remained  in  his  native  country 
with  his  parents  until  nineteen  3'ears  of  age  and 
received  fair  school  privileges.  He  learned  the 
trades  of  a  millwright,  pattern-maker  and  machin- 
ist. At  the  age  of  twenty-four  years  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lucy  Bush,  a  daugh- 
ter of  James  Bush,  of  Kimberl^',  Norfolk,  England. 
On  the  17th  of  April,  1850,  with  his  wife  and  tiieir 
one  child  he  emigrated  to  America.  The}'  liveil 
in  Chicago  for  some  months  after  their  arrival, 
and  from  that  city  removed  to  Momence.  Here 
Mr.  Brown  built  a  home  and  located  his  family. 
For  about  three  or  four  years  much  of  his  time 
was  spent  in  Chicago  on  business,  and  he  often 
walked  the  entire  distance  to  save  the  expense  of 
riding  on  the  stage  coach,  the  only  means  of  con- 
veyance. He  then  rebuilt  the  gristmill  in  Mo- 
mence, and  afterward  erected  the  sawmill  of  W.  A. 
Chatfield.  About  this  time  he  made  three  trips  to 
New  Orleans,  where  he  spent  the  winter  seasons 
of  1862-63  and  1864. 

Ten  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown, 
six  sons  and  four  daughters.  Emily,  Lucy,  Edward 
and  Delia  died  in  early  childhood.  Those  living 
are:  William,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  near  Am- 
bia,  Ind.;  Challenge,  a  twin  brother  of  Edward,  a 
farmer  residing  near  Talbot,  Ind.;  Waller  A.,  a 
salesman  of  Momence;  Margaret,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Edward  O.  Cory,  a  farmer  near  Marne, 
Iowa;  Sherman,  a  farmer  near  Talbot,  Ind.;  and 
Grant,  twin  brother  of  .Sherman,- a  farmer  living 
near  Talbot,  Ind.  The  mother  of  these  children 
departed  this  life  on  the  20th  of  April,  1878. 

For  the  past  twelve  or  fifteen  years,  Mr.  Brown 
has  been  engaged  in  making  cider,  and  also  does 
machine  work  in  the  way  of  repairing  engines  and 
all  kinds  of  machinery,  with  which  he  is  thor- 
oughly familiar.  About  1852  he  made  the  first 
self-raking  reaper  in  America.  He  was  not  the  in- 
ventor, however,  but  constructed  it  under  the 
instruction  of  Jeremiah  Atkin's  patent  for  John  S. 
AVright,  of  Chicago,  proprietor  of  the  Prairie 
Famwr.  Previous  to  that  time  Mr.  McCormick, 
the  famous  reaper  manufacturer,  had  ridiculed  the 
idea  of  a  selt-raking  reaper,  but  is  now  engaged 
in  their  manufacture.  Mr.  Brown  passed  the  win- 
ter of  1864-65  at  Centralia,  in  the  locomotive  and 


machine  shops  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
Company.  He  has  a  patent  on  an  improved  anti- 
friction tire  wheel,  which  turns  without  the  axle 
and  does  away  with  the  sliding  when  going 
around  a  curve.  He  is  a  thorough  and  practical 
macliinist,  having  made  that  his  specialty.  In  his 
political  faith  Mr.  Brown  was  formerly  a  Repub- 
lican, but  is  at  present  a  Democrat,  being  a  be- 
liever in  the  principles  of  free  trade. 


i>^^<m^ 


-5— 


ENRY  SWAN  is  a  prominent  farmer  of 
Aroma  Township,  and  makes  his  home  on 
/  sections  25  and  26.  He  is  a  native  of  In- 
diana, his  birth  liaving  occurred  on  the 
16th  of  February,  1831,  in  Dearborn  County.  His 
father,  Matthew  Swan,  was  a  native  of  New  York 
and  of  Scotch  descent.  His  mother,  who  before 
her  marriage  bore  the  name  of  Susan  Judd,  was 
born  in  the  same  place  and  is  a  daughter  of  an  old 
Revolutionary  soldier.  She  has  now  reached  the 
advanced  age  of  eight^'-seven  years  and  makes  her 
home  in  AYaldron.  111. 

B)-  her  marriage  she  became  the  mother  of  four- 
teen children,  i^ranklin  lives  in  Waldron;  Eliza 
departed  this  life  in  1884;  Edwin  died  on  the 
10th  of  September,  1882;  our  subject  is  next  in 
order  of  birth;  Orin  died  on  the  27th  of  November, 
1834;  James  was  a  private  of  Company  F,  Sev- 
enty-sixth Illinois  Infantry,  and  died  on  the  10th 
of  October,  1863,  in  the  hospital  at  Natchez.  Jliss., 
and  his  remains  lie  buried  in  the  South;  Nathan, 
born  August  6,  1836,  enlisted  in  the  Fortj'-second 
Illinois  Infantry  in  1862,  serving  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  died  October  26,  1890;  Will- 
iam departed  this  life  in  1850;  Matthew  passed 
away  on  the  29th  of  May,  1842;  Mary  is  still  liv- 
ing and  is  the  wife  of  Porter  Riggs,  a  leading 
farmer  of  Aroma  Township;  Daniel  died  August 
23,  1850;  Hugh  died  on  the  2oth  of  August,  1850; 
and' George  W.  makes  his  home  in  Waldron. 

The  father  of  these  children  was  a  carpenter  and 
wheelwright  by  trade  and  emigrated  to  Illinois  in 
1851.      Before   coming   he   had    purchased   three 


380 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORDc 


soldiers'  laiul  warrants  for  Ihiee  quarter-sections, 
for  wliich  lie  paid  about  $375.  He  also  purchased 
one  hundred  and  fifteen  acres  on  section  24,  Aroma 
Township.  He  removed  upon  this  farm  soon 
afterward,  as  there  were  a  couple  of  small  log 
houses  upon  the  property  and  a  few  acres  were 
partiality  improved.  He  only  lived  about  one 
year  after  settling  in  this  county,  his  death  oc- 
curring in  1852.  He  was  quite  a  successful  farmer 
and  was  a  man  of  integrit}'  and  worth. 

Our  subject,  Henry  Swan,  was  early  inured  to 
the  duties  and  cares  of  farm  life  and  attended  the 
district  schools  in  Indiana,  where  he  acquired  his 
primary  education.  In  1851,  he  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Illinois  and  soon  afterward  entered  the 
college  at  Cincinnati,  where  he  attended  for  one 
term.  After  that  he  returned  to  his  home  and 
worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade  for  about  two 
years.  He  next  decided  to  enter  the  mercantile 
business  and  purchased  a  stock  of  goods.  He  em- 
barked in  merchandising  in  Waldron  and  con- 
tinued in  that  line  until  1859,  at  which  time  he 
sold  his  interest  He  then  started  a  machine  and 
carpenter  shop  in  the  same  place  and  was  in  that 
business  for  about  two  years.  At  the  expiration 
of  that  time  he  determined  to  give  his  sole  atten- 
tion to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  accordiuglj^  pur- 
chased the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  This  con- 
sists of  one  hundred  and  sixt3--seven  acies,  which 
are  very  fertile  and  highlj'  cultivated.  He  has 
quite  recently  retired  from  the  active  duties  inci- 
dent to  farm  life. 

Mr.  Swan  enlisted  as  a  private  in  February, 
1865,  at  which  time  he  became  a  member  of  Com- 
pany A,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-sixth  Illinois  In- 
fantr}'.  He  responded  to  the  President's  last  call  for 
troops  and  was  mustered  into  the  service  at  Joliet. 
He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  received 
an  honorable  discharge  in  September,  1865.  He 
then  returned  to  his  home  and  again  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits. 

Mr.  Swan  has  been  twice  married.  On  the  25th 
of  February,  1860,  he  wedded  Miss  Annie  E. 
Boardman,  a  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Maria 
Boardman.  Tliere  were  two  children  born  of  this 
marriage.  Gertrude  is  the  wife  of  .John  Kibbons, 
a  farmer  of  Aroma  Township;  and  Charles  E.  is  a 


bookkeeper  at  Pullman,  111.  The  mother  of  these 
children  departed  this  life  November  21,  1865. 
Mr.  Swan  on  the  'Jth  of  Februarj-,  1867,  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  L.  Boardman,  a  sister  of  his  first 
wife.  Three  children  gi-aced  this  union:  Delos  is 
a  farmer  in  Aroma  Township;  Annie  L.,  wife  of 
E.  D.  Lindley,  resides  in  Rockford;  and  Hiram 
died  on  the  23d  of  November,  1889.  Mrs.  Swan 
was  called  to  her  final  rest  on  the  25th  of  April) 
1876. 

Politically,  our  subject  has  been  for  many  years 
affiliated  with  the  Republican  party.  He  has 
served  his  fellow-citizens  in  numerous  positions 
requiring  ability  and  trustworthiness.  He  has 
been  .Justice  of  the  Peace,  Township  Clerk,  School 
Director  and  School  Trustee  and  has  served  in 
these  capacities  most  acceptably.  Mr.  Swan  is  a 
public-spirited  citizen  and  is  ever  ready  to  do  his 
part  in  the  furtherance  of  all  plans  and  enterprises 
which  are  directed  toward  the  advancement  and 
good  of  this  locality.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  is  a  man  of 
wide  reading  and  information  and  keeps  fully 
abreast  with  the  times. 


♦ss^^s»  J 


r 


^  OHN  H.  BUCK  is  engaged  in  merchandis- 
ing at  Herscher,  and  is  the  senior  partner  of 
the  firm  of  J.  H.  Buck  &  Bro.  He  is  the 
oldest  merchant  in  this  portion  of  ICanka- 
kee  County,  and  has  been  actively  engaged  in 
business  in  Herscher  and  in  Pilot  Township  for 
the  past  twenty  j-ears,  first  locating  at  Pilot 
Centre  in  1872,  where  he  carried  on  a  general 
mercantile  trade. 

]\Ir.  Buck  is  a  native  of  New  York,  born  at 
Rochester  on  the  31st  of  August,  1831,  and  is  a 
son  of  George  II.  Buck,  and  brother  of  Azariah, 
whose  sketch  appears  in  this  volume.  Our  subject 
grew  to  man's  estate  in  his  native  citj-,  where,  in 
addition  to  the  common-school  advantages,  he  re- 
ceived a  business  education.  After  completing 
his  studies  he  was  then  engaged  and  worked  upon 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


381 


the  Erie  Canal  for  a  few  years.  In  1848,  just 
after  the  opening  of  the  canal  in  Illinois,  he  carae 
"West  and  was  here  employed  for  t\vo  years.  In 
the  3'ear  1850,  lie  turned  his  attention  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  which  he  followed  for  two  years  in 
La  Salle  County.  However,  on  the  opening  of 
the  Rock  Island  Railroad,  he  was  in  that  com- 
pany's emplo}'  for  a  year  in  their  office  at  La 
Salle.  In  the  spring  of  18.54,  resigning  his  position 
there,  he  canie  to  Kankakee  County',  and  located 
in  Pilot  Township,  wiiere  he  again  engaged  in 
farming.  In  1856,  he  returned  to  La  Salle  and 
continued  actively  engaged  in  merchandising  for 
>ixtcen  j'ears.  lie  then  sold  out  his  stock  and 
came  to  Kankakee  County  and  entered  into  part- 
nersliip  with  his  brotiier.  They  oiiened  a  store  at 
Pilot  Centre,  since  which  time  Mr.  Buck  has  de- 
voted himself  exclusively  to  merchandising.  He 
is  one  of  the  best  known  and  successful  business 
men  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Buck  wedded  Miss  Ilattie  L.  Bingham,  on 
the  21th  of  December,  1863.  The  lad}'  is  a  native 
of  Ehnira.  N.  Y.,  and  lived  at  Rochester,  that 
Stale,  and  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  at  which  places  she  ac- 
quired her  education.  Her  father,  .John  H.  Bing- 
ham, was  a  prominent  and  well-known  citizen  of 
Rochester.  Eight  children  have  been  born  to  our 
subject  and  his  wife:  Lucy  E.,  living  in  Chicago; 
George  Henry,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  residing  in 
Herscher,  111.;  Ilattie  Belle,  who  is  at  home;  Annie 
Kate,  who  holds  a  responsible  business  position  at 
Englewood,  111.;  Minnie,  \Aho  is  at  home;  John 
Harvey,  now  attending  the  Herscher  school,  as  is 
also  ills  next  younger  brother,  Azariali  Garfield; 
and  Joseph  A.  complete  the  number. 

Jlr.  Buck  is  a  memlier  of  the  Masonic  fraternity 
and  is  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  Acacia  Lodge 
No.  G7,  at  La  Salle,  having  held  membership  with 
them  for  thirty-four  years.  For  nearly  half  a 
century  our  subject  has  been  a  resident  of  Illinois, 
lias  witnessed  its  marvelous  growth  and  develop- 
ment and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  its  progress. 
Politically,  he  has  taken  an  interested  part  in 
local  aff.airs  and  since  the  organization  of  the  Re- 
publican party  lias  been  its  loyal  adherent.  He 
was  api)ointod  Postmaster  at  Pilot  Centre,  where 
he  was  the  means  of  establishing  the  office,  and  h.as 


also  been  Postmaster  at  Herscher  since  1878,  with 
the  exception  of  the  four  years  of  Mr.  Cleveland's 
first  administration.  His  influence  has  ever  been 
for  the  advancement  and  the  building  up  of  the  best 
interests  of  the  community  in  which  he  has  made 
his  home.  He  is  progressive  and  lil)eral  in  his 
views  and  charitable  toward  all. 


?   i   '  I  '     I  '^  '- 


<ji^LROY  C.  STREETER  is  owner  and  pro- 
U*'  prietor  of  one  of  the  leading  general  stores 
/l—"^'  of  Grant  Park.  Ilis  birth  occurred  on  the 
7th  of  June,  1862,  in  Sumner  Townshii),  this 
county,  his  birthplace  being  in  the  town  then 
called  Union  Corners,  since  named  Grant  Park. 
His  parents  were  Lorenzo  and  Hannah  (Osby) 
Streeter,  a  sketch  of  whom  will  be  found  elsewhere 
in  this  work. 

Our  subject  is  the  j'Oungest  of  three  children, 
all  sous,  and  lived  upon  his  father's  farm  in  Sum- 
ner Township  until  about  seven  jx'ars  of  age. 
With  his  jjarents  he  then  removed  to  Grant  Park, 
where  his  father  built  the  first  residence  in  the 
place.  This  propert}-  he  owns  and  has  made  his 
home  for  many  years.  He  attended  the  Grant 
I'ark  schools  until  about  seventeen  years  of  age, 
when  he  supplemented  his  common-school  educa- 
tion by  a  course  at  the  State  Normal  College  of 
northern  Indiana,  which  is  located  at  Valparaiso. 
Upon  the  completion  of  his  studies,  Mr.  Streeter 
obtained  employment  as  clerk  in  a  general  store  of 
this  place  and  remained  with  the  firm  for  five 
years.  He  then  engaged  in  business  for  himself 
for  a  year  and  a-lialf,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
time  lie  sold  out  and  traveled  for  a  Chicago  house 
during  one  3ear.  Keturning  to  Grant  Park  he 
purchased  a  stock  of  goods  in  partnership  with  O. 
C.  Parmley.  That  w.-is  in  the  j^ear  1887,  and  after 
continuing  in  partnership  for  five  years,  Mr. 
Streeter  purchased  his  partner's  interest  and  has 
since  conduted  the  business  alone. 

The  1 6th  of  December,  1886,  witnessed  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Streeter  and  Miss  Nellie  Underwood, 
who  is  a  native  of  the   Empire  State,  and    is   a 


382 


POUTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


daiightei-  of  Jobn  W.  and  Margaret  (Hamlin)  Un- 
derwood, who  are  prominent  citizens  and  old 
settlers  of  this  county.  One  child,  a  daughter, 
Velma,  has  graced  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Streeter.  The  little  one's  birth  occurred  on  the 
26th  of  November,  1890. 

For  four  j'cars  our  subject  has  served  his  fellow- 
citizens  as  City  Treasurer  and  has  proved  capable 
and  efficient  in  that  position.  He  uses  his  right  of 
franchise  in  support  of  the  nominees  and  prin- 
ciples of  the  Republican  party.  He  and  his  wife 
hold  membership  with  the  Methodist  Church,  where 
they  are  active  workers.  Mr.  Streeter  owns  and 
operates  one  of  the  leading  stores  in  Grant  Park 
and  though  young,  has  demonstrated  his  abilitj' 
and  progressive  spirit.  He  has  already  acquired 
considerable  property  and  has  an  extensive   trade. 


Si  IV)ILL1AM  R.  GARRETT  is  one  of  the  prac- 
\rJ//  tical  and  progressive  farmers  of  Momence 
V^^  Township,  his  farm  being  located  on  sec- 
tion 31.  He  has  the  honor  of  being  a  native  of 
this  county  and  is  a  worthy  representative  of  one 
of  its  pioneer  families,  his  parents  having  located 
here  in  an  early  da}'.  His  father,  Silas  J.  Garrett, 
was  born  in  Sullivan  County,  Ind.,  on  the  25th 
of  August,  1829,  and  conies  of  an  old  family  of 
Irisli  origin.  Having  attained  to  mature  years,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Nancy  J.  Jen- 
kins, also  a  native  of  Sullivan  County,  Ind.  Her 
birth  there  occurred  on  the  10th  of  November, 
1831.  Their  marriage  was  celebrated  in  the  Hoo- 
sier  State,  where  they  resided  until  August,  1854, 
when  they  determined  to  come  to  Illinois.  Re- 
moving to  Kankakee  County,  Mr.  Garrett  came 
into  possession  of  a  tract  of  wild  land,  in  Ganier 
Township,  which  he  received  from  his  brother  in 
settling  the  affairs  of  their  father's  estate,  and 
began  the  develoi)ment  of  a  farm,  which  he  im- 
proved and  cultivated  successfully  until  his  death, 
on  the  31st  of  August,  1872.  He  was  recognized 
as  a  leading  citizen  of  the  community  in  which 
he  resided,  and  was  a  man  highly  respected  for  his 


sterling  worth.  His  widow  still  survives,  and  is 
now  living  in  Momence,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one 
j'ears.     She,  too,  is  of  Irish  descent. 

Unto  Silas  and  Nancy  Garrett  was  born  a  fam- 
ily of  four  cliildren,  two  sons  and  two  daughters, 
of  whom  William  R.  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth. 
He  first  opened  his  e3'es  to  tiie  liglit  of  day  upon 
his  father's  farm  in  Ganier  Township,  on  the  1st 
of  April,  1856,  and  in  the  neighborhood  of  his 
birthplace  he  has  alwa3's  resided.  The  history  of 
almost  an}'  farmer  boj'  is  similar  to  that  of  the 
j'oulhful  days  of  Mr.  Garrett.  As  soon  as  old 
enough  to  h.andle  the  plow,  he  was  put  at  farm 
work,  and  until  he  had  attained  his  majority  his 
time  was  alternated  between  woi'k  in  the  fields 
during  the  summer  months  and  in  attendance  at 
the  common  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  where 
he  acquired  his  education.  Like  a  dutiful  son, 
he  gave  his  father  the  benefit  of  his  services  until 
he  had  reached  the  age  of  tweut^'-one  years, 
when  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  He  has 
since  made  his  own  way  in  the  world,  and  what- 
ever success  he  has  achieved  is  the  result  of  his 
own  efforts  and  the  reward  of  his  untiring  labors. 
During  the  first  three  years  he  engaged  in  the 
operation  of  rented  land,  for  he  had  no  money 
wherewith  to  purchase  a  farm.  During  that  time 
he  acquired  a  small  capital,  and  on  the  expiration 
of  that  period  bought  eighty  acres  of  land,  con- 
stituting a  part  of  the  farm  upon  which  lie  now 
resides. 

An  important  event  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Garrett 
occurred  on  the  2d  of  November,  1881,  when  was 
celebrated  his  marriage  with  Miss  Anna  M.,  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  and  Marilla  (Lamport)  Dayton, 
whose  family  record  will  be  seen  elsewhere  in  tiiis 
work.  Four  children  grace  the  union  of  this 
worthj^  couple,  and  the  famil}^  circle  has  never 
}'et  been  severed  bj'  death.  There  are  three  sons 
and  one  daughter:  Leona  Belle,  Frank  William, 
Silas  Jay  and  Merritt  Dayton. 

On  making  his  first  purchase  of  land  of  eighty 
acres,  Mr.  Garrett  immediately  located  thereon 
and  began  the  development  of  his  land,  which  he 
has  transformed  into  a  valuable  farm.  Acre  after 
acre  was  placed  under  the  plow  and  made  to 
yield  him  golden  harvests.     His  well-directed   cf-' 


I 


Of  [Hi: 
^'"'^'-^i^iliy  OF  ILLIWIS 


/^'-^tl^y/ 


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fl 


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Or    .-- 
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PORTRAIT  AXD  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


^is: 


forts  won  him  success,  and  in  course  of  time  he 
bought  another  forty-acre  tract  of  land,  his  farm 
now  comprising  one  liundred  and  twenty  acres, 
which  is  highly  cultivated  and  well  improved. 
He  is  a  practical  farmer,  ^et  progressive,  being 
never  found  behind  the  times  in  anything  per- 
taining to  his  business.  His  home  is  pleasautl}' 
located  about  three  miles  south  of  the  city  of  Mo- 
nience.  The  Garrett  household  is  noted  for  its 
hos|)italit3-,  and  our  subject  and  his  wife  hold  an 
enviable  position  in  the  social  circles  in  which  they 
move.  Mr.  Garrett  votes  with  the  Republican 
party,  keeps  well  informed  on  the  issues  of  the 
day,  and,  as  ever}'  true  American  citizen  should 
do,  takes  an  interest  in  political  affairs,  yet  has 
never  been  a  politician  iu  the  sense  of  office-seek- 
ing. Sociall}',  he  is  a  member  of  Lodge  No.  897, 
R.  A.,  of  Momence.  In  the  county  where  his  en- 
tire life  has  been  spent  he  is  well  and  favorably 
known,  and  is  ranked  among  the  leading  and  in- 
fluential agriculturists  of  his  township. 


=^-^+^1-= 


f^^  IMEON  H.McINTOSH,  a  prominent  farmer 
^^^  of  Otto  Township,  residing  on  section  19, 
((!/3)  is  numbered  among  the  honored  earlj'  set- 
tlers of  this  count}'  and  dates  his  residence 
here  from  .lanuar}',  1854,  when  he  located  in  Kan- 
kakee. Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Vermont,  hav- 
ing been  born  in  Barnard,  Windsor  Count3%  on 
the  1st  of  March,  1819.  His  grandfather,  Ebene- 
zer  Mcintosh,  was  born  in  Scotland,  and  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  New  Hampshire,  where  his 
son,  Ebenezer,  Jr.,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born.  The  latter  removed  from  the  State  of  his 
birth  to  Vermont,  and  there  upon  arriving  at 
man's  estate  married  INIiss  Sylvia  Ann  Swifts,  who 
w.as  born  in  ^'ermont  and  whose  Tamil}' came  from 
Massachusetts.  For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Mcin- 
tosh engaged  in  farming  in  Vermont,  but  about 
the  year  183'J  removed  with  his  family  to  Ohio, 
settling  upon  a  farm  in  Franklin  County,  where 
he  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil  during  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  Both  he  and  liis  wife  departed  this 
life  in  that  State. 

18 


Our  subject  is  the  fourth  child  in  his  father's 
family,  which  consisted  of  five  sons  and  four 
daughters,  who  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood. 
One  l)rother,  George,  resided  for  man}'  years  in 
Cedar  Rai)ids,  Iowa,  but  our  subject  is  now  the 
only  survivor  of  the  famil}'.  With  his  parents, 
Mr.  Mcintosh  removed  Westward  to  Ohio,  and  re- 
mained with  his  father  until  reaching  his  majority, 
receiving  as  good  educational  advantages  as  could 
be  obtained  in  the  district  schools  at  that  early 
day.  For  a  number  of  years  he  worked  in  a  broom 
factory  in  Ohio,  and  upon  coming  to  this  count}- 
in  18.J1  raised  the  first  broom  corn  in  Kankakee 
County.  He  located  in  Kankakee  and  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  brooms.  Being  very  success- 
ful in  Ins  business,  he  soon  was  enabled  to  purchase 
a  lot,  on  wl\leh  he  erected  a  good  residence.  When 
he  first  located  in  this  city  there  were  but  two  or 
three  stores  and  perhaps  a  dozen  residences  in  the 
place. 

In  April,  1856,  Mr.  Mcintosh  located  on  the 
land  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  (lurcliased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  raw  prairie,  which 
was  but  little  improved,  and  at  once  engaged  .ac- 
tively in  cultivating  and  developing  his  farm.  He 
has  now  a  good,  substantial  residence, commodious 
barns,  cribs  and  sheds,  and  a  windmill  and  other 
improvements.  As  his  financial  resources  increased 
he  added  adjoming  property  to  his  original  farm, 
and  now  has  three  liundred  and  twenty  .acres  of 
valuable  and  desirable  land  in  one  body.  With 
his  family  he  suffered  the  hardships  and  privations 
incident  to  frontier  life  and  .also  much  sickness, 
as  at  that  time  the  country  was  largely  a  swamp, 
and  fever  and  .ague  prevailed. 

On  the  5th  of  April,  1855,  Mr.  Mcintosh  was 
married  to  Miss  Catherine  True,  who  w.as  born  in 
Dearborn  County,  Ind.,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham True,  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  this 
community.  He  came  to  Kankakee  before  the 
town  was  started  and  for  many  years  made  his 
home  in  this  place.  Eight  children  bless  the  union 
of  our  subject  and  his  wife:  William  is  married 
and  is  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Otto  Township; 
Cora  is  still  at  home;  Jennie  is  the  wife  of  George 
Hasker,  also  a  farmer  of  Otto  Township;  Clara  be- 
came the  wife   of   William   Brock  and   resides  iu 


388 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArfflCAL  RECORD. 


Kankakee;  Lucia  is  still  at  home;  Albert  assists 
his  father  in  carrying  on  the  "work  of  the  old 
homestead;  George  and  Edward  are  still  at  home 
and  complete  the  family. 

Mr.  Mcintosh  has  been  identified  with  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  for  a  number  of  years  and  takes  quite 
an  active  part  in  politics.  His  first  vote  was  cast 
forW.  H.  Harrison,  but  since  that  time  he  h.as  been 
an  advocate  of  tlie  Democracy.  Though  he  has  not 
been  an  aspirant  for  offlcial  positions  witliin  the 
gift  of  the  people,  he  has  nevertheless  been  several 
times  induced  to  fill  the  same.  During  his  long 
residence  of  nearly  forty  years  in  this  county  he 
has  beheld  the  country  change  from  a  swamp, 
■which  much  of  it  was  in  the  early  da^'s,  to  a  fer- 
tile and  well-drained  district.  Villages  and  towns 
have  sprung  up  on  every  hand  where  was  formerly 
scarcely  a  cabin  to  be  seen  during  a  ride  of  fifty 
miles  in  any  direction.  He  has  ever  been  a  loyal 
citizen,  and  has  done  all  in  his  power  to  promote 
the  best  interests  and  advancement  of  this  com- 
munity. Commencing  in  this  county  almost  with- 
out means,  he  has  steadily  advanced  step  by  step 
to  his  present  position  as  one  of  the  prosperous 
and  progressive  farmers  of  this  region. 


^^EORGE  W.  RICE,  Police  Magistrate  and  a 
[||  g=j,  retired  farmer  and  stockman,  landed  in 
^^J^  Kankakee  County  on  the  12th  of  May, 
1851,  when  it  was  a  portion  of  Will  County. 
Since  that  time  a  strip  has  been  taken  from  the 
southern  side  of  the  latter  county  and  one  from 
the  northern  part  of  Iroquois  County,  and  this  is 
called  Kankakee  County,  from  the  river  of  that 
name. 

Job  W.  Sylvester,  the  maternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  an  extensive  farmer  and  black- 
smith and  owned  several  large  farms  in  Cumber- 
land County,  Me.  He  was  in  his  ninety-seventh 
year  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
the  fall  of  1860,  in  Dearborn  County,  Ind.,  where 
he  had  moved  about  1844,  He  reared  a  large  family, 


and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  in  comfortable 
circumstances.  His  father  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  War  and  attained  the  remarkable 
age  of  one  hundred  and  six  years. 

Mr.  Rice,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Cumberland  County,  Me.,  on  the  16th  of 
February,  1824,  and  is  a  son  of  Rufus  and  Mary 
(Sylvester)  Rice,  who  were  originally  from  Massa- 
chusetts. The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation 
and  was  also  master  of  the  carpenter's  trade,  whicli 
he  followed  more  or  less  during  his  life.  He  was 
a  soldier  in  the  AVar  of  1812.  In  the  fall  of  1837, 
he  removed  to  Indiana,  locating  upon  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Dearborn  Count}', 
where  he  lived  until  the  fall  of  1840,  when  he 
was  called  from  the  scenes  of  his  earthly  labors. 
His  wife  survived  him  until  1861,  when  her  death 
occurred  at  the  home  of  her  son  George  in  Mo- 
mence,  111.  She  was  born  in  1801.  and  was  conse- 
quently sixty  j'ears  of  age  when  slie  died.  In  the 
family  were  nine  children,  four  sons  and  five 
daughters,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  At  the 
present  time  there  are  six  living,  as  follows: 
George  W.;  Nancy  M.,  who  is  the  widow  of  John 
Dashiell;  James  H.;  Lucy  P.,  wife  of  Byron  E. 
Coon;  John  W.;  and  Sarah  S.,  the  wife  of  Joseph 
Roberts. 

Wlien  his  parents  removed  to  Indiana,  our  sub-  j 
ject  accompanied  them  and  was  reared  to  farm 
life.  His  education.al  privileges  were  those  of  the 
district  schools,  and  in  his  youth  he  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade;  He  continued  to  work  at  that 
occupation  for  a  number  of  years  and  for  a  period 
of  four  years,  just  prior  to  his  coming  to  Illinois, 
he  clerked  in  a  general  store,  but  on  account  of 
poor  health  was  obliged  to  give  np  his  position. 
In  1851,  he  came  to  Illinois  on  a  visit  to  a 
brother-in-law,  who  operated  a  farm  about  four 
miles  west  of  Momence.  He  entered  the  employ  of 
Roberts  ife  Vail,  general  merchants  of  this  city, 
with  whom  he  remained  during  the  winter.  lie 
next  embarked  in.  business  for  himself,  in  whidi 
he  remained  until  1860,  when  he  sold  his  stock  of 
goods  to  Worcester,  Brayton  &  Co. 

In  September,  1845,  George  W.  Rice  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Laura  J.,  daugliter  of  Jacol 
and  Elizabeth  (Knapp)  Fielding,  and  to  them  wen 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


389 


born  three  sons  and  four  danglilers:  Ehvyn  E., 
Florence  A.,  Alice  B.,  Ida  jNI.,  Stephen  D.,  Laura 
A.,  and  George  A.,  who  died  when  about  twenty 
j'ears  of  age.  Ida  M.  became  the  wife  of  William 
A.  Douglas  and  died  leaving  four  children,  two  of 
wliom  are  now  deceased.  The  other  members  of 
the  family  are  married  and  have  families  of  their 
own.  In  .June,  18C8,  the  mother  of  these  children 
died  on  the  farm  near  Momence,  in  the  faith  of 
tlic  Baptist  Church,  of  which  siie  had  been  a  mem- 
ber for  many  years. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  1870,  ]Mr.  Rice  wedded 
Miss  Lydia  .Jessup,  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Nanc}' 
(Laffcrty)  .Tessup,  of  Momence,  the  former  a  native 
of  Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky.  Three  sons 
and  six  daughters  graced  the  union  of  M  r.  and  Mrs. 
Rice:  Charles  E.,  Lucy  E.  and  Carrie  E.  (twins), 
August  G.,  .Jolin  W.,  Bessie  J.,  Lizzie  Belle,  James 
H.  and  Kufus  L.  Luc}"  E.  married  Alfred  Hupp, 
who  is  in  the  employ'  of  the  Chicago  &  Eastern 
[llinois  Railroad  Company  at  the  depot  in  Mo- 
mence. Carrie  E.  died  when  about  four  ^ears  of 
ige. 

Mr.  Rice  in  1860,  turned  his  attention  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  on  his  farm,  consisting  of  three 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  two  miles  north  of  town. 
He  bought  and  shipped  live  stock  and  at  one  time 
made  the  largest  stock  sale  in  this  part  of  the 
State.  He  continued  in  that  business  for  about 
ten  years,  and  in  the  spring  of  1870  sold  his  farm, 
for  about  a  year  longer,  however,  buying  and  sell- 
ing stock.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Momence 
since  1868,  and  has  filled  various  positions  of 
trust,  being  Assessor  for  many  3-ears,  also  Town 
Clerk,  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Kotaiy  Public, 
which  last  two  offices  he  filled  foi'  sixteen  years  or 
more,  and,  as  previously  stated,  is  the  [iresent  Po- 
lice Magistrate. 

Wlien  Mr.  Rice  came  to  Momence  there  were 
scarcely  two  hundred  inhabitants,  and  he  has  wit- 
nessed and  taken  an  active  part  in  its  develop- 
ment until  it  is  now  well  known  as  one  of  the 
beautiful  little  cities  of  Illinois.  He  is  one  of  the 
liighly  respected  citizens  of  the  community  and 
has  won  a  host  of  friends  by  his  upright  course  in 
life.  He  is  a  menilier  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  lodge  of 
Momence,  of  which   he   was    one    of    the    charier 


members.  Formerh'  he  belonged  to  the  Chosen 
Friends  Lodge  at  Aurora,  hid.  He  casts  his  bal- 
lot in  favor  of  the  nominees  of  the  Democratic 
party,  hut  is  independent  in  local  elections,  pre- 
ferring to  vote  for  the  man  who  in  his  estimation  is 
best  fitted  for  the  position. 


^  DWIN  R.  KENDALL  was  one  of  the  early 
^  settlers  of  Kankakee  County.  His  birth  oc- 
L^  curred  in  Lewis  Countj',  N.  Y.,  on  old  "Tug 
Hill,"  on  the  2d  of  December,  1836,  and  he  was 
reared  to  manhood  in  St.  Lawiencc  County.  His 
paternal  grandfather  died  when  comparatively  a 
young  man,  and  the  maternal  grandfather,  Is- 
rael Douglas,  a  native  of  Connecticut,  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  in  Lewis  County,  N.  Y.  He 
was  a  fanner  by  occupation  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  old  farm  in 
that  county,  where  he  had  settled  many  years 
previous,  he  was  eighty  years  of  age.  The  Doug- 
las family  trace  their  ancestry  back  to  Sir  William 
Douglas,  of  Scotland,  and  the  Kendall  family  is 
also  believed  to  be  of  Scotch  descent. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  John  and  Prudence 
(Douglas)  Kendall,  both  of  whom  were  born  in 
New  York  State.  The  father  followed  agricul- 
tural pursuits  throughout  life  in  his  native  State, 
and  only  moved  three  times  during  his  life.  His 
family  consisted  of  four  sons  and  five  daughters, 
all  of  whom,  with  the  exception  of  two,  grew  to 
years  of  maturity.  Deliza,  Elizabeth  and  Euphemia 
are  now  deceased,  while  Ralph,  Ellen  and  William 
are  the  onlj'  survivors  of  the  family. 

Edwin  R.  Kendall,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  near  Somerville, 
N.  Y.,  and  remained  at  home  until  seventeen 
years  of  age,  vvhen  he  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self. He  had  received  ordinary  school  advantages 
and  determined'  to  adopt  a  trade.  He  worked  for 
some  time  at  harness-making,  but  never  carried 
out  his  determination  of  learning  a  trade.  In 
Waterlown,  N.  Y.,  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  mineral  water,  which  business  he  also  followed 


390 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  Ohio.  The  year  1855  witnessed  his  arrival  in 
Illinois,  but  after  staying  a  year  in  Momence,  he 
returned  to  the  Empire  State  and  attended  High 
School  and  Lowville  Academy.  In  the  fall  of 
1857,  he  again  came  to  Momence  and  taught 
school  in  the  parish  district  of  Ganier  Township 
during  that  winter. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1858,  Mr.  Kendall  mar- 
ried Miss  Martlia  Chatfield.  Her  father,  William 
A.  Chatfield,  M'as  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and 
her  mother  was  in  her  maidenhood  Betsy  Crane, 
who  was  a  native  of  the  Empire  State.  Mrs.  Chat- 
field died  when  her  daughter  was  very  J'oung  and 
Mr.  Chatfield  again  married,  his  second  union  be- 
ing with  Miss  Mary  B.  Kirkwood,  of  Montezuma, 
Ind.,  who  died  in  March,  184G.  That  same  year 
Mr.  Chatfield  wedded  Mrs.  Sarah  Taylor,  a  sister 
of  William  Hadsell,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Joliet,  111.  Mr.  Chatfield  came  to  Chicago  in  Sep- 
tember, 1834,  afterward  lived  in  Joliet  and  w.as 
one  of  the  contractors  who  built  the  canal  through 
that  place.  He  was  also  interested  in  milling  and 
was  part  owner  of  a  mill  in  Wilmington,  to  which 
place  he  removed  from  .Joliet  after  his  second  mar- 
riage. In  April,  1844,  he  became  a  resident  of 
Momence  and  was  one  of  the  very  earliest  settlers 
here,  there  being  on  liis  arrival  only  four  log 
houses  and  a  sawmill  in  the  town.  He  built  the 
first  flouring-mill  in  Momence  and  also  the  first 
bridges  over  the  Kanliakee  River  at  this  point. 
Hisdeath  occurred  on  the  18th  of  March,  1872,  and 
his  wife  survived  him  until  January  of  the  follow- 
ing year.  Mr.  Chatfield  was  a  prominent  and  re- 
spected citizen  and  w.as  a  member  of  the  Illinois 
General  Assembly  in  the  winter  of  1856-57. 
Eight  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kendall, 
five  sons  and  three  daughters,  but  four  of  whom 
lived  to  maturity.  They  are  AVilliam  Chatfield, 
Arthur  Edwin,  Nellie  Grant  and  James  Blaine. 

Our  subject  after  his  marriage  worked  in  the 
sawmill  for  Mr.  Chatfield  and  afterward  went  into 
partnership  with  James  Mix  in  the  fencing  of  land 
and  various  agricultural  interests.  He  left  his 
farm  in  1866,  and,  coming  into  town,  worked 
again  in  the  sawmill  until  the  winter  of  1870-71, 
at  which  time  he  was  made  Collector  and  Consta- 
ble, and  was  afterwarcj  appointed  Deputy  Sheriff. 


While  serving  in  the  latter  capacity,  Mr.  Kendall 
conceived  the  idea  of  studying  law,  which  he  car- 
ried out,  practicing  that  profession  in  Momence 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  November  18. 
1884,  in  El  P.aso,  Tex.,  whither  he  had  gone  in 
tlie  hope  of  recovering  his  health.  In  1856  he 
taught  a  severe  cold,  which  gradually  developed 
into  consumption  and  eventually  caused  his  deatli. 
lie  lies  buried  in  Momence  Cemetery.  He  was  a 
successful  lawyer,  having  a  natural  command  of 
language  and  a  good  legal  mind.  At  one  time  he 
served  liis  fellow-citizens  as  Assessor  and  Supervisor 
of  his  township.  He  was  a  member  of  tlie  order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  was  once  sent  as  representative 
of  the  IMomence  Lodge  to  the  Grand  Lodge  at 
Springfield.  His  father  was  an  adlierent  of  the 
Democratic  party,  but  Mr.  Kendall  was  ever  a  loyal 
Republican,  casting  his  first  Presidential  ballot  for 
Lincoln.  He  was  a  man  possessing  great  energy 
(if  purpose,  was  a  public-spirited  citizen,  and  was 
always  benevolent  and  a  friend  to  tlie  needy  and 
distressed. 


'ifl  AMES  INKSTER,  who  carries  on  general 
farming  on  section  4,  Pilot  Township,  is 
numbered  among  its  early  settlers  and  in 
'  consequence  well  deserves  repiesentation in 
the  history  of  this  county.  Our  subject  is  of 
Scottish  birth.  He  was  born  on  the  Shetland  Is- 
lands in  1827,  and  is  a  son  of  Capt.  Robert  Ink- 
ster,  a  native  of  Scotland,  who  w.as  captain  of  a 
fishing  craft.  His  father  followed  that  business 
throughout  his  entire  life,  and  always  made  his 
home  in  the  land  of  his  birth.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Elizabeth 
Slater.  Their  famil}'  numbered  three  children. 
The  elder  son,  Capt.  Lawrence  Inkster,  was  a  sea- 
faring man,  captain  of  a  merchant-vessel.  He  now 
resides  in  England,  where  he  is  living  a  retired 
life.     The  sister,  Barbara,  is  now  deceased. 

James  Inkster  grew  to  manhood  on  the  Slietland 
Islands,  and  while  a  youth  spent  much  of  his  time 
with  his  father  on  a  fishing-vessel.     He  receivedi 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


391 


good  school  advantages  for  those  early  da3's,buthis 
knowledge  has  been  much  enlarged  through  his 
own  efforts  since  attaining  to  man's  estate.  About 
I80I  he  left  his  old  home  and  went  to  Australia, 
where  he  spent  three  and  a-half  j-ears  working  in 
tiie  timber  regions.  In  18.55  he  returned  to  Scot- 
land, after  which  he  gave  his  attention  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  carrying  on  farming  for  a  period 
of  eleven  years.  Rut  this  did  not  prove  ver3-  sat- 
isfactory, and  lie  determined  to  seek  a  home  in  the 
New  World.  It  was  in  1870  that  he  crossed  the 
broad  Atlantic.  Boarding  a  ship  at  Glasgow, 
Scotland,  he  sailed  for  Quebec,  reacliing  that  har- 
bor about  the  1st  of  July,  after  which  he  went 
:1irectlv  to  Chicago,  III.  After  a  week  spent  in 
that  cit3'  he  came  to  Kankakee  County  and  pur- 
chased land,  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides, 
[t  was  a  raw  tract,  unbroken  and  unfeiiced,  but  he 
it  once  began  its  development  and  has  made  it  a 
valuable  place.  The  first  few  j-ears  he  experienced 
aiaiiy  hardships,  but  as  time  passed  his  financial 
condition  improved  and  the  richlj-  cultivated 
lehls  yielded  to  him  a  golden  tribute.  He  is  now 
regarded  as  one  of  the  prosperous  and  successful 
iarmers  of  the  community,  which  condition  of  af- 
'airs  has  been  brought  about  by  his  own  efforts. 

Ere  leaving  his  native  land.  Mr.  Inkster  was 
Harried  on  the  .Shetland  Islands  to  Miss  Barbara 
Bottenger,  a  native  of  that  place.  Unto  them 
(vere  born  the  following  children:  James,  who 
!s  a  farmer  of  Pilot  Township;  Elizabeth,  wife 
3f  Charles  Atkins,  wlio  carries  on  farming  in 
the  same  township;  Eupheraia,  wife  of  Charles 
Ilaight,  who  is  engaged  in  business  in  Valley 
ijprings,  S.  Dak.;  John,  who  aids  his  father  in  the 
?ultivatiou  of  the  home  farm;  and  Plielis,  who 
completes  the  family.  Tliey  have  also  lost  two 
::hildren:  Robert,  wlio  died  in  Washington,  in  1887, 
\\.  tlie  age  of  twenty-seven  j-ears;  and  Ellen,  who 
Icparted  this  life  in  .September,  1892,  at  the  age 
af  nineteen. 

The  Inkster  family  attend  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  although  they  are  not  members.  Their 
household  is  the  abode  of  hospitality,  and  its  doors 
:ire  ever  open  for  the  reception  of  their  ma.ny 
friends.  The  father  and  sons  are  supporters  of 
the  Kepublican  party.     Mr.  Inkster  is  a  self-made 


man,  who  began  life  empty-handed,  and  with  no 
capital  save  a  young  man's  bright  hope  of  the  fu- 
ture has  steadily  worked  his  wa^-  up  to  success.  He 
is  fair  and  honest  in  all  his  business  dealings,  and 
the  uprightness  of  his  public  and  private  life  h.as 
won  him  universal  esteem  and  confidence. 


JAUL  YONKE  is  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser 
)  residing  on  section  19,  Otto  Township. 
He  is  a  native  of  Poland,  Austria,  and  was 
I  \  born  in  Janamel,  on  the  .5th  of  February, 
1826.  He  received  good  school  advantages  in  his 
native  country  and  grew  to  manhood  in  Austria. 
He  was  an  apt  student  and  can  now  speak  four 
languages.  He  early  decided  to  try  liis  fortune  in 
the  New  World,  and  carried  his  resolutions  into 
effect  in  185i.  Going  to  Bremen,  he  took  p.assage 
on  a  sailing-vessel,  the  "Bramanoff,"  which  was 
bound  for  New  York.  They  were  seven  weeks 
upon  the  Atlantic  and  met  with  some  quite  severe 
weather.  In  November,  1854,  the  ship  cast  anchor 
in  New  Y'ork  Harbor,  and  from  there  our  subject 
went  directly  to  Chicago.  As  he  had  an  uncle 
living  in  Bourbonnais  Grove,  Kankakee  County, 
he  joined  him  and  remained  here  for  about  six 
months,  while  learning  the  English  langu.age.  He 
then  engaged  in  peddling  wares  through  Illinois, 
.Michigan  and  Wisconsin,  and  after  a  year  was  en- 
abled to  purchase  a  horse  and  w.agon.  He  soon 
carried  a  good  slock  of  merchandi.se,  which  he 
peddled  for  a  period  of  about  eleven  years.  He 
was  frugal  and  industrious,  and  from  the  first 
showed  good  business  ability  and  enterprise.  Witli 
his  carerull3^  saved  earnings  he  then  bought  a 
small  tract  of  land  in  this  township,  which  he  lo- 
cated upon  and  proceeded  to  improve  and  de- 
velop. As  his  financial  resources  increased  he 
added  adjoining  land  to  his  original  purchase,  and 
new  has  three  hundred  and  fifty-live  .acres  of  ara- 
ble land  located  three  miles  from  Kankakee.  Mr. 
Yonke  is  truly  a  self-made  man,  having  com- 
menced life  in  the  New  World  without  a  dollar;  he 


392 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


has  now  become  one  of  the  most  thrifty  and  well- 
to-do  farmers  of  the  community.  This  success  he 
has  achieved  through  his  own  unassisted  efforts 
and  business  ability'. 

In  Woodford  County,  Mr.  Yonke  married  Mary 
Shook,  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of 
George  Shook,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Woodford 
County.  The  marriage  ceremony  was  performed 
in  Peoria  December  27,  1859,  and  by  this  union 
have  been  born  eight  children:  John,  a  farmer  of 
Iroquois  County;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Henry  Schafer,of 
this  county;  Anna,  William,  Joseph,  Frank,  Mary 
and  Antony,  who  are  still  at  home  and  attend 
school  in  the  neighborhood. 

In  his  ])olitical  affiliations,  Mr.  Yonke  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Democratic  party,  but  cast  his  first 
ballot  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  this  State  for  nearly  forty  years,  and  has 
witnessed  vast  changes  in  this  count3%  with  whose 
growth  and  development  he  has  long  been  identi- 
fied. He  is  a  worthy  citizen  of  his  adopted  coun- 
try, and  well  deserves  a  place  in  the  history  of  the 
honored  pioneers  and  worthy  citizens  of  Kankakee 
Count}'. 


EAXEL  WIKSTROM,  is  a  capitalist  residing 
in  Monience.  His  birth  occurred  in  northern 
Sweden  on  the  27th  of  October,  1842.  He 
is  a  son  of  Nils  andErailie  (Hallstrom)  Wikstrom, 
both  natives  of  the  same  country.  The  father  was 
an  extensive  lumberman  in  Sundsvall,  and  was 
the  owner  of  two  of  the  largest  lumber  and  saw 
mills  in  Sweden,  whicli  business  he  followed  for  a 
number  of  years.  There  were  eleven  children  in 
the  family,  six  of  whom  are  now  living,  two  sons 
and  four  daughters:  Emilie,  Axel,  Swea,  Hildur, 
Gregor  and  Sallie,  all  but  our  subject  now  res- 
idents of  Sweden.  On  the  29th  of  November, 
1883,  occurred  the  death  of  the  father  at  his  old 
home  in  Stockholm.  His  wife  had  been  called 
away  many  }'ears  previouslj-.  on  the  27th  of  Aug- 
ust, 1874.  Mr.  Wikstrom  was  not  a  politician  in 
any  sense,  but  was  a   liberal  and    public-spirited 


man,  who  was  recognized  as  a  friend  of  the  poor. 
He  was  of  a  kind  disposition,  a  man  of  rare  gifts 
of  mind  and  heart,  and  his  charitable  deeds  were 
numerous. 

Until  twenty-three  years  of  age  our  subject  re- 
mained in  his  native  land  and  then  decided  to 
try  his  fortune  in  the  New  World.  In  December, 
1865,  he  landed  on  these  hospitable  shores  and  at 
once  proceeded  to  Kankakee,  111.,  where  he  re- 
sided for  a  year  and  a-half.  He  then  went  to 
work  upon  a  farm  for  P.  Burchard,  b}'  whom  he 
was  employed  for  six  months,  more  for  the  object 
of  learning  American  methods  of  farming  than 
for  any  other  purpose. 

On  the  2oth  of  March,  1869,  Mr.  Wikstrom 
wedded  Miss  Deal  A.  Stratton,  daughter  of  Will- 
iam J.  and  Margaret  E.  (Patrick)  Stratton,  of 
Momence,  the  former  a  native  of  Virginia  and  of 
English  origin,  the  latter  being  of  Irish  decent 
and  a  native  of  Kentucky.  Mr.  Stratton  emi- 
grated to  Illinois  when  a  boy  of  sixteen  3^ears  and 
located  in  Edgar  County,  near  Paris,  where  he 
lived  until  1842  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits; 
later  he  removed  to  Cook  County,  and  after  liv- 
ing there  for  one  year  became  a  resident  of  this 
county,  then  known  as  Will  County.  His  death 
occurred  on  the  4th  of  December,  1880.  His  wife 
still  survives  him  and  is  now  in  her  sevent3'-fifth 
year. 

In  1869,  Mr.  Wikstrom  became  the  owner  of  a 
farm  of  two  hundred  acres  in  Sumner  Township, 
five  miles  from  Momence,  to  which  property'  he 
has  since  added  eighty  acres.  It  is  what  he  calls 
the  home  farm  and  is  one  of  the  finest  and  best 
improved  in  the  county.  He  also  owns  a  two 
hundred  acre  farm  in  Momence  Township,  six 
miles  northeast  of  the  city  of  that  name.  Mr. 
Wikstrom  lives  in  Momence  but  exercises  a  wise 
supervision  and  management  of  his  farms.  He  is 
at  present  erecting  a  beautiful  brick  residence, 
which  will  be  the  finest  in  the  place,  with  all  the 
modern  improvements.  Mr.  Wikstrom  is  a  Re- 
publican in  politics,  which  ticket  he  has  always 
supported  since  his  naturalization  in  1870.  He  is 
a  faithful  citizen  of  his  adopted  country  and  is 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  arud  public-spirited 
men  of  this  cit}'.     He   is  what  may    be  termed  a 


i 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


393 


fancy  fanner  and  uses  the  most  improved  methods 
and  appliances  in  the  cultivation  of  his  land.  He 
has  an  income  annually  from  his  lumber  and  saw 
mill  interests  in  Sweden.  lie  is  generous  and 
genial  and  has  a  host  of  friends  in  this  communit}-. 
Socially,  he  is  a  Knight  Templar,  belonging  to  Mo- 
mence  Lodge  No.  181,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Kankakee 
Chapter  No.  78,  R.  A.  M.,  andlvanhoe  Coramand- 
er\'  No.  33,  K.  T.  of  Kankakee. 


^^>-^r~<^^- 


f  RTHUR  J.  CHANGNON,  a  general  mer- 
chant of  St.  Anne,  was  born  in  Belaniil, 
near  Montreal,  Canada,  September  17, 
1850.  His  parents  are  likewise  natives  of 
Canada,  and  are  of  French  descent.  They  are 
Andre  and  Sophie  (Barcelou)  Changnon.  The 
former  was  for  many  years  a  farmer  in  Canada, 
and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1855.  He  lo- 
cated at  St.  Anne,  and  has  since  coming  here  fol- 
lowed the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  builder.  Though 
now  sixty-five  years  of  age,  he  is  active  and  still 
pursues  his  trade  for  a  livelihood.  He  was  one 
of  the  very  earliest  settlers  here,  and  has  noted 
the  progress  and  development  of  this  vicinity  al- 
most from  its  start.  His  wife  is  also  living,  and 
is  now  sixt3r.one  years  of  age.  Her  father,  Tou- 
saint  Barcelou,  came  to  St.  Anne  in  1856  and  lo- 
cated upon  a  farm  half  a  mile  east  of  the  village. 
He  lived  to  be  seventy-six.  Our  subject  is  the 
eldest  of  a  family  of  thirteen  children,  eight  sons 
and  five  daughters,  ten  of  whom  are  still  living: 
Arzelie,  now  Mrs.  E.  L.  Gros;  Mary,  wife  of  Rev. 
P.  Boudreau;  Edraour;  Georgiana,  the  wife  of 
Nelson  Pelletier;  Adelor,  Alcide,  Harry,  George; 
and  Zelea,  wife  of  N.  Pouton. 

Until  he  had  reached  the  age  of  twenty-three 
years  Arthur  Changnon  remained  with  his  par- 
ents, assisting  his  father  in  the  care  of  his  farm 
and  in  his  carpenter  work.  He  received  a  good 
common-school  education  in  the  district  and  pub- 
lic schools  of  St.  Anne  and  afterward  attended 
college  at  Monmouth,  111.  Returning  home,  he 
entered  the   employ  of   P.  G.  Gilbert,    in  Kanka- 


kee, who  there  carried  on  a  grocery  and  bakery. 
After  remaining  with  him  for  a  year,  Mr.  Cliang- 
non  returned  to  St.  Anne,  where  he  entered  the 
employ  of  N.  B.astien  as  cleik  in  his  drug  and  gro- 
cery store. 

At  the  expiration  of  two  years  he  entered  into 
partnership  with  George  Soucie  in  a  grocery  in 
St.  Mary's,  Iroquois  Countj'.  After  a  few  months 
they  removed  their  stock  to  St.  Anne,  and  have 
added  dry  goods  and  gents'  furnishing  goods.  They 
also  operate  a  store  at  Rensselaer,  Ind.,  where  they 
carry  dry  goods,  clothing,  hats,  caps,  boots  and 
shoes.  They  are  doing  a  large  and  prosperous  busi- 
ness, and  are  on  the  road  to  success. 

On  New  Year's  Da}'  of  1873  Mr.  Changnon  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza  Pelletier,  whose 
parents  are  Abraham  and  Ellen  (Martin)  Pelletier. 
Four  children  graced  the  union  of  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife,  a  son  and  three  daughters:  Ayl- 
mer,  Delia,  Laura,  and  Helen  (now  deceased).  Mr. 
and  IMrs.  Changnon  and  son  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  the  'former  is  an 
Elder  and  also  Church  Treasurer. 

The  cause  of  education  is  warmly  championed 
by  Mr.  Changnon,  and  he  is  now  serving  as  ftne 
of  the  School  Directors  of  St.  Anne.  For  many 
3'ears  he  was  a  member  of  the  Village  Board,  and 
has  also  been  Town  Clerk.  He  casts  his  ballot  in 
favor  of  the  nominees  and  principles  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  is  one  of  the  public-spirited 
citizens  of  this  community.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Good  Templars.  In 
manner  he  is  courteous  and  affable,  and  by  his 
honorable  dealings  makes  friends  of  all  his  cus- 
tomers. 


r 


A^=^= 


l^^AUL  HATHAWAY  SEAGER  is   numbered 

'  among  the  pioneers  of  Kankdkee  County,  of 

which  he  has  been  a  resident  since  its  organi- 
zation, and  in  the  territor}-  now  included 

in  the  county  for  a  period  of  about  half  a  century. 

The   maternal   grandmother  of  our  subject,  Mrs. 


394 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Hathaway,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Esther 
Toby,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  removed 
to  Massachusetts  when  a  child.  At  the  time  when 
the  British  captured  New  Bedford  she  was  about 
fourteen  years  of  age  and  lived  in  tlie  place.  At 
the  time  she  was  in  charge  of  a  ^'oung  child,  which 
she  took  in  her  arras  and  with  it  escaped. 

The  father  of  our  subject,  Jephtha  Seager,  was  a 
native  of  Connecticut,  and  came  to  New  York 
when  a  child  with  his  father,  Russell  Seager,  who 
settled  in  Ulster  County,  where  he  was  among  the 
early  pioneers.  There  Jephtha  grew  to  manhood, 
•  and  married  Aciisah  Hathaway,  of  Massachusetts, 
whose  father,  Arthur  Hathawajr,  went  to  Greene 
County  when  she  was  a  child,  and  afterwards  re- 
moved to  Ulster  County.  He  served  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary War  and  was  one  of  the  gallant  defenders 
of  our  countrj-.  Previous  to  his  marriage  Mr. 
Seager  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  lo- 
cated on  a  farm  in  Ulster  Count}'.  N.  Y.,  and  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  for  a  few  years,  af- 
ter which  he  removed  with  his  family  to  a  farm 
located  in  Delaware  County.  There,  in  addition 
to  his  farming  interests,  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture and  shipping  of  lumber,  rafting  it  down 
the  Delaware  River.  Tiie  remainder  of  his  life 
was  spent  upon  his  farm,  and  there  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1836,  when  he  was  in  the  prime  of  man- 
hood, being  but  fort3'-three  years  of  age.  His 
wife  survived  him  man}'  j'ears,  departing  this  life 
in  1863,  having  attained  to  sixty-seven  j^ears  of 
age.  After  her  husband's  death,  she  removed  to 
Illinois  with  her  family,  in  1842,  and  settled  in 
what  is  now  Yellowhead  Township,  Kankakee 
County.  The  remaining  years  of  her  life  were 
spent  in  Illinois,  and  after  her  death  her  remains 
were  buried  in  Union  Corners  Cemetery,  where  a 
marble  monument  h.as  been  erected  to  her  memory. 
The  famil}'  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seager  consisted  of 
seven  children,  the  eldest  being  Russell,  who  grew 
to  manhood  in  New  York  and  came  to  Illinois  in 
1838,  becoming  a  resident  of  Yellowhead  Town- 
ship, this  county,  where  he  opened  up  a  farm,  which 
he  engaged  in  cultivating  and  improving  until  his 
death  in  1881.  Esther  became  the  wife  of  Chauu- 
cey  Chipman,  of  this  county,  and  located  in  Mo- 
mencc  Township;  the}'   are    both    now    deceased. 


Mamre  Ann  married  J.  Perry  Stratton,  a  farmer 
of  Yellowhead  Township;  Mrs.  Stratton  is  now 
deceased.  Nelson  settled  first  in  the  same  township 
but  Is  now  located  upon  his  farm  near  Manteno. 
Our  subject  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth.  Sophrona 
died  after  arriving  at  womanhood.  Orlando  H., 
the  youngest  of  the  family,  died  when  nineteen 
years  of  age. 

Paul  Seager  came  to  Illinois  with  his  mother  in 
1842,  when  but  twelve  years  of  age.  He  grew  to 
manhood  in  this  county  and  had  but  limited  school 
advantages.  During  the  winter  he  attended  the 
district  schools,  and  In  the  summer  months  assisted 
in  the  care  of  the  farm.  For  about  a  year  he  at- 
tended Plainfleld  Academy,  and  after  that  for  a 
few  years  taught  school  during  the  winter  season. 
The  remainder  of  the  year  he  spent  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  lived  with  his  mother  until  arriving 
at  mature  years  and  did  not  leave  home  until  af- 
ter her  death. 

In  Manteno,  on  the  7th  of  February,  1866,  Mr. 
Seager  married  Miss  Helen  M.  Peters,  who,  though 
born  in  Vermont,  was  reared  and  educated  in  the 
neighboring  State  of  New  Hampshire.  She  is  a 
lady  of  good  education,  and  was  a  teacher  pre- 
vious to  her  marriage.  As  our  subject  and  his 
wife  were  without  children  of  their  own,  they 
adopted  and  have  reared  a  child  whom  tliey  call 
Carrie  Alice  Seager.  They  are  both  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  Mrs.  Seager 
is  a  member  and  active  worker  in  the  Woman's 
Christian  Temperance  Union. 

After  his  marriage,  our  subject  settled  upon  a 
farm  in  Manteno  Township,  where  he  jiurchased  a 
partially  improved  place,  and  where  he  continued 
to  reside  until  1881.  lie  then  sold  that  property 
and  removed  to  his  present  farm  in  Otto  Town- 
ship, on  the  Iroquois  River.  lie  was  an  old-line 
Whig,  and  upon  the  organization  of  the  Republi- 
can party  became  identified  with  its  interests.  He 
has  ever  been  in  favor  of  temperance,  and  for  the 
last  ten  years  has  voted  for  the  nominees  of  the 
Prohibition  party.  Though  never  aspiring  to  of- 
fice, he  has  been  induced  by  his  fellow-citizens  to 
All  several  local  positions.  During  his  residence 
of  just  fifty  years  in  this  county,  he  has  seen  the 
wilderness  bloom  and  blossom  as  the  rose.     lie  has 


I 


LIBRARY 
!F  THE 
'■I'MVEuoiH  OF  ILLINOIS 


/^. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


397 


assisted  in  its  development,  and  has  ever  been  in 
the  front  ranks  of  tliose  who  have  been  actively 
engaged  in  the  advancement  of  tiie  county's  best 
interests.  lie  has  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances throughout  this  section,  and  has  won 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  through  his  char- 
acteristics of  manliness  and  by  his  upright  charac- 
ter. 


^^HEOPIIILE  DORION  is  without  doubt  the 


/>5^  oldest  merchant  of  Kankakee  County  in 
point  of  continuous  and  uninterrupted  busi- 
ness. He  began  the  mercantile  business  at  St. 
Anne,  in  this  county,  in  the  fall  of  18.55,  and  there 
continued  until  the  autumn  of  1869,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Kankakee  and  has  since  carried  on  busi- 
ness here  without  interruption,  making  in  all 
thirty-seven  years  up  to  this  writing. 

Mr.  Dorion  was  born  in  St.  Eustache,  near  Mon- 
treal, in  the  Province  of  Quebec,  on  the  15th  of 
April,  1830.  and  is  a  son  of  Nestor  and  Rebecca 
(Morin)  Dorion.  His  parents  were  also  natives  of 
Canada,  and  were  of  French  origin.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  na- 
tive province,  and  at  an  earl}-  age  began  his  mer- 
cantile training  as  a  clerk  in  a  wholesale  house, 
where  he  acquired  the  thorough  knowledge  of  mer- 
cantile pursuits  which  has  marked  with  success  his 
business  career. 

On  the  1st  of  July,  1852,  Mr.  Dorion  was  united 
in  marriage  in  Montreal  to  Miss  Flavie  L.  A.  De 
Couagne,  a  daughter  of  Francois  and  Heloise  (Des- 
charap)  Dc  Couagne.  Mrs.  Dorion  was  born  in 
Berthier,  Canada,  November  25,  1830.  In  .June, 
1855,  i\Ir.  Dorion  came  to  Illinois  witii  his  family, 
and  located  at  Kankakee  in  the  fall  of  that  year. 
He  began  mercliandising  at  St.  Anne,  a  French- 
Canadian  settlement  in  Kankakee  County,  and  re- 
mained in  successful  business  at  that  place  until 
the  fall  of  1859,  when  he  removed  to  Kankakee, 
where  he  has  since  carried  on  business  uninter- 
ruptedly, and  with  marked  success.  In  1860,  Mr. 
Dorion  built  the  line  brick  block  which  he  still 
owns  and  occupies,  and  which  is  twenty-eight  feet 


front  by  one  hundred  feet  deep.  The  building, 
which  is  located  at  No.  186  Court  Street,  is  of 
stone  and  brick,  and  is  three  stories  with  base- 
ment. It  is  known  as  the  Department  Store,  and 
in  it  is  carried  a  large  stock  of  dry  goods,  carpets, 
upholstery  and  millinery. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dorion  have  four  children,  three 
sons  and  a  daughter:  Charles  T.  is  with  his  father 
in  business;  Edward  A.  married  Miss  Annie  Al- 
vord,  and  is  in  business  in  Chicago;  August  G.  T. 
married  Miss  Alice  Fenouille,  and  is  employed  in 
his  father's  store;  and  Marie  Louise  K.  is  the  wife 
of  Edward  W.  Chiniqu}^  a  journalist  of  Chicago. 
In  their  religious  sentiments,  Mr.  Dorion  and  his 
family  are  Catholics. 

In  his  political  relations,  our  subject  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Democratic  party,  and  takes  an  active 
part  in  its  support.  He  is  not  only  the  oldest 
merchant  of  Kankakee  County,  but  one  of  the 
most  successful,  having  built  up  an  extensive  busi- 
ness and  acquired  a  valuable  property.  His  inter- 
course with  his  fellow-citizens  has  always  been  dis- 
tinguished by  urbanity  and  strict  integrity', and  he 
enjoys,  as  he  well  deserves,  their  respect  and  high 
esteem. 


lEV.  CHRISTOPHER  LA  FONTAINE,  a 
general  merchant  of  St.  Anne,  was  born  near 
Quebec,  Canada,  on  the  29th  of  December, 
1830,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Eulalic 
(Brochu)  La  Fontaine.  The  paternal  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  Charles  La  Fontaine,  was  a  farmer 
of  Canada,  and  of  French  origin,  his  father  having 
emigrated  from  France  to  Canada.  He  reared  a 
large  family'  and  attained  the  age  of  eighty-six 
years.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  on  his 
mother's  side  was  Andre  Brochu,  a  Canadian  farmer, 
and  also  of  French  origin. 

Charles  La  Fontaine  was  for  many  j'cars  a  teacher 
under  the  Government  of  Canada,  and  was  also  a 
merchant  in  a  village  near  (Juebec,  in  which  latter 
city  his  death  occurred  in  1861,  he  then  being  about 
sixty-five  years  of  age.     His  wife  had  died  several 


398 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years  previously.  Their  family  consisted  of  twelve 
children,  but  six  of  whom  are  now  living:  Christo- 
plier,  Jean,  Israel,  Sarah,  Josephine  and  Melvina. 
Sarah  is  a  nun  in  the  Convent  of  the  Sisters  of 
Charity  in  Quebec,  and  Josephine  is  also  unmar- 
ried. The  others  are  all  married  and  have  homes 
of  their  own. 

Rev.  Mr.  La  Fontaine,  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch,  was  reared  in  tlie  country,  in  the  parish  of 
St.  Gcrvais.  For  about  twelve  years  he  attended 
the  seminary  in  (Juebec  witli  the  view  of  preparing 
himself  for  the  priesthood  in  the  Catholic  Church. 
In  1855  he  was  ordained  and  remained  a  priest 
there  for  about  nine  3'ears.  In  1864,  removing  to 
New  Hampshire,  he  took  a  charge  in  connection 
witli  Rev.  Mr.  Noiseux,  where  he  remained  for 
about  a  year.  Coming  to  St.  Anne  in  1865,  he  was 
fully  turned  from  his  former  faith  by  Rev.  Charles 
Chiniqu}',  a  former  Catholic  priest.  After  a  course 
of  study  under  the  tutelage  of  that  famous  min- 
ister, Mr.  La  Fontaine  was  ordained  a  minister  of 
the  French-Presbyterian  Cliurch,  and  he  frequently 
officiated  for  Rev.  Mr.  Chiniquy  during  his  absence 
on  his  frequent  lecturing  tourg.  The  main  life 
work,  however,  of  our  subject  was  that  of  a  teacher. 
From  November,  1865, until  1888,coveringa  period 
of  twent3'-three  years,  he  was  the  principal  of  the 
Presbyterian  school  at  St.  Anne.  During  this  time 
he  assisted  a  number  of  young  men  in  their  prep- 
aration to  enter  Knox  College,  of  Canada,  and  also 
the  Presbyterian  College  of  Montreal,  where  they 
finished  their  course  of  preparation  for  the  ministry. 

In  July,  1866,  Mr.  La  Fontaine  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Marcelline  Mason,  a  daughter  of 
Felix  and  Des  Anges  (Gabrieau)  Mason,  who  were 
natives  of  Canada.  Four  children  have  been  born 
of  this  union.  Pauline  is  the  wife  of  Lawrence 
Blanchett,  an  artist  of  Chicago.  They  have  two 
children,  Irene  and  Alma.  Alvine  and  Irene  are 
now  deceased.     Josephine  completes  the  family. 

In  1888,  Mr.  La  Fontaine  stopped  teaching  be- 
cause the  school  at  St.  Anne  was  then  discontinued 
on  account  of  its  possible  influence  against  the  pub- 
lic schools.  Rev.  Mr.  Chiniquy  had  also  resigned 
the  pastorate  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  to  give 
his  attention  to  lecturing.  The  two  Presbyterian 
congregations   united,  having  been    formerly   di- 


vided on  account  of  one  being  under  the  control 
of  the  United  States,  and  the  other  under  Canadian 
direction.  They  are  now  comprised  in  the  Chicago 
Presbytery.  After  leaving  the  college  Mr.  La 
Fontaine  entered  the  mercantile  business  and  is 
doing  well  in  that  line,  as  St.  Anne  is  one  of  the 
best  business  towns  for  its  size  on  the  Chicago  <fe 
Eastern  Illinois  Railroad,  having  a  wide  scope  of 
country  from  which  to  draw  trade  in  various  di- 
rections. His  store  is  a  general  one,  consisting  of 
dry  goods,  groceries,  etc.  He  has  been  a  resident 
of  this  village  for  twenty-seven  years  and  has  wit- 
nessed almost  its  entire  growth,  having  taken  an 
active  share  in  all  public  measures  and  has  served 
his  fellow-citizens  in  various  capacities.  He  has 
been  School  Director  for  nine  years  and  is  at  pres- 
ent Village  Clerk,  in  wliich  position  he  has  been 
for  a  number  of  jears.  Politically,  he  is  a  firm 
Republican  and  is  interested  in  the  welfare  of  that 
party. 


\V  -  ARRISON  MORRICAL,  residing  on  section 
31,  Otto  Township,  is  a  well-known  and 
enterprising  agriculturist.  He  was  born  in 
Darke  County,  Ohio,  on  the  26th  of  Nov- 
ember, 1835,  and  is  a  son  of  Col.  Clark  Morrical, 
a  native  of  the  Green  Mountain  State.  The 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  John  Morri- 
cal, moved  from  Virginia  to  Ohio,  becoming 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Darke  County.  When 
he  settled  in  that  portion  of  the  State,  the  county 
was  a  wilderness  and  heavily'  timbered.  On  ar- 
riving at  maturity,  Clark  Morrical  wedded  Sarah 
Pense,  who  was  born  in  Preble  County,  Ohio.  In 
that  State  for  many  years  he  was  a  farmer,  after 
which,  moving  to  Indiana,  he  operated  farms  in 
Henry  and  Fulton  Counties.  Aoout  1852  he  set- 
tled in  Kankakee  County,  111.,  and  was  one  of  the 
earlier  pioneers  of  what  is  now  Otto  Township. 
He  opened  up  a  farm  and  spent  a  number  of  years 
in  this  locality.  In  1856  he  went  to  Indiana  to 
settle  up  some  business  affairs  and  there  died.  His 
remains  lie  buried  in  Tippecanoe.  While  in  Ohio 
he  became  a  member  of  the  militia  and   was  pro- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


399 


nioterl  to  the  rank  of  Colonel.  After  surviving 
her  Ini.sb.and  for  manj'  years,  tlie  wife  and  mother 
died  at  the  residence  of  her  son  and  was  buried  in 
Evergreen  Ceraeter}',  at  Chebanse. 

Our  subject  is  second  in  order  of  birth  in  the 
family  of  four  sons  and  three  daughters.  The  old- 
est of  the  famil_y,  Adam,  was  an  earl}-  settler  of 
tills  county  and  liore  died;  Plioebe  is  the  widow  of 
Alexander  Miller,  of  Otto  Township;  Elias  carries 
on  a  farm  in  Indiana;  Eliza  Ann  died  when  twelve 
years  of  age;  Lewis  is  a  farmer  of  this  county; 
Amanda,  aud  Sarah,  now  deceased,  buried  in  Ever- 
green Cemetery  at  Chebanse. 

The  earl}'  da3'S  of  our  subject  were  passed  in 
Ohio,  and  when  a  3'oungman  he  came  to  Kankakee 
Count}'.  He  assisted  his  father  in  opening  up  a 
farm,  and  after  the  death  of  the  latter  took  charge 
of  the  homestead  aud  business.  For  some  years 
he  remained  on  the  farm  and  then  rented  a  place 
nearby,  which  he  afterwards  bought  and  which  was 
located  on  section  6.  This  property  was  raw 
prairie,  with  no  improvements  upon  it.  With  un- 
tiring energy  he  proceeded  to  cultivate  it,  and  built 
fences  aud  necessary  farm  buildings.  He  also 
planted  a  large  grove,  which  is  one  of  the  largest 
in  tlie  township.  In  1891,  Mr.  Morrical  sold  the 
farm,  which  has  upon  it  a  fine  orchard,  grown  under 
his  persevering  care,  and  invested  the  proceeds  in 
one  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  resides.  This  tract  is  arable  land  and  is  well 
cultivated.  He  has  a  good  residence,  barns  and  out- 
buildings, and  is  considered  one  of  the  most  en- 
terprising and  well-to-do  farmers  of  Otto  Town- 
ship. 

In  AVells  County,  Ind.,  on  the  25th  of  April, 
1875,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Morri- 
cal and  Miss  Eliza  Ann  Iloudyshell.  The  lady 
was  born  in  Ohio,  reared  to  womanhood  in  In- 
diana and  is  a  daughter  of  David  Iloudyshell,  one 
of  the  pioneers  and  early  settlers  of  Wells  County, 
Ind.  Five  children  have  graced  tlie  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Morrical,  as  follows:  Oscar,  Elmore,  Will- 
iam, Tolfy  and  Lesley.  With  the  exception  of 
the  youngest,  the  children  are  all  attending  school. 

Since  becoming  a  voter,  Mr.  Morrical  has  been 
identified  with  the  Democratic  party.  His  fellow- 
citizens  have  honored  him  a  number  of  times  by 


electing  him  to  fill  various  positions  of  responsi- 
bility. He  has  given  of  his  means  and  influence 
to  the  support  of  tlie  public  schools  and  in  com- 
pany with  Mr.  Kendall  got  up  a  petition  for  the 
division  of  the  old  school  district.  Thus  was 
establisiied  the  school  district  in  which  he  now  re- 
sides and  of  it  he  was  elected  the  first  Director  and 
also  the  first  Clerk.  He  has  also  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  School  Board  for  several  terms.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morrical  are  influential  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  it  was  through 
the  influence  of  our  subject  that  the  church  and 
Sunday-school  were  established  here.  He  is  well 
known  in  this  and  adjoining  counties  as  a  man  of 
integrity  and  upright  character  and  by  his  fellow- 
citizens  he  is  held  in  the  highest  regard. 

The  members  of  the  family  are  Adam,  Harrison, 
Phd'be,  Eliza  Ann,  Elias;  Aaron,  who  died  when 
one  year  old;  Lewis;  Amanda,  who  is  married  to 
Thompson  Adams,  and  lives  in  Iroquois  County; 
and  Sarah,  deceased. 


OSES  CHARTIER,  a  dealer  in  real  estate 
and  an  insurance  agent  of  St.  Anne,  111., 
is  a  native  of  Chambly,  Lower  Canada, 
his  birth  having  occurred  on  tlie  15th 
of  April,  1840.  He  is  one  of  fourteen  children, 
eight  sons  and  six  daughters,  born  to  Francis 
and  Josephine  (Boiseau)  Chartier,  both  natives  of 
Canada,  where  their  fathers  were  both  farmers.  Our 
subject's  father  was  a  British  soldier  in  the  War  of 
1812.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  followed 
that  business  throughout  his  life.  In  1847,  he 
came  to  the  United  States,  settling  in  Keeseville, 
Essex  County,  N.  Y.,  which  was  his  home  for 
eight  years.  In  1855  he  came  to  Illinois  and  lo- 
cated in  Bourbonnais  Township,  living  witii  his 
sons,  Moses  and  Israel,  later  removing  to  St.  Anne 
in  1859.  While  on  a  visit  to  Kankakee  to  his 
daughter,  in  1869,  he  was  taken  sick  and  died, be- 
ing then  seventy-nine  years  of  age.  His  wife  de- 
parted this  life  one  year   later,  aged  seventy-one 


400 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


years.  They  were  both  of  French  descent.  Of 
their  large  family,  twelve  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
ture years,  but  two  are  now  living.  Ray  resides  in 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  Four  sons  were  in  the  army  dur- 
ing the  late  war.  Louis  was  a  member  of  Com- 
pany D,  Seventy-sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was 
in  the  service  for  three  years.  He  took  part  in  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  the  battle  of  Mobile  and  a 
number  of  other  engagements.  His  death  occurred 
in  1880.  Leander  and  Israel  were  in  the  Twelfth 
Illinois  Cavalry,  and  served  for  three  years.  The 
former  died  in  1882,  and  the  latter  in  1866,  soon 
after  leaving  the  army.  Ray  enlisted  three  times, 
and  was  also  about  three  years  in  the  service. 

Moses  Chartier  worked  in  a  nail  factory  in 
Keeseville,  N.  Y.,  when  a  young  man, and  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1855.  He  engaged 
in  farming  until  the  year  1866,  when  he  entered 
the  mercantile  business.  His  education  was  re- 
ceived in  the  common  schools  of  the  State  of  New 
York.  In  1886  he  retired  from  active  mercantile 
life,  and  rented  his  building.  In  1888  lie  erected 
his  brick  block  upon  the  same  site  where  the  former 
one  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  February  of  that  j'ear. 
He  at  once  rebuilt,  and  has  a  large  and  substantial 
building,  in  which  are  located  a  number  of  offices 
and  stores.  He  does  a  real-estate  and  insurance 
business  by  way  of  pastime,  and  has  large  rents  for 
income.  He  also  owns  a  good  residence,  and  is 
accounted  one  of  the  substantial  and  respected  citi- 
zens of  St.  Anne. 

Mr.  Chartier  has  been  twice  married,  his  first 
wife  being  Miss  Delima  Boudreau  in  her  girlhood. 
She  was  a  daughter  of  Julian  and  Pha?be  (Cyr) 
Boudreau,  both  natives  of  Canada.  Their  union 
was  celebrated  March  20,  1862,  and  to  them  were 
born  three  sons  and  a  daughter:  Samuel,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Ida  Reeve,  now  deceased;  Abbie,  who 
died  when  seven  years  of  age;  Camille  and  Al- 
fred. Mrs.  Chartier  departed  this  life  February 
26,  1885.  Our  subject  on  the  16th  of  January, 
1886,  wedded  Mrs.  Leonie  Durand,  widow  of  David 
Durand,  and  a  daughter  of  Desire  and  Orelie 
DroUette,  of  Canada.  The  lady  was  born  in  St. 
Anne,  111.,  and  has  by  her  former  marriage  a 
daughter,  Leda. 

Mr.  Chartier  is  at  present  School  Treasurer  of 


the  township,  and  for  a  period  of  four  years  was 
Supervisor  of  the  town.  He  has  held  various 
offices,  and  from  1876  to  1885  was  Postmaster. 
He  was  the  prime  mover  in  having  the  village  in- 
corporated in  1872,  and  was  the  first  President  of 
the  Village  Board,  which  position  he  has  filled  a 
number  of  times.  For  nineteen  consecutive  years 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Village  Board.  He  and 
his  wife  hold  membership  with  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Socially,  heis  a  member  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  and  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics. 


H> 


m\\ 


^^^ID.  R.  DURFEE,  Clerk  of  the  Court  and 
^-^  ex-officio  Recorder  of  Kankakee  Count3', 
111.,  was  born  in  Limestone  Township  on 
^  the  27th  of  July,  1858.  His  birth  oc- 
curred on  the  old  Nichols  homestead,  the  girlhood 
home  of  his  mother  in  the  pioneer  daj's  of  Eastern 
Illinois,  where  her  father  had  made  his  home  in 
1812,  now  just  iialf  a  century  ago.  Our  subject  is 
the  second  child  and  eldest  son  of  Otis  and  Har- 
riet (Nichols)  Durfee,  whose  sketch  appears  on  an- 
other page  of  this  work. 

The  childhood  days  of  our  subject  were  spent 
upon  a  farm  and  on  the  1st  of  November,  1865, 
he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Kankakee,  where 
he  received  good  educational  advantages  in  the 
public  schools  of  that  city.  Upon  completing  iiis 
studies  he  assisted  his  father,  who  was  an  in- 
valid, in  the  duties  of  his  otlice.  His  physi- 
cal disability,  which  made  it  difficult  for  him  to 
get  around,  especiall3'  on  outside  matters,  made 
his  son's  assistance  valuable  and  necessary  to  him. 
He  did  a  general  collection  business  and  was  also 
Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Assessor.  Our  subject 
continued  with  his  father  from  December,  1874, 
until  February,  1882,  at  which  time  he  was  re- 
lieved by  a  younger  brother,  who  took  his  position 
as  aid  to  the  father.  Mr.  Durfee  then  accepted 
the  office  of  Deputy  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court 
and  ex-officio  Recorder  under  J.  Frank  Leonard, 
which  position  he  held  for  nearly  eleven  j'ears,  or 
until  elected  as   the  successor  of  Mr.  Leonard  in 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


401 


the  fall  of  1892,  entering  upon  the  discharge  of 
his  official  duties  on  December  5,  of  that  3'ear. 
Mr.  Durfee  from  his  long  experience  us  Deputy  in 
the  oHice  and  the  ability  and  fidelity  displayed  by 
him  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  gives  fair  prom- 
ise of  proving  an  eflicient  and  acceptable  of- 
ficer. He  possesses  good  clerical  abilit}-,  a  thor- 
ough knowledge  of  the  routine  duties  pertaining 
to  tlie  position,  and  an  extensive  acquaintance  in 
the  county.  These,  in  connection  with  an  inti- 
mate knowledge  of  papers  and  records,  cannot  fail 
to  be  of  great  advantage  to  him  in  the  successful 
performance  of  his  duties.  He  is  an  earnest  Re- 
l)ublican  in  politics  and  enjoys  a  well-deserved 
popularity  throughout  the  county-. 


-^^ 


fOLNEY  DICKEY,  Postmaster  at  Grant  Park, 
and  dealer  in  school  books  and  stationery, 
is  one  of  the  leading  auctioneers  of  tlie 
county  and  has  resided  longer  in  Yellowhead 
Township  than  any  other  living  man  or  woman. 
He  well  knows  what  pioneer  life  is,  and  remembers 
when  the  Indian  children  were  his  only  playmates. 
JMr.  Dickey  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in  Foun- 
tain County,  October  19,  1833.  He  was  the  eldest 
child  in  a  family  of  three  children,  two  sons  and  one 
daughter,  whose  parents  were  James  and  Hannah 
(Sales)  Dicke}'.  The  father  was  born  in  1790,  in 
Cornwallis,  Kings  County,  Nova  Scotia.  Until 
sixteen  years  of  age  he  remained  with  his  parents 
on  their  farm,  after  which  he  engaged  as  a  sailor 
on  a  vessel  owned  by  his  brother.  He  sailed  upon 
the  high  seas  for  five  years,  and  for  eighteen  3'ears 
was  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers.  He 
landed  in  what  was  then  Will  but  is  now  Kankakee 
County,  on  the  1st  of  December,  1834,  and  located 
on  ihe  Yellowhead  Indian  Reservati(jn.  From 
that  time  until  his  death  he  devoted  his  whole  at- 
tention to  agricultural  pursuits.  His  death  oc- 
curred on  the  1st  of  April,  1863,  when  he  was 
seventy-three  years  of  age.  He  w.as  one  of  the 
very  first  white  men  to  settle  in  the  countj'.  His 
wife  was  a   native   of    Connecticut,   and    was  the 


widow  of  M.  Chapman  when  .she  married  Mr. 
Dickey.  Her  death  occurred  in  this  county-  in 
1843. 

Volney  Dickey  was  only  about  a  year  old  when 
his  parents  settled  in  Illinois,  and  at  tlie  time  of 
his  mother's  death  was  a  lad  of  eleven  years.  His 
father  was  never  again  married  and  for  five  years 
tiiey  kept  house  as  best  tiiey  could.  Tiiey  then  broke 
up  housekeeping,  and  our  subject  started  out  in  life 
for  himself.  His  first  step  was  to  hire  out  at  farm 
work  for  $6  per  month,  at  which  labor  he  was  em- 
ployed four  years. 

When  onl}'  nineteen  years  of  age  iMr.  Dickey 
was  married,  on  the  15th  of  February,  18,02,  to 
Miss  Julia  Hayden,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Nehe- 
miah  and  Sarah  (Kitchel)  Hayden,  of  Lake  County, 
Ind.  Ten  children  were  born  to  them,  nine  of 
whom  are  still  living.  Harriet  is  the  wife  of  George 
Love,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Yellowhead  Town- 
ship; Mary  Ellen  became  the  wife  of  Andrew  J. 
Love,  also  a  well-known  farmer  of  the  same  town- 
ship; Erwin,  who  follows  agricultural  pursuits 
here,  married  Miss  Mary  Smith;  Loia  is  the  wife  of 
William  Finert}',  owner  of  a  horse  ranch  in  Lane 
County,  Ore.;  Clara,  who  wedded  Frank  Love,  now 
a  retired  farmer,  resides  in  Grant  Park;  Don  Pedro, 
an  auctioneer  living  in  this  county,  married  Edna 
Hamilton;  Lucinda  wedded  Julius  Dodge,  now  a 
resident  of  Dalerville,  Mich.;  Otis,  late  of  Mon- 
tana, married  Miss  Mary  Markel,  of  this  county; 
Julia  is  the  wife  of  Louis  Childers,  a  prosperous 
farmer  of  Sherburnville;  and  Alcesta  is  now  de- 
ceased. Mrs.  Dickey  was  called  to  her  final  rest 
on  the  17th  of  November,  1867,  and  lies  buried 
in  the  Sherburnville  Cemetery.  In  September, 
1868,  Mr.  Dickey  wedded  Mrs.  Arminta  Patte 
Ha3'den,  widow  of  Andrew  Ha3den,  and  by  their 
union  were  born  five  children,  three  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  Those  surviving  are  Arthur 
and  Mansfield. 

Mr.  Dickey  has  resided  in  Yellowhead  Township 
almost  his  entire  life,  carrying  on  agricultural 
pursuits  on  his  farm  until  1888.  At  that  time  he 
removed  to  Grant  Park,  which  has  been  his  home 
up  to  tiie  present  time.  In  liis  political  views  he 
is  a  Republican  and  has  held  all  the  township 
offices.     For  six  terms  he  was  Assessor  of  Yellow- 


402 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


head  Township,  and  was  Tax  Collector  for  about 
five,  years.  He  gives  his  heartj-  co-operation  to 
the  cause  of  education  and  for  eighteen  years  was 
School  Director.  He  holds  membership  with  Grant 
Park  Lodge  No.  740,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Grant 
Park,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  -Church  of 
this  place  and  an  active  worker  in  it.  He  owns  a 
pleasant  home  in  Grant  Park,  and  has  the  respect 
of  the  community  in  which  he  dwells. 


^  OSEPH  HAYDEN,  a  well-known  farmer  and 
pioneer  living  on  section  15,  Yellowhead 
Township,  has  spent  nearly  his  entire  life 
in  this  locality.  He  was  born  Jul}'  7,  1832, 
in  Knox  County  Ohio,  and  is  the  son  of  Nehe- 
miah  and  Harriet  (Kitchel)  Hayden.  The  father 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  of  German 
origin.  When  only  a  child,  he  went  to  Ohio, 
where  he  lived  until  1835,  at  which  time  he  lo- 
cated in  Lake  County,  Iiid.  He  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers of  the  county,  where  he  resided  until  his  death 
in  1856.  Lake  County,  Ind.,  adjoins  Kankakee 
Count}'  on  the  east,  and  a  portion  of  Mr.  Hayden 's 
farm  was  over  the  line  in  this  county. 

Joseph  Hayden  is  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth  in 
his  father's  family,  which  consisted  of  seven  sons 
and  six  daughters.  He  was  a  child  of  but  three 
years  when  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  In- 
diana, since  which  time  he  has  always  resided  in 
this  vicinity.  Until  reaching  his  majority',  he  re- 
mained with  his  parents  oh  the  old  homestead. 
His  educational  privileges  were  limited,  as  the 
country  schools  of  that  early  day  were  scarce  and 
poorl}'  conducted.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years,  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  wild  land  in  Yellowhead  Township  on  time,  and 
at  once  commenced  to  improve  and  place  it  under 
good  cultivation. 

In  Lake  County  was  celebrated  on  the  10th  of 
December,  1854,  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Hayden  and 
Maria  P.  Green.     Nine  children  have  graced  their 


union.  Lester  J.,  an  enterprising  farmer  of  Lake 
County,  wedded  Alnieda  Brannon;  Sidney  married 
Miss  Clara  Smith,  and  is  engaged  in  farming  in 
this  county;  Wilbur  A.,  also  a  farmer  of  Kanka- 
kee County,  married  Miss  Clara  Mann;  Anna,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Elias  Br^'ant,  resides  in  La 
Fayette,  Ind.,  where  Mr.  Bryant  is  a  partner  in  an 
agricultural  implement  house;  Hilton  is  a  traveling 
salesman  for  the  above  house;  Clarence  married  in 
this  county  Miss  Etta  Pemble,  and  is  engaged  in 
agriculture;  Cass  is  bookkeeper  in  a  wholesale  es- 
tablishment in  Indianapolis;  Merritt  is  helping  his 
father  carry  on  the  homestead;  and  Ralph,  who 
lives  at  home,  is  now  attending  school. 

Mr.  Hayden's  farm  comprises  two  hundred  and 
fifty  acres,  which  yield  to  him  bountiful  harvests 
year  by  j'ear.  The  farm  is  in  a  good  condition, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  thrifty  in  this  locality.  Our 
subject  is  a  loyal  Republican,  and  takes  an  active 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  party.  He  has  won 
many  friends,  who  hold  him  in  the  highest  regard 
as  a  wortiiy  and  honorable  man.  During  his  long 
residence  of  nearly  a  lifetime  in  this  immediate 
vicinity,  he  has  been  a  witness  of  vast  changes,  and 
has  ever  given  his  support  to  all  worthy  enter- 
prises tending  to  benefit  this  locality  and  bring  it 
to  its  present  high  state  of  prosperity. 


d*'f*-?-^^****t: 


=l**-5"5-^ 


!^****F 


^^EORGE  W 
ill  __,  the  lead  in 
'^yJl   Kankakee 


^^EORGE  W.  VAN  HORNE,  M.  D.,  one  of 
ling  physicians  and  surgeons  of 
County,  owns  one  of  the  best 
drug  stores  in  Grant  Park.  He  was  born  near 
Frankfort,  Will  County,  111.,  on  the  26th  of  March, 
1848,  and  is  the  youngest  of  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, four  sons  and  four  daughters,  born  to  Mathew 
and  Ann  E.  (Yost)  Van  Home.  On  the  paternal 
side  he  can  trace  his  ancestr}'  back  to  1635,  when 
the  colony  of  Hollanders  landed  on  Manhattan 
Island.  His  grandfather  was  born  at  White  House 
N.  J.,  in  1763,  and  was  a  noted  minister  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  He  wedded  Anna  Covenhoven, 
of  New  Jersey,  on  the  13th  of  October,  1785.  On 
the   day  of    his   death,   which   happened    in  New 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRAPmCAL   RECORD. 


403 


York  in  1846,  he  had  married  two  couples  and 
preached  a  funeral  sermon;  later,  while  sitting  in 
his  chair,  he  suddenly  expired.  His  wife  had  died 
six  jears  previously.  Matliew  Home  was  a  native 
of  the  Empire  State,  and  was  a  son  of  Abraham 
and  Anna  (Covenhovcn)  Van  Home.  He  was  born 
on  the  12th  of  November,  1806,  and  in  his  3'outh 
learned  the  harness-maker's  trade.  In  1832,  he  came 
to  Illinois,  crossing  Ohio  b^'  canals,  going  down 
the  Ohio  River  to  Cairo,  then  up  the  Mississippi  to 
Quincy,  and  across  to  Beardstown  bj'  wagon,  where 
he  worked  at  his  trade  until  1834,  at  which  time 
he  went  to  Will  County  and  settled  upon  a  tract 
of  Government  land.  There  he  followed  agricul- 
ture until  his  death,  which  occurred  January  30 
1867.  His  wife  died  in  Missouri,  January  30, 
1887. 

Dr.  Van  Home  was  born  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Will  County,  and  spent  his  boyhood  days 
in  the  customary  manner  of  farmer  lads.  He  at- 
tended the  country  schools  until  about  nineteen 
j'ears  of  age,  afterward  taking  a  course  at  Joliet 
and  at  Grand  Prairie  Seminary,  of  Onarga,  111. 
For  about  three  years  after  completing  his  studies, 
he  engaged  in  teaching  school,  and  at  that  time  de- 
termined to  adopt  the  medical  profession.  Reen- 
tered the  office  of  Dr.  II.  LeCaron,  of  Braidwood, 
111.,  under  whose  direction  he  began  the  study  of 
medicine,  and  with  him  remained  for  a  year.  He 
entered  the  Chicago  Medical  College,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  187.5.  Coming  directly  to 
Grant  Park,  he  commenced  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, in  which  he  has  been  actively  engaged 
ever  since. 

On  the  24th  of  March,  1875,  Dr.  Yan  Home 
wedded  Miss  Sarah  Mather,  of  Will  County,  and 
by  their  union  has  been  born  three  children:  Ma- 
bel, Willard  and  Delia,  all  of  whom  are  living. 
Mrs.  Van  Home  was  called  to  her  final  rest  JIarch 
23,  1886,  and  on  the  7th  of  September,  1887,  the 
Doctor  married  his  present  wife,  who  was  Miss 
Cora  Parish,  of  Burkesville,  Ky.  One  child,  Robert 
R.,  graces  their  union. 

Politically,  the  Doctor  supports  the  Democratic 
party,  and  for  four  years  has  lieen  Postmaster  of 
Grant  Park.  He  is  also  now  serving  as  School 
Treasurer  of  the   township,  and    is  Mayor  of  the 


city.  He  holds  membership  with  Camp  No.  13.57, 
M.  W.  A.,  of  Grant  Park.  In  addiJi^n  to  a  large 
practice.  Dr.  Van  Home  operates  a  general  drug 
and  stationer}'  store,  and  is  a  successful  business 
man,  as  well  as  a  skillful  practitioner. 


^>^^m 


a>^ 


ROBERT  GIBSON  is  a  prominent  farmer  and 
stock-raiser  on  section  12,  Ganier  Town- 
<li  'li  ship.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Daw- 
son) Gibson,  and  was  born  in  Wayne 
County,  Mich.,  on  the  16th  of  February,  1838. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England, 
aild  the  mother  was  born  in  Scotland.  AVhen 
about  grown  both  came  to  the  United  States  and 
were  married  in  Michigan.  In  their  family  were 
eight  children.  John  is  a  prosperous  farmer  of 
Norton  Township,  Kankakee  Count}';  Thomas  is 
also  a  farmer  residing  in  Ganier  Township;  Rob- 
ert is  next  in  order  of  birth;  Janet  is  the  fourth 
of  the  family;  Charles  died  in  1873;  George  is 
engaged  in  farming  in  Michigan;  James  resides 
on  the  old  homestead  in  the  same  State,  as  does 
Henry,  the  youngest  of  the  family.  The  father 
of  our  subject  departed  this  life  in  1855,  and  the 
mother,  who  survived  her  husband  many  years, 
passed  awa}'  in  1885. 

Our  subject  was  born  and  reared  to  manhood 
on  a  farm  in  Michigan.  He  received  the  com- 
mon-school privileges  afforded  by  the  district 
schools,  and  when  nineteen  3'ears  of  age  started 
out  in  life  for  himself.  In  1857  he  came  to  Kan- 
kakee County,  111.,  where  he  entered  the  employ 
of  a  farmer  and  worked  by  the  month  as  a  farm 
hand  for  one  year.  With  his  very  small  capital, 
the  result  of  his  careful  saving,  Mr.  Gibson  pre- 
pared to  farm  on  bis  own  .account  and  rented  land, 
which  he  engaged  in  cultivating  for  the  succeed- 
ing four  years  with  such  success,  that  in  1862  he 
was  enabled  to  purchase  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land,  situated  in  Ganier  Township.  This 
property,  which  he  bought  of  the  railroad,  was  in 
an  unimproved  state,  and  for  twenty  3'ears  he 
lived  upon   it,  bringing   it  under  a   high  state  of 


404 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


cultivation.  In  the  spring  of  1882  he  sold  that 
farm  and  purchased  the  place  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  upon  which  he  now  lives,  on  section 
12,  Ganier  Township.  This  is  one  of  the  most 
fertile  and  well-improved  farms  in  tlie  township, 
and  shows  tlie  thrift  and  care  of  its  owner  on  every 
hand.  Mr.  Gibson,  in  addition  to  general  farm- 
ing, is  largely'  engaged  in  stock-raising. 

On  the  anniversary  of  Washington's  birthday 
in  1865,  Mr.  Gibson  wedded  Miss  Henrietta,  daugh- 
ter of  Campbell  and  Mahala  (Lewis)  Sergeant. 
To  our  subject  and  his  wife  eight  children  have 
been  born:  Alice,  wife  of  William  Hoag,  a  well- 
known  farmer  of  Ganier  Township;  Elmer,  a  suc- 
cessful school  teacher;  Campbell,  who  departed  this 
life  October  29,  1881;  Henrietta,  Edward,  May, 
Arthur  and  Flora,  who  reside  at  home. 

Mr.  Gibson  has  alwa3'S  taken  quite  an  interest 
in  political  affairs  and  is  a  strong  Republican. 
He  has  served  his  fellow-citizens  in  various  capaci- 
ties, and  among  other  otfices  has  held  those  of 
Road  Commissioner  and  School  Director.  He 
is  public-spu'ited  and  does  his  share  in  the  vari- 
ous enterprises  for  the  benefit  of  his  towusliip 
and  county.  Beginning  life  witiiout  any  capital 
except  a  good  constitution  and  those  indispensable 
qualities  to  success,  well-directed  energy  and  in- 
dustry, he  well  deserves  the  success  he  has  attained. 


r 


ORTER  RIGGS  is  engaged  in  carrying  on 
his  farm  situated  on  section  26,  Aroma 
Township.  He  was  born  in  Tyler,  W.  Va., 
on  the  27th  of  August,  1832.  His  father, 
Isaac  Riggs,  was  a  native  of  the  same  place  and 
was  of  German  descent.  He  was  twice  married, 
our  subject  being  tlie  only  child  hy  the  first  union. 
By  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Riggs  became  the 
father  of  four  cliildren. 

When  Porter  Riggs  was  a  j'oung  child  his 
mother  died,  and  lie  went  to  live  with  his  grand- 
mother. Her  death  occurred  when  he  was  about 
ten  years   of   age,   and    after    this    he    lived    on 


the  same  old  homestead  in  Virginia  with  an  aunt, 
remaining  with  her  until  he  was  about  eighteen 
years  of  age.  As  he  was  without  means,  he  com- 
menced working  on  a  farm  by  the  month,  receiv- 
ing $10.  For  five  years  he  was  employed  at  farm 
labor,  never  receiving  over  $12  per  month.  His 
school  privileges  were  very  limited  and  he  is  largely 
a  self-educated  man.  In  the  spring  of  1851,  he 
came  West  to  Perryville,  Vermillion  County,  Ind. 
He  rented  land  and  engaged  in  farming  at  that 
place  for  a  period  of  about  four  years.  The  year 
1858  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Illinois.  He  settled 
in  Kankakee  County,  where  he  purchased  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land.  This  was  en- 
tirel}'  unimproved  and  there  was  not  a  stick  of 
timber  upon  it.  By  his  years  of  labor  and  im- 
provement he  has  developed  this  property  until  it 
is  now  one  of  the  most  valuable  pieces  of  land  in 
the  township.  His  well-tilled  fields  y\(t\(\  him  a 
golden  tribute  in  return  for  the  care  and  labor  he 
expends  upon  them,  and  success  has  largely  at- 
tended his  efforts.  He  is  now  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  stock-raising. 

Mr.  Riggs  enlisted  in  defense  of  his  countr}'  in 
February,  1865.  He  entered  the  service  as  a  pri- 
vate in  Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Fift3'-sixth 
Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  mustered  out  of  service 
September  13,  1865,  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  and  re- 
ceived his  discharge  about  September  23,  1865,  at 
Springfield,  III. 

In  1859  Mr.  Riggs  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  Swan.  Her  parents,  Matthew  and  Susan 
Swan,  are  numbered  among  the  old  settlers  of  this 
county,  vvhere  they  are  held  in  the  highest  regard. 
Four  children  have  blessed  the  union  of  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife:  Edwin  H.,  Leonard  W.,  Grant 
and  May,  who  have  all  received  good  educations 
and  take  an  active  part  in  the  social  circles  of  this 
communit}'. 

Mr.  Riggs  has  always  taken  a  great  interest  in 
political  affairs  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Republi- 
can part}',  with  which  he  has  been  connected  for 
many  years.  He  has  never  been  an  office-seeker, 
hut  has  alwaj'S  taken  a  leading  part  in  the  ad- 
vancement of  all  measures  tending  to  the  welfare 
of  his  fellow-citizens.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of 
Whipple  Post  No.  414,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Kankakee,  and 


OF  THE 
HNIVERsn 7  Of  (LLiiMOIS 


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OF  THE 
Wi^VERSiTY  OF  ILLINO18 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


409 


the  boys  in  blue  have  ever  held  a  warm  place  in 
his  affections.  For  thirty-five  j-ears  Mr.  Riggs 
has  been  associated  with  the  progress  and  welfare 
of  this  section,  and  has  done  much  in  making  this 
county  what  it  is  to-da}',  a  prosperous  and  thriv- 
ing eoninuinity. 


1^^  ANIEL  DAY,  a  leading  farmer  residing  on 
section  12,  Aroma  Township,  is  a  native 
of  Illinois,  his  birth  having  occurred  on 
the  lOth  of  May,  1838,  near  Crete,  Will 
County.  He  is  a  son  of  Asa  and  Fermelia  (Beebe) 
Day.  The  father  was  a  native  of  the  Empire 
State  and  emigrated  to  Illinois  at  an  early  day. 
When  our  suliject  was  an  infant  of  about  a  year, 
Mr.  Day  located  in  what  is  now  Aroma  Township, 
Kankakee  County,  but  which  was  at  that  time  a 
portion  of  Iroquois  Count}'.  He  purchased  a  farm 
wliich  was  but  little  improved  and  here  he  engaged 
in  tilling  the  soil  until  his  death  in  1849.  His 
wife  had  departed  this  life  two  years  previously. 
To  them  had  been  born  four  childien:  Daniel; 
Nancy  Calista,  who  died  in  1880;  Susan,  who  died 
in  infanc}';  and  Virgil,  who  departed  this  life  in 
1862,  being  then  in  Company  C,Onc  Hundred  and 
Thirty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry. 

Our  subject  is  the  eldest  of  the  family  and  be- 
fore he  reached  the  age  of  twelve  years  death  had 
deprived  him  of  both  father  and  mother.  In 
1850,  he  went  to  live  with  his  uncle,  Orson  Beebe, 
near  Momence,  and  with  him  he  made  his  home 
until  he  was  twenty-nine  j-ears  of  age.  His  school 
privileges  were  somewhat  limited,  as  he  attended 
subscription  and  district  schools  during  much  of 
his  1)0}  hood  years. 

In  18Gl,Mr.  Day,  fired  by  patriotic  zeal,  entered 
the  service  of  his  country,  becoming  a  member  of 
Company  D,  Forty-second  Illinois  Infantry.  He 
was  mustered  into  service  at  Chicago,  and  his  first 
active  engagement  was  in  the  battle  of  P'arming- 
ton.  Miss.,  near  Corinth.  He  received  an  honor- 
able dischaige  on  account  of  disabilitj'  and  then 
returned  to  bis  home. 

19 


April  9,  1863,  Mr.  Day  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Edetha  V.  Perry,  daughter  of  .lobn  and 
Abigail  (Tower)  Perry,  who  were  natives  of  Ver- 
mont. Three  children  have  graced  their  union: 
Owen  L.,  who  is  now  at  home,  October  19,  1892, 
married  Almy  C.  Gray,  daughter  of  C.  S.  Gray,  of 
Onarga,  III.;  John  B.  met  death  by  drowning  on 
the  26th  of  December,  1890,  while  skating  alone 
upon  treacherous  ice  on  tlie  Kankakee  River. 
Lucy  C,  who  is  .at  home,  completes  the  family. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.ay  with  their  children  are  all  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

.Soon  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Day  removed  to 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  which  is  a  por- 
tion of  his  father's  homestead.  It  consists  of  one 
hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  fertile  and  well- 
improved  land,  and  is  considered  one  of  the  finest 
farms  in  Aroma  Township.  Mr.  Daj-  is  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  stock-raising,  and  his  wise 
investments  and  good  business  ability  have  been 
attended  with  marked  success. 

Our  subject  has  alw.ays  taken  quite  an  active 
part  in  politics  and  is  in  s}-mpathy  with  the  prin- 
ciples- of  the  Prohibition  party,  for~  whose  nom- 
inees he  casts  his  ballot.  He  is  also  interested  in 
educational  matters  and  has  held  the  office  of 
School  Director  for  several  terms.  Socially,  he  is 
a  member  of  Whipple  Post  No.  414,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
Kankakee.  He  is  a  valued  citizen  and  numbers 
many  friends  and  acquaintances  in  this  vicinity, 
who  hold  him  in  the  highest  regard. 


ll^ICHARDSON  BROTHERS  is  the  title  of 
lisir  one  of  the  well-known  law  firms  of  Kan- 
!»i  \Vl  kakee.  This  firm  is  composed  of  William 
^^  H.  and  Hiram  L.  Richardson.  They  are 
sons  of  Am.asa  Richardson,  who  emigrated  with  his 
family  from  St.  Lawrence  Count}',  X.  Y.,  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm  in  Wesley  Township,  Will  County, 
111.,  in  the  spring  of  1856.  In  his  family  were 
nine  children,  all  of  whom  "came  west  with  their 
parents,  with  the  exception  of  two  brothers,  Will- 
iam H.  and  Joseph  W.,  who  had  come  two  years 


410 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


previously.  Tlie  father  died  in  Will  County,  in 
October,  1890,  and  the  mother  still  survives,  living 
on  the  old  homestead  with  lier  two  youngest  sons. 

The  eldest  of  the  brothers  was  Joseph  AV.  He 
was  a  lawyer  by  profession,  and  entered  the  service 
of  his  country  in  the  late  war  as  First  Lieutenant 
of  Company  A,  Thirty-ninth  Illinois  Infantry. 
His  death  occurred  at  Harper's  Ferry,  December 
17,  18Gl,buta  few  months  after  his  enlistment. 
William  II.  is  the  second  of  the  family  in  order  of 
birth.  Lewis  C.  was  a  teacher  for  many  years.  He 
finally  removed  to  South  Dakota,  settling  near 
Huron,  where  his  death  occurred  several  yeai'S  ago. 
Olive  J.  died  at  the  liomestead  in  AVill  County,  in 
1863.  Levi  makes  his  home  at  Rose  Lawn,  Ind. 
Hiram  L.  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth.  Alfred  G. 
resides  with  his  mother.  Mary  A.  became  the  wife 
of  Henry  Kahler,  and  lives  near  Wilmington,  in 
Will  County.  Benjamin  Franklin  still  resides  on 
the  home  farm. 

The  brothers  whose  names  appear  at  the  head  of 
this  sketch  have  been  associated  in  the  practice  of 
law  since  1870.  William  H.  was  born  in  St.  Law- 
rence County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  18th  of  February,  1833. 
Hisearlj'  life  was  passed  on  a  farm,  and  during  the 
summer  months  he  assisted  in  the  work  pertaining 
to  the  farm,  and  in  the  winter  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools.  He  received  .an  academic  education 
at  Ogdensburg  and  Gouverneur,  N.  Y.  He  came 
West  to  Illinois  in  1855,  and  in  the  following 
year  commenced  the  study  of  law  at  Wilmington 
with  his  brother  .Joseph  W.  and  Maj.  F.  W.  Jlunn. 
He  also  for  a  time  taught  in  the  public  schools  of 
that  place.  On  the  18th  of  September,  1858,  he 
came  to  Kankakee,  resumed  the  study  of  law,  was 
in  due  time  admitted  to  the  Bar,  and  has  been  con- 
stantly in  practice  since  that  time.  Mr.  Richard- 
son is  numbered  among  the  oldest  and  most  ex- 
perienced lawyers  of  Kankakee.  He  is  noted  for 
his  extensive  knowledge,  and  has  for  many  years 
occupied  a  front  rank  in  the  legal  profession.  On 
the  29th  of  April,  1875,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Addie  Wescott.  They  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Mamie. 

Hiram  L.  Richardson  is  a  much  younger  man 
than  his  brother,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  St. 
Lawrence  County,  N.  Y.,  in    1814.     He  received  a 


good  English  education,  and  studied  law  in  the 
office  of  his  elder  brother  and  present  partner.  He 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  spring  of  1809, 
and  has  been  in  partnership  witli  his  brother  since 
1870.  In  that  year  he  was  elected  City  Attorney, 
and  served  in  that  capacitj^  for  two  years.  He 
was  next  elected  States  Attorney  in  1872,  and 
served  four  years  in  the  most  satisfactory  manner, 
as  was  shown  by  his  re-election  to  that  otlice  in 
1880,  when  he  again  served  for  four  years,  and  by 
his  election  in  1893  for  the  third  term.  He  is 
an  aljle  and  successful  lawjer  and  a  popular  citi- 
zen, who  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem.  In  poli- 
tics, he  is  an  ardent  Republican  and  an  able  ex- 
ponent of  the  principles  of  that  great  national 
party. 


~^) 


CS~ 


ENRY  W.  NATTORF  is  one  of  the  leading 
young  business  men  of  Sollitt.  His  birth 
occurred  on  the  17th  of  March,  1863,  in 
^  Lombard,  Du  Page  County,  111.  He  is  the 
third  in  order  of  birth  in  afamilj^  of  four  children, 
but  three  of  whom  are  now  deceased,  and  whose 
parents  were  Corsten  and  Dora  (Bockelman)  Nat- 
torf.  Both  parents  were  born  in  Germany,,  the 
former  emigrating  to  America  when  young.  He 
landed  in  Chicago  with  scarcely  any  means,  and 
for  the  following  five  years  hired  out  as  a  farm  hand, 
He  was  married  in  Cook  County,  where  he  lived 
until  1863,  at  which  time  he  removed  to  Will 
County.  In  1871  he  located  upon  a  farm  in  Yel- 
lowhead  Township.  For  many  years  he  carried 
on  that  farm,  and  was  held  in  the  highest  regard 
by  all  who  knew  him  as  one  of  the  men  who  helped 
to  make  this  county  the  prosperous  one  it  is  to- 
day. On  the  26th  of  November,  1892,  he  died 
very  suddenly  from  heart  failure.  He  left  quite  a 
valuable  estate,  which  represented  the  toil  and' 
economy  of  many  years.  His  widow  lives  with  her 
son,  Henry  W. 

When  a  child  of  only  a  few  months  our  suhjec 
was  brought  to  Yellowhead  Township,  and  ha 
made  this  his  home  up  to  the  present  time.  Hi 
boyhood  and  j'outh  were  passed  in  the  usual  studj 


PORTRMT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


411 


work  and  play  common  to  farmer  lads,  and  his 
school  privileges  were  those  afforded  by  the  com- 
mon district  schools  of  liie  neighborliood.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-two  years  Mr.  Nattorf  came  to  Sol- 
litt,  where  he  opened  a  general  store,  which  he  lias 
since  coiulucled  successfully. 

JMr.  Nattorf  and  Miss  Alvina  Kcsler  were  mar- 
ried (111  the  IGth  of  October,  1885.  The  lady  is  a 
native  of  Will  County,  III.  Her  parents,  who 
came  from  (Jermanj',  became  prominent  people  of 
that  county.  Four  cliildren  were  born  to  our  sub- 
ject and  liis  wife:  Anna,  tlie  eldest,  w.as  born  Aug- 
ust 6,  1886,  and  tliree  others  died  in   infancy. 

On  the  subject  of  politics  Mr.  Nattorf  is  a  thor- 
ough Republican,  and  is  prominent  in  educational 
matters,  now  serving  as  School  Director.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  hold  membership  witli  the  German 
Lutheran  Church,  in  whose  work  they  are  active. 
Jlr.  Nattorf  is  a  wide-awake  and  enterprising  mer- 
cliant  and  owns  the  leading  general  store  in  Sol- 
litt,  besides  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
two  acres  in  Yellowhead  Townsh-.p.  In  his  deal- 
ings with  his  customers  he  is  courteous  and  lionor- 
able,  his  word  being  considered  as  good  as  his  note. 
In  social  circles  iilmself  and  his  wife  are  very  pop- 
ular. 


jILLIAIM  KRUEGER,  is  a  well-known  gro- 
cer of  Kankakee.  He  is  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, his  birth  having  occurred  in  Shu- 
row  on  tlie  mth  of  September,  1847.  His  grand- 
father Krueger  was  a  Tax  Collector  in  the  service 
of  the  King  and  lived  to  be  ninety  years  of  age. 
The  i)arents  of  our  subject,  William  and  Williel- 
mina  (Leichmann)  Krueger,  were  both  natives  of 
Germany,  where  the  former,  like  his  father,  was  a 
Tax  Collector.  In  1867  he  emigrated  to  the  New 
World,  and  at  once  coming  to  Illinois,  located  in 
Kankakee,  which  he  made  his  home  until  hisdeatli. 
Ou  .iccount  of  liis  extreme  old  age  he  !iad  lived  a 
retired  life  for  many  years,  and  died  on  the  2d  of 
June,  1888.     Had  he  lived  until  August  he  would 


have  been  eighty-two  years  of  age.  His  wife  still 
survives  him  and  in  August  of  1892  reached  her 
eighty-second  birthday.  In  their  family  were  ten 
children,  as  follows:  Tlieodore,  llerm.an,  Frank, 
Henry,  William,  Otto,  August,  Mina,  .\meiia  and 
Alvina,  all  of  whom  are  living  with  the  exception 
of  Frank,  who  died  in  this  city  about  1874.  All 
of  the  members  of  the  family  came  to  America 
with  the  exception  of  the  eldest  son,  who  still  re- 
sides in  Germany,  where  lie  has  been  engaged  in 
teacliing  school  for  the  past  twenty-five  years.  He 
is  employed  by  the  Government  and  holds  a  life 
p(tsition.  The  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  regular 
army  for  three  years. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject  were 
passed  in  the  Fatherland,  where  he  received  his  ed- 
ucation. He  early  determined  to  emigrate  to  the 
New  World  in  quest  of  a  fortune.  In  1864,  he 
crossed  the  Atlantic  in  a  vessel  bound  for  Quebec. 
From  there  he  came  directly  to  Kankakee  County, 
where  he  had  two  brothers  who  had  arrived  in  this 
locality  two  j-cars  previous.  Jlr.  Krueger  soon  ob- 
tained employment  in  tlie  country  and  went  to 
work  on  a  farm  by  the  month.  At  tlie  end  of  two 
years  be  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade  and  was  employed  there  for  four 
years,  after  which  he  returned  to  Kankakee  and 
followed  the  same  vocation  until  1882.  That 
year  he  built  a  small  store  building,  in  which  his 
brother  opened  a  grocery  store  and  continued  to 
run  it  for  two  years.  Our  subject  then  purchased 
his  brother's  stock  and  has  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness since  that  time.  He  now  has  one  of  the  most 
complete  and  well-equipped  grocery  stores  in  the 
city  and  has  a  constantly  increasing  trade. 

Mr.  Krueger  was  married  to  Miss  Augusta  Rad- 
zom,  daughter  of  Carl  and  Carolina  (Guugel) 
Radzom,  natives  of  German}-,  where  the  former 
died  in  1870.  The  marriage  of  our  subject  was 
celebrated  on  the  28th  of  July,  1872.  Mrs.  Rad- 
zom emigrated  to  America  in  1889  and  has  lived 
in  Kankakee  since  that  time,  being  now  in  her 
sixt3'-flrst  year. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Krueger  arc  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutlieran  Church,  where  for  the  past  three 
years  our  subject  has  held  the  ofUce  of  Treasurer. 
Politically  he  uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  sup- 


412 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


port  of  the  Democratic  jjart}-.  He  was  elected 
Alderman  of  the  Fourth  Ward,  in  which  capacitj- 
he  served  his  fellow-townsmen  for  two  years.  lie 
is  a  man  of  good  business  abilitj^  and  has  accumu- 
lated his  propert3f  by  hard  and  honest  toil.  He 
owns  a  good  home  and  his  store  building,  his  ex- 
tensive stock  of  goods,  several  lots  and  other  resi- 
dence property.  He  is  an  unpretentious  and  gen- 
ial man  and  has  won  many  friends  in  this  vicinity 
by  his  life  of  industry  and  integrity. 


'^''AMES  M.  McKINSTRY,  the  first  Justice  of 
the  Peace  of  Sumner  Township,  has  been 
for  about  forty  years  prominently  identified 
with  the  advancement  and  prosperity  of  this 
section,  and  has  the  honor  of  being  the  one  who 
named  the  township  after  Charles  Sumner,  of 
Massachusetts.  Mr.  McKiustry  helped  lay  out  the 
roads  and  otherwise  organize  the  township. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  occurred  in  Lamoille 
County,  Vt.,  on  the  Gth  of  October,  1819.  His 
parents,  George  and  Marian  (St.  Clair)  McKinstry, 
were  of  English  and  Scotch  extraction.  The 
father,  like  his  son,  was  a  native  of  the  Green 
Mountain  State  and  was  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
His  death  occurred  in  1845,  and  after  the  death  of 
her  husband,  Mrs.  McKinstry  came  West  with  her 
sons  and  lived  in  Illinois  for  man}'  years.  She 
was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  1870.  Their  family 
consisted  of  eight  children:  Byron  N.,  who  is  a 
farmer  of  South  Dakota;  James  M.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Sarah  A.,  the  wife  of  David  S.  Smith, 
who  resides  in  St.  Paul,  Neb.;  George  P.,  who  died 
in  1860;  Joseph  E.,  a  resident  of  Morocco,  Ind.; 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  Lemuel  Buck,  who  carries  on  farm- 
ing in  Sumner  Township;  Leroy,  who  departed  this 
life  in  1870;  and  William,  a  fanner  of  Kansas. 

Mr.  McKinstry,whose  name  heads  this  sketch, was 
born  and  reared  on  a  farm,  and  his  educational  ad- 
vantages were  very  limited  in  his  early  years.  Since 
arriving  at  man's  estate,  by  a  wise  course  of  reading 
he  has  made  himself  conversant  with  the  leading 
facts   and    topics   of    th?    day  and  is  largely  self- 


educated.  He  worked  for  his  father  upon  the  home 
farm  until  arriving  at  his  majoritj',  at  which  time 
he  went  to  Boston,  and  for  the  period  of  about 
three  years  worked  as  a  clerk  in  a  general  store. 
Then  returning  to  Vermont  he  purchased  a  farm, 
where  he  resided  until  1851.  He  then  came  by 
way  of  the  Lakes  to  Chicago,  at  which  place  he  re- 
mained a  short  time.  In  that  city  he  was  offered 
ten  acres  of  land  on  State  Street  for  $l,000,wliich 
offer  he  did  not  think  it  wise  to  accept.  After 
traveling  considerably  over  the  State  with  a 
view  to  locating  in  a  good  farming  district,  he 
decided  that  Kankakee  Count}'  had  the  brightest 
prospects  for  the  future.  Accordingly  he  pur- 
chased between  six  hundred  and  seven  hundred 
acres  of  land  for  his  mother  and  the  family.  In 
1852  they  also  came  West  and  located  upon  this 
farm.  He  secured  this  land  on  four  Mexican  land 
warrants. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war,  Mr.McKinstry 
helped  to  raise  a  company,  which  was  mustered 
into  service  as  Company  K,  Fourth  Illinois  Caval- 
ry. He  enlisted  in  September,  1861,  for  three  years 
and  was  chosen  First  Lieutenant  of  his  company. 
He  took  part  in  manj'  active  engagements  and 
battles,  among  the  most  important  being  those  of 
Ft.  Henry,  Ft.  Donelson  and  Shiloh.  At  the  last- 
named  battle  his  horse  was  shot  from  under  him, 
but  he  fortunately  escaped  injury.  He  received 
his  discharge  in  1863,  on  account  of  disability,  and 
for  the  following  year  was  made  (Juartermaster. 
under  Gen.  Grant. 

When  peace  was  again  established  Mr.  McKinstry 
returned   to    his  home  and  resumed  farming.     Ht 
now  owns  between  four  hundred  and  five  hundreo 
acres,  most  of  which  is  valuable  and  arable  land.    H< 
carries  on  general  farming  and  stock-raising  and  a: 
an  agriculturist  has  proved  his  exceptional  ability 
At  the  time  of  his  settling   in    Sumner  Township 
Mr.  McKinstry  was  obliged  to  haul  grain  and  othe 
farm    produce    to  Chicago,  which  was  the  neares 
market.     He    has   trul}'    been    a    witness    of    vas 
changes   in  this  and  surrounding  counties  and  t 
him  in  a  large  measure  is  due  the  advancement  c 
this  particular  portion. 

In  1842,  a  wedding  ceremony  united   the  dest 
nies  of  Mr.  McKinstry  and  Miss  Sophrona,  daugl 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGR^U'HICAL  RECORD. 


413 


ter  of  Lemuel  "White.  P'ive  cliiklren  graced  tlioir 
union.  Horace  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Vicks- 
biiig  in  18()3,  at  wliich  time  he  was  in  the  same  regi- 
ment as  his  father,  holding  tlie  position  of  Quartor- 
mastci--Sergeant;  liyron  died  at  the  age  of  four 
years;  the  third  son,  Abner,  also  in  the  same  regi- 
ment and  company  as  his  father  and  elder  brother, 
died  in  the  service  in  I8G3;  I>avina,  wife  of  iMervin 
Seager,  resides  in  Des Moines,  Iowa;  and  Alice, wlio 
is  tiie  wife  of  George  Place,  makes  her  home  in 
Chicago.  The  mother  of  these  children  was  called 
to  her  last  reward  in  1869.  Tlie  following  year, 
;Mr.  IMcKinstry  wedded  Mrs.  Livonia  (Brown) 
Foster,  widow  of  David  J.  Foster.  I5y  lier  first 
marriage  she  bad  two  children.  Julia,  now  the 
widow  of  Charles  Crissey,  resides  in  Omaha, 
Xeb.;  and  Georgia,  wife  of  Lincoln  Walker,  is 
a  resident  of  Momence.  Three  children  have  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McKinstr>-:  Bert,  Clara  and 
J.  P'lovd.who  are  all  at  home.  In  addition  to  rear- 
ing their  own  children,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McKinstry 
are  rearing  an  orphan,  Ollie  Bear,  who  has  taken 
the  name  of  her  foster-parents. 

Politically,  Mr.  McKinstry  is  a  Republican  and 
cast  his  first  vote  for  Gen.  William  Henry  Harrison. 
He  also  has  had  the  privilege  of  twice  voting  for 
the  grandson  of  the  Tippecanoe  hero.  In  educa- 
tional matters  he  takes  an  active  part  and  has 
served  in  nian^-  local  positions.  He  holds  mem- 
bership with  the  Baptist  Chureb,  as  does  his  wife, 
and  is  considered  by  his  neighbors  and  friends  to 
be  a  man  well  worth}'  their  confidence  and  respect. 
Socially  he  belongs  to  Worcester  Post  No.  627,  G. 
A.  K.,  of  Grant  Park. 


4^ 


•¥> 


ENRY  SCHAFER  is  a  well-known  farmer 
J  and  stock-dealer  who  makes  his  home  on 
*^  ^  section  24,  Otto  Township.  He  has  the 
_  honor  of  being  a  native  of  Illinois,  his 
birth  occurring  in  Kendall  Count}'  on  the  10th  of 
"December,  1858.  His  father,  Anton  Schafer,  is  a 
native  of  German}-,  who  passed  bis  boyhood  and 
youth  in  the    Fatherland.     When  a  young  man. 


bidding  adieu  to  bis  friends  and  relatives,  he 
crossed  the  broad  Atlantic.  Upon  arriving  in  tlie 
United  States  he  turned  his  face  Westward,  and 
on  reaching  Illinois  settled  in  Kendall  Co\inty. 
He  was  there  married,  and  engaged  in  faiming  for 
over  thirteen  years  on  one  place,  for  the  most  of 
this  time  being  a  renter.  About  the  year  1805  he 
removed  to  Iroquois  County,  where  he  purch.ased 
a  farm  and  engaged  in  its  cultivation  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  lie  is  now  a  resident  of  Chebanse, 
having  retired  from  the  arduous  and  active  duties 
of  farm  life,  and  is  enjoying  a  well-earned  rest  and 
the  fruits  of  his  many  years  of  labor  and  industry. 

The  first  few  years  in  the  life  of  our  subject 
were  spent  in  Kendall  County,  where  he  was  born, 
and  in  186.5  he  went  with  his  father  to  Iroquois 
County.  During  his  youth  he  si)cnt  the  summer 
montlis  working  on  his  father's  farm,  and  during 
the  winter  attended  the  district  schools  of  the 
vicinity.  He  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
for  about  two  years  after  attaining  his  majority, 
assisting  in  operating  the  home  farm.  lie  then 
came  to  this  county  and  located  on  section  27, 
where  his  father  had  given  him  an  eighty-acre 
farm.  There  ho  lived  for  about  eight  years  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  and  then  became  the 
owner  of  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  In  this 
tract  he  has  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land, 
located  three  miles  south  of  Kankakee,  and  which 
is  all  arable  and  valuable  property.  He  has  a  good 
i-esidence,  large  barns  and  substantial  farm  build- 
ings. 

In  this  county,  April  22,  1884,  Mr.  Schafer  was 
married  to  Elizabeth  Yonke,  who  was  born,  reared 
and  educated  here,  and  whose  father,  Paul  Yonke, 
was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  community. 
Three  children  grace  this  union,  Willie,  Laura  and 
Joseph.  Mr.  and  BIrs.  Shafer  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church  of  Kankakee. 

Almost  the  entire  life  of  Mr.  Schafer  has  been 
spent  in  this  State  and  most  of  the  time  in  Kanka- 
kee and  the  adjoining  county  of  Iroquois,  and  in 
this  section  he  is  well  and  favorably  known.  He  is 
a  believer  in  good  public  schools  and  is  a  friend  to 
all  educational  measures.  Politically,  he  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Democratic  party,  and  though  inter- 
ested in  politics  has  never  .aspired  to  ollieial  recog- 


414 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


nition.  He  is  a  worthy  citizen  and  is  known  to 
be  a  man  of  upright  character  and  worth.  For 
the  last  five  j'ears,Mr.  Schafer  has  made  a  business 
of  feeding  and  fattening  steers  for  the  Chicago  mar- 
ket and  at  this  time  has  about  one  hundred  liead 
of  cattle  and  will  feed  for  the  spring  market 
about  two  car-loads. 


HOMAS  ANi.  JAMES  HUGHES,  of  the  firm 
<^\  of  Hughes  Bros.,  are  well-known  hay  mer- 
chants of  St.  Anne.  They  are  the  sons  of 
Michael  and  Jane  (McCloskey)  Hughes,  both  na- 
tives of  County  T\rone,  Ireland.  The  former  was 
a  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Doons)  Hughes.  He 
emigrated  to  America  in  the  earl.v  '40s  and  lo- 
cated in  Iowa  Couijty,  AVis.,  where  he  followed 
agricultural  pursuits  for  thirty  years  and  was  one 
of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  that  county.  He  was 
enterprising  in  business  and  dealt  largely  in  grain 
and  stock.  In  1873  lie  came  to  St.  Anne,  where, 
in  connection  with  that  business,  he  also  had  an 
extensive  trade  in  agricultural  implements. 

Michael  Hughes  was  twice  married;  his  first  wife, 
the  mother  of  our  subject,  he  met  and  married 
in  Wisconsin,  and  to  them  were  born  six  chil- 
dren. Mary  Jane  is  now  deceased.  Thomas  was 
born  December  11,1858,  in  Iowa  County,  Wis. 
Ellen  married  John  O'Connell,  who  is  a  prominent 
farmer  living  two  miles  east  of  St.  Anne;  their 
famils'  consists  of  four  children,  I^aura,  Gertie, 
Alma  and  Thomas.  Sarah  is  deceased.  James  was 
born  February  12,  18()4.  Eliza  has  also  dejjarted 
this  life.  The  mother  of  these  children  was  called 
to  her  final  rest  in  1877.  For  iiis  second  wife  Mr. 
Hughes  married  Mrs.  Walkerly,  widow  of  John 
Walkerly.  In  her  maidenhood  she  was  Rebecca 
Gammon  and  was  a  native  of  Boston.  By  this 
union  two  children  were  born:  Carrie,  who  died 
when  two  years  of  age,  and  Ada,  who  is  still  living. 
]\Irs.  Hughes  departed  this  life  in  April,  1892.  Her 
husband  had  jireviously  died,  in  January,  1891,  be- 
ing then  eighty-two  years  of  age.     He  was  a  prom- 


inent citizen  and  held  the  ofHce  of  Supervisor  of 
St.  Anne  Township  for  two  or  three  terms  and  was 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Chicago  Board  of  Trade,  and 
commenced  in  life  without  property  but  accumu- 
lated a  valuable  estate.  At  the  time  of  his  death, 
he  was  the  owner  of  eight  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  improved  farm  land  two  miles  east  of  St.  Anne. 
He  also  owned  a  good  residence  and  other  town 
propcrt)-  there,  which  was  his  home  for  about 
eighteen  years.  Mr.  Hughes  and  his  first  wife 
were  members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  he  was 
esteemed  among  the  much  respected  citizens  of 
this  vicinity. 

Thomas  Hughes  married  Miss  Nellie,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Lottiuville.  In  188.3,  he  went  to  Cal- 
ifornia, on  account  of  poor  health,  and  spent  about 
eight  years  in  the  West.  AVith  that  exception  he 
has  been  a  resident  of  St.  Anne  since  1873. 

James  Hughes  and  Miss  Ella  Hughes  were  mar- 
ried in  Moraence  in  1892.  After  the  death  of  the 
father,  Thomas  and  James  went  into  partnership 
and  have  since  carried  on  the  business  successfully. 
They  are  both  members  of  the  Catholic  Church,  as 
are  also  their  wives.  The  brothers  are  stalwart 
Democrats  and  take  an  active  part  in  public  affairs. 
Thomas  is  now  serving  as  a  member  of  the  Village 
Board  of  Trustees. 


(^  r*;ILLIAM  WALLACE  PARISH  is  now  liv- 
%,/iJl/  '"^  '"^  retired  life  in  Momenee,  where  for 
^^/v^  over  half  a  century  he  has  made  his. 
home.  His  birth  occurred  in  Naples,  Ontario 
Count3-,  N.  Y.,  on  the  14th  of  June,  1821,  his 
parents  being  Jeremiah  B.  and  Clarissa  (Clark) 
Parish,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Berkshire 
County,  Mass.  The  family  was  founded  in  this 
country  in  early  Colonial  daj's.  In  1789,  a  colony 
of  sixty  persons  emigrated  with  ox-teams  and 
sleds  from  the  old  Bay  State  to  Ontario  County 
N.  Y.  They  made  the  journey  in  the  dead  o) 
winter,  cutting  their  way  through  the  woods  foi 
a  distance  of  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


•ila 


The  colony  purchased  an  entire  township  for 
twelve  and  a-lialf  cents  per  acre  and  divided  the 
hind  eciualiy  amonif  tiiemselves  for  liomcs.  Our 
subject's  great-grandfather,  grandfatlier  and  a 
1  Mother  of  the  latter  were  the  (irst  ones  to  locate 
in  tlie  township  of  Naples,  the  others  following  in 
the  spring.  They  settled  in  llie  midst  of  the  In- 
dians and  bore  all  tlie  hardships  and  privations  in- 
cident to  pioneer  life.  The  great-grandfatlier 
was  a  fanner  by  occupation,  and  had  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  War.  The  grandfatlier  also  followed 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  the  farm  on  which  lie 
first  settled  is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family. 

Jeremiah  V>.  Parish  was  in  his  country's  service 
in  tlie  War  of  1812,  and  served  tlirough  the  same 
without  receiving  a  wound.  The  family  have  al- 
ways been  interested  in  military  affairs  and  in 
the  country's  hours  of  peril  the3'  have  always 
been  found  among  her  defenders.  Mr.  Par- 
ish was  a  very  prominent  citizen  in  the  town  of 
Naples,  was  a  leading  law3'er  and  served  as  Judge 
of  the  Circuit  Court  of  that  place.  He  also  held 
a  number  of  other  ofUces  of  honor  and  trust.  Ills 
brother,  Orson  Parish,  was  a  prominent  lawj-er  of 
Ohio  and  pleaded  at  the  Bar  in  Washington,  D.  C. 
He  always  dressed  in  continental  style  and  his 
wearing  apparel  was  very  ricli  in  quality.  On 
one  occasion  Jeremiah  accompanied  him  to  the 
county  seat,  going  in  his  bare  feet,  while  Orson 
wore  an  elegant  pair  of  silk  stockings.  The 
former  continued  his  residence  in  Naples  until 
his  death.  He  was  born  on  the  21st  of  July, 
1784,  and  died  June  22,  1848,  when  about  sixty- 
four  years  of  age.  His  wife  was  in  her  maiden- 
hood Clarissa  Clark,  and  her  father  was  also 
a  soldier.  She  reached  the  advanced  age  of 
sevenl3--five  years  and  died  on  the  old  homestead. 
Seven  children  blessed  their  union:  Mary,  Bishop, 
Emilj',  Edwin,  William  W.,  Corydon  and  Caro- 
line. Only  two  of  these  are  now  living,  our  sub- 
ject, and  Edwin,  who  is  married  and  resides  on 
the  old  homestead  in  the  Empire  State. 

In  the  month  of  September,  1840,  William  W. 
Parish,  of  this  sketch,  came  to  Illinois  by  various 
conveyances,  after  the  fashion  of  those  early  days. 
He  traveled  from  Buffalo  to  Chicago  by  boat  and 
was  tiiere  met  by  a  wagon  and  team  that  was  wait- 


ing for  liim  and  his  sister,  Emily  Iliggins,  wlio  pre- 
viously had  become  a  resident  of  Kankakee  County. 
On  the  journey  to  this  place  they  stopped  on 
the  Sac  trail  at  a  place  called  a  hotel,  but  wliich 
was  nothing  more  or  less  than  one  of  the  old- 
fashioned  Pennsj'lvania  wagon-boxes.  It  was 
kept  by  a  Mi'.  Brown,  who  still  lives  at  the  same 
place,  about  three  miles  south  of  Crete.  Mr.  Par- 
ish became  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Kankakee 
County,  and  is  familiar  with  its  history  from  an 
early  day.  He  paid  his  first  taxes  while  living  in 
Lorain  precint,  walking  six  miles  to  discharge 
the  indebtedness,  which  amounted  to  fifteen  cents. 
He  still  has  in  his  possession  an  old  letter  from  ids 
father,  written  from  Naples,  N.  Y.,  and  bearing 
date  July  31, 1842.  It  required  twenty-five  cents' 
postage  and  four  months  elapsed  ere  it  was  de- 
livered. Mr.  Parish  located  near  the  site  of  Mo- 
mence,  where  his  brother  I?ishop  had  settled  some 
four  years  previous.  He  took  up  eighty  acres  of 
Government  land  on  what  is  now  section  26  and 
at  first  thinking  that  he  had  too  much  land  he  tried 
to  sell  fort}'  acres.  He  failed  in  this  and  it  was 
not  long  ere  he  decided  that  his  farm  was  not 
large  enough  and  purchased  eight}'  acres  more. 
This  tract  was  two  miles  southeast  of  where 
Momence  now  stands.  Sul)sequen  tly,  he  purchased 
other  land,  which  he  afterward  sold.  lie  also 
opened  up  business  in  Kansas,  handling  large 
tracts  of  land  and  loaning  considerable  money. 
At  that  time  he  also  dealt  largely  in  Texas  cat- 
tle. He  is  now  the  possessor  of  land  in  Kansas, 
Illinois,  Michigan,  Indiana,  Nebraska  and  Iowa. 

Mr.  Parish  has  been  twice  married,  his  first  wife 
being  Miss  Sallie  Woodaid,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
and  Sylvia  (^'ail)  Woodard,  of  Kankakee.  She 
died  October  14,  1848,  about  a  year  after  her  mar- 
riage, and  left  one  child,  a  daughter,  who  is  now 
the  wife  of  Charles  Bellinger,  who  resides  on 
a  farm  some  three  miles  northeast  of  Momence, 
one  of  the  finest  farms  in  tiie  county.  They 
have  two  children,  William  and  Allie.  On  the 
10th  of  April,  1852,  Mr.  Parish  wedded  Miss 
Catherine  Parkhurst,  who  became  the  mother 
of  four  children:  Variium,  William,  Carrie,  and 
one  who  died  in  infancy.  Of  tliis  family  only 
one    now    survives,    William,    who    married    Miss 


416 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Katie,  daughter  of  Anthony  Canavan.  They  re- 
side in  Momence,  where  Mr.  Parish  is  extensively 
engaged  in  contracting  and  building,  having 
erected  eighteen  houses  in  the  past  }'ear.  He  also 
supervises  large  farms  near  the  town.  They  have 
three  children:  Yarnura,  Carrie,  and  William.  In 
1889,  Mr.  Parish  of  tliis  sketch  was  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  on  the  30th  of 
.January  was  called  to  her  final  rest. 

Our  subject  has  lived  retired  for  several  years, 
placing  the  management  of  his  various  interests  in 
the  hands  of  his  children.  He  has  never  belonged 
to  any  church  or  secret  society,  but  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican and  h,«is  voted  that  ticket  since  the  organ- 
ization of  the  party,  and  previous  to  that  time  was 
a  Whig,  thougii  his  people  were  all  Democrats  be- 
fore him.  Although  seventy-one  years  of  age,  Mr. 
Parish  is  a  well-preserved  man  and  bids  fair  to  live 
for  many  years.  He  is  one  of  the  substantial  and 
public-spirited  citizens  of  Momence  and  has  mate- 
rially aided  in  making  Kankakee  County  one  of 
the  best  portions  of  Illinois.  He  has  seen  it 
change  from  a  wild  and  desolate  w.aste  of  land,  in- 
habited by  howling  wolves  and  other  wild  animals, 
to  a  beautiful,  thrifty  and  populous  commonwealth 
of  industrious  and  intelligent  people. 


-% 


^>-m-<i 


CQ>— 


|OBERT  GOODILL  is  a  prosperous  farmer 
residing  on  section  21,  Ganier  Township, 
its  \\\  and  is  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  this 
)  county.  He  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land, and  his  parents,  George  and  Mary  Goodill, 
emigrated  to  America  in  1852,  and  soon  after  their 
arrival  in  the  New  World  became  residents  of 
Kankakee  County,  where  the  father  died  in  1854, 
aged  fifty-eight  years,  and  the  mother  in  1865, 
aged  seventy-one  years.  In  their  family  of  five 
children,  our  subject  was  the  onl}'  son,  the  daugh- 
ters being  Hannah,  Jane,  Ann  and  Maiy. 

Robert  Goodill  was  the  second  in  order  of  birth 
in  the  family  and  was  born  and  reared  upon  a 
farm.  His  educational  advantages  were  limited, 
and    he    is    largelv    self-educated.     When    fifteen 


years  of  age  he  started  out  to  make  his  own  way 
in  the  world,  and  served  for  five  years  as  an  ap- 
prentice at  the  carpenter's  trade  in  his  native  land. 
In  1850  he  came  to  America  on  a  sailing-vessel 
bound  for  Canada,  and  was  shipwrecked  in  the 
St.  Lawrence  River.  In  this  disaster  he  lost  all  of 
his  carpenter  tools  and  outfit,  which  was  a  serious 
loss  to  Iiim  at  tliat  time.  When  they  l.inded  there 
were  about  two  feet  of  snow  on  the  ground,  and 
for  two  weeks  the  unfortunate  passengers  endured 
untold  suffering  before  they  were  rescued.  Mr. 
Goodill  remained  in  Canada  from  May  until  Octo- 
ber of  1850,  working  at  his  trade  and  whatever 
afforded  an  honest  means  of  livelihood.  Then 
going  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  he  worked  at  his  trade  un- 
til May  of  the  following  year,  at  which  time  he 
proceeded  to  Danville,  111.,  residing  there  until 
March,  1852,  which  date  witnessed  his  arrival  in 
Momence,  Kankakee  County.  He  came  by  stage 
from  Danville,  and  took  two  daj^s  to  make  the 
journey.  For  a  year  our  subject  worked  as  a  car- 
penter in  Momence,  Kankakee  and  vicinity;  and 
then  determined  to  turn  his  attention  and  efforts 
in  the  direction  of  tilling  the  soil.  Accordinglj', 
he  purchased  a  land  warrant  for  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  Government  land,  located  on  section 
21,  Ganier  Township,  for  which  he  paid  ^160. 
This  property  he  placed  under  good  cultivation, 
and  now  owns  two  hundred  acres  in  a  body,  all 
well  improved  and  valuable  land.  For  thirty-nine 
years,  Mr.  Goodill  has  made  this  propertv  his  home, 
and  is  well  and  favorably  known  in  this  and  ad- 
joining townships. 

On  tiie  12th  of  December,  1857,  our  subject  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Cox,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  p]ngland.  Four  ciiildren  graced 
this  union.  Jane  died  October  27,  1888,  aged 
twent3--two;  George  W.  is  married  and  assists  his 
father  in  the  care  of  the  homestead;  Hester  and 
Charlotte  also  reside  at  home.  The  mother  of 
these  children,  who  was  a  faithful  and  consistent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  was  called  to 
her  final  home  February  15,  1892,  aged  sixty-nine 
years.  She  was  a  devoted  wife  and  mother,  and 
left  a  wide  circle  of  friends,  who  deepl3'  mourn 
her  loss.    She  lies  buried  in  the  Momence  Cemetery. 

Mr.  Goodill  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in 


I] 


L,,...,..,,, 

OF  THE 

mmmy  of  Illinois 


a:v. 


,S; 


Xjp  ^Isb^ 


'^^^ 


**.—    — ' 


•'^''' 


/  /- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


419 


local  affairs,  and  has  served  his  township  as  School 
Director  and  Pathmastcrin  a  satisfactory  manner. 
He  holds  membership  with  the  Metliodist  Cliiireh, 
having  been  Trustee  for  a  number  of  3-ears.  He  is 
the  originator  of  tlie  church  at  Exline,  which  but 
for  his  liberal  assistance  would  not  be  standing 
to-day.  lie  has  alliliated  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  is  a  man  highl}-  esteemed  for  his  wortli 
and  integrity. 


"N 


^^UNNERGUNNERSON,  who  for  almost  a 
[l|  (=-  quarter  of  a  century  has  been  a  lesident  of 
^^1  Kanivakee  Count3-,  and  who  has  been  prom- 
inently identified  with  its  agricultural  interests,  is 
now  living  a  retired  life  in  Herscher.  As  he  has 
a  wide  acquaintance  we  feel  assured  that  this  rec- 
ord will  prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our  readers. 
Mr.  Gunuerson  is  a  native  of  Norwa3^  He  was 
born  on  the  'iOth  of  September,  1840,  and  is  a  son 
of  Gunner  and  Margaret  (Waage)  Gunnerson, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  same  countr}-. 
The  family  emigrated  to  the  New  AVorld  in  1846, 
when  our  subject  was  a  lad  of  six  summers,  and 
^settled  in  La  .Salle  County,  III.  The  father  died 
the  same  year,  after  wliich  the  mother  reared  lier 
family,  continuing  her  residence  in  La  Salle  County 
intil  her  death,  which  occurred  in    1857. 

Mr.  Gunnerson  of  this  sketch  is  the  j'oungest  of 

family  of  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom 
two  died  in  cliildhood.  He  has  one  brother  and 
[two  sisters  yet  living,  tiie  eldest  of  whom,  Fulton, 
[is  now  in  business  in  Rankin,  111.;  Jlrs.  Margaret 
Lnderson  and  Mrs.  Christina  Williamson  both  re- 
jside  in  La  Salle  County. 

Gunner  Gunnerson  grew   to   manhood    in  that 
Junty  and  in  its  common  schools  acpiired  his  ed- 
ucation.    He  remained  with  his  mother  until  her 
ieath,and  then  began  to  make  his  own  wa}-  in  tlie 
votld.     He  first  earned  his  livelihood  by  working 

a  farm  hand  b^'  the  mouth,  but  when  the   late 
Tar  broke  out  put  aside  all  business  cares  and  le- 
bpondtd  to  the  country's  call  for  troops.     In  1801 


he  became  a  member  of  Company  F,  Thirty-sixth 

Illinois  Infantry,  and  went  to  tlie  front,  where  lie 
served  until  his  discharge  at  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  enlisted  as  a  private  August  i),  1801,  and  w.as 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  Second  Sergeant.  He 
participated  in  a  number  of  important  engage- 
ments, including  the  battles  of  Pea  Ridge,  Perry- 
ville,  Stone  River  and  Chickamauga,  where  he  was 
wounded  by  a  gun-shot  through  the  left  shoulder. 
For  several  months  he  was  confined  to  the  hospi- 
tal on  account  of  this  injury,  but  as  soon  as  he 
had  sufficiently  recovered  he  rejoined  his  regiment, 
and  with  the  troops  took  part  in  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign. He  w.as  under  fire  at  the  battles  of  Reseca, 
Adairsville,  Dallas,  Kenesaw  Mountain  and  Peach 
Tree  Creek;  he  also  took  part  in  man}-  lesser  en- 
gagements. When  the  war  was  over  and  the 
country  no  longer  needed  his  services  he  was  hon- 
orably discharged  and  mustered  out  at  Spring- 
field, III.,  October  8,  1805.  For  four  years  he  had 
faithfully  followed  the  old  flag  and  defended  his 
country  in  her  hour  of  peril,  and  .as  an  honored 
veteran  he  now  returned  to  his  home  in  La  Salle 
County. 

The  following  winter  Jlr.  Gunnerson  spent  in 
that  county,  and  in  1866  came  to  Kankakee  County. 
In  company  with  his  brother  Fulton  he  here  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  in  Pilot  Township  and  be- 
gan the  development  of  a  farm.  Together  the 
brothers  continued  to  operate  their  land  for  two 
years,  when  Gunner  sold  to  Fulton  and  purchased 
another  tract,  upon  which  some  slight  improve- 
ments had  been  made.  Soon  he  had  the  entire 
amount  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  the 
land  yielded  him  a  golden  tribute  in  return  for 
the  care  and  labor  he  bestowed  upon  it. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Gunnerson  and  Miss  Flora 
Christian,  who  for  more  than  twsnly-five  years 
have  traveled  life's  journey  together  as  man  and 
wife,  was  celebrated  in  Grundy  County,  III.,  Octo- 
ber 28,  1867.  The  lady  is  a  native  of  this  .State, 
and  her  maidenhood  days  were  spent  in  Grundy 
County.  Mrs.  (iunnerson's  father  was  a  native  of 
the  Isle  of  Man.  and  her  gre;it-grandparents  came 
from  Holland.  The  father  was  a  fanner  by  occu- 
pation, and  in  1852,  about  the  time  of  the  "gold 
fever,"  went  to   California,  and  there  died.     Her 


420 


POETEAIT  AND  BlOGEAPfflCAL  RECORD. 


mother  died  when  she  was  a  child,  but  she  was 
reared  Iw  her  grandmother.  Three  children  have 
been  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gunnerson:  Bertie 
Grant,  who  is  a  school  teacher  of  recognized  ability 
in  this  count}-;  William  C,  who  is  now  pursuing 
the  scientific  cc)urse  of  stud\-  in  the  Normal  Col- 
lege of  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  and  Clifford  IT.,  a  lad  of 
seven  j-ears,  who  is  attending  school  in  Herscher. 
In  his  social  relations,  Mr.  Gunnerson  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Whipple  Post  No.  414,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Kanka- 
kee. Until  of  late  years  he  exercised  his  right  of 
franchise  in  support  of  the  Republican  party,  with 
which  lie  voted  from  1864,  when  he  cast  his  first 
ballot  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  while  home  on  a  fur- 
lough. He  is  now  identified  witii  the  Prohibi- 
tion part3^  He  is  the  present  efficient  Assessor  of 
Pilot  Township,  to  which  ottice  he  was  elected  in 
the  spring  of  1892.  In  that  3ear  Mr.  Gunnerson 
left  his  farm,  and  having  built  a  neat  and  substan- 
tial residence  in  Herscher,  removed  to  that  village, 
where  he  now  makes  his  home.  For  many  long 
years  he  has  been  a  resident  of  this  part  of  Illinois, 
and  has  witnessed  much  of  the  growth  and  devel- 
opment of  the  count}-,  having  seen  it  transformed 
from  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness  into  one  of 
the  best  counties  of  the  State.  As  a  citizen,  Mr. 
Gunnerson  is  progressive  and  public-spirited,  and 
manifests  an  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the 
welfare  of  the  community. 


hi<Wp>.»it. 


^  M^    ■!*      B^    i    ■ 


\Jp^  EUBEN  DAYTON,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  on  section  24,  Momence 
Township,  has  spent  almost  his  entire  life 
^'^.  on  his  present  farm,  which  is  the  old  home- 
stead of  the  Dayton  famil}-.  He  was  born  in  Can- 
ada on  the  .3d  of  .July,  18,3.3,  and  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam and  E;iizabeth  (Hess)  Dayton,  a  sketch  of 
whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  woi-k.  They  had 
a  famil}'  of  four  children,  three  sons  and  a  daugh- 
ter, of  whom  Reuben  is  the  eldest. 

Our  subject  was  only  six  jears  of  age  when  he 
came  to  the  W^est  with  his  parents.  The  family 
located  in  Kankakee  County,  111.,  and    the  father 


took  up  a  claim.  This  was  in  1839,  at  a  time  when 
the  entire  countj-  was  wild  and  but  sparsely  set- 
tled, indeed,  the  work  of  progress  and  civilization 
seemed  scarcely  begun,  and  the  Dayton  family  en- 
dured all  the  liardships  and  went  tlirough  all  the 
experiences  of  pioneer  life.  As  Mr.  Daylon  se- 
cured his  land  from  the  Government,  it  was  in  its 
primitive  condition,  not  a  furrow  having  been 
turned  or  an  improvement  made;  but  with  the  aid 
of  his  son,  he  developed  the  wild  tract  into  rich 
and  fertile  fields.  I'pon  that  farm  and  amid  the 
scenes  of  the  frontier,  Reuben  Dayton  was  reai'ed 
to  manhood.  His  boyhood  days  were  passed  amid 
play  and  work,  but  tlie  latter  greatly  predominated 
and  he  was  early  inured  to  the  hard  labors  of  de- 
veloping a  new  farm.  He  remained  at  home  with 
his  parents  until  after  they  were  called  to  their 
final  rest.  His  mother  died  when  he  was  only 
about  nine  years  of  age,  and  the  death  of  the  fa- 
ther occurred  when  Reuben  was  about  fifteen  ^-ears 
of  age.  He  was  then  thrown  upon  his  own  re- 
sources, and  began  life  for  himself.  A  farm  was 
left  to  the  four  children,  wiiicli  our  subject  at  once 
began  to  cultivate  and  improve,  and  the  old  home- 
stead lias  since  been  his  place  of  abode,  lie  having 
purchased  the  interests  of  the  other  heirs  in  tlie 
same. 

Mr.  Dayton  has  been  twice  married.  In  1856 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elmira  Force, 
of  this  county,  who  died  two  years  later,  and  on 
the  1st  of  January,  1860,  he  was  again  married, 
his  second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Marinda  Wells, 
widow  of  Timothy  Wells,  a  farmer  of  this  county, 
who  died  in  1859.  B}^  her  first  union  she  had 
three  children.  Mary  A.  became  the  wife  of  Cyrus 
B.  Scott,  and  died  in  1887;  Martha  L.  married 
John  Kesler,  a  farmer  of  Momence  Township;  Fre- 
mont J.  is  also  a  farmer  of  the  same  township.  By 
her  second  marriage  slie  became  the  mother  of  two 
children:  Leonidas  R.  and  Mahlon  J.,  both  of 
whom  died  in  childhood. 

In  his  political  alliliations,  ]\Ir.  Dayton  is  a  Re- 
publican, having  long  supported  the  men  and 
measures  of  that  party.  For  two  j^ears  he  has  been 
Postmaster  of  the  Wera  post-office,  which  is  lo- 
cated upon  his  farm.  Throughout  his  entire  life, 
Mr.  Dayton  has  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIHCAL  RECORD. 


12! 


ITe  owns  a  desirable  farm  of  about  one  hiindred 
mid  thirty-three  acres,  which  he  lias  now  rented. 
Our  subject  is  a  worthy  representative  of  one  of 
the  honored  pioneer  families  of  the  county,  and  in 
the  community  where  lie  has  so  long  made  his 
home  he  is  widely  and  favorably  known.  His  best 
friends  are  among  those  who  have  known  him 
from  his  boyhood  days,  a  fact  that  indicates  the 
honorable,  upright  life  which  he  li.as  lived  and  the 
high  regard  in  which  he  is  held. 


32^:£^ 


^yi^^o' 


|(_-,  ARMON  MEAD,  one  of  the  honored  veter- 
ans of  the  late  war  and  a  retired  farmer  of 
~r^  Kankakee  County,  now  residing  on  section 
i^  31,  Pilot  Township,  is  a  native  of  the  (4reen 
Mountain  State.  He  was  born  in  Franklin  County, 
Vt.,  on  the  l.'jth  of  March,  18.33,  and  is  of  Gerin.an 
descent.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Caleb  Mead, 
was  a  native  of  German}-.  Emigrating  to  Amer- 
ica, lie  became  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Vermont 
and  the  founder  of  the  family  in  the  New  World. 
On  his  trip  across  the  broad  Atlantic  he  w.as  accom- 
panied by  two  brothers,  who  settled  in  New  York. 

C.  A.  Jlead,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  also 
born  in  Franklin  County,  Vt.,  and  there  grew  to 
mature  j-ears.  He  followed  the  occupation  of 
farming  as  a  means  of  livelihood,  and  continued 
his  residence  in  the  State  of  his  nativity  until 
called  to  the  home  beyond.  His  family  numbered 
eight  sons  and  two  daughters,  but  the  latter  are 
now  deceased,  and  one  brother  has  also  passed 
away. 

Under  the  i)arental  roof  our  subject  spent  the 
days  of  his  childhood,  and  in  the  common  schools 
of  the  neighborhood  he  acquired  his  education,  al- 
though his  privileges  were  quite  meagre.  He  re- 
mained with  his  father  until  the  age  of  twenty 
years,  when, desiring  to  follow  some  other  pursuit 
than  tlial  of  agriculture,  he  began  learning  the  car- 
penter's trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  some  three 
ycai-s.  Following  Horace  Greeley's  advice,  he  came 
to  the  West,  a  young  man,  in  18.51,  and  made  his 
first  location  in  Kankakee,  111.     Soon  after  his  ar- 


rival he  secured  employment  with  Mr.  Mcintosh. 
a  manufacturer  of  brooms,  with  whom  he  worked 
during  the  winter  season  for  two  years,  while  in 
the  summer  months  he  was  emi)loyed  as  a  farm 
hand.  .  He  then  continued  his  farm  labors  and  also 
engaged  in  carpentering,  for  he  had  his  own  way 
to  make  in  the  world. 

After  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war  Mr.  Mead 
responded  to  his  country's  call  for  troops,  and  in 
1862  joined  the  First  Marine  Artillery,  after  which 
he  was  sent  to  New  York.  He  remained  in  the 
service  until  the  following  spring,  when  he  was 
discharged  and  returned  to  his  home  in  Kankakee. 
Here  he  again  resumed  farming,  which  he  carried 
on  until  the  autumn  of  1864,  when  he  once  more 
re-enlisted,  becoming  a  member  of  the  Eighth  Illi- 
nois Infantry.  He  joined  his  regimentat  Duvall's 
IJluff,  Ark.,  and  remained  in  the  service  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  participating  in  all  the  engage- 
ments in  and  around  S[)anish  Fort  and  Ft.  HIakely. 
When  peace  had  been  restored  he  was  discharged 
at  .Jefferson  Barracks   in   August,   186,"). 

Mr.  i\[ead  at  once  returned  to  Kankakee  County, 
and  in  1806  rented  a  farm  of  forty  acres  in  Pilot 
Townshii),  wliicli  he  operated  for  several  years. 
In  1867  he  purchased  a  tract  of  forty  acres,  upon 
which  he  now  resides,  removing  hither  about 
1870.  He  broke  and  fenced  the  land,  built  a  small 
residence  thereon,  and  opened  up  a  farm.  With 
characteristic  energy  he  carried  on  the  work  of  de- 
velopment and  improvement,  and  as  his  labors 
were  blessed  with  prosperit}',  a  few  3'ears  later  he 
was  enabled  to  purchase  an  additional  forty-acre 
tract  adjoining.  Subsequently  he  bought  sixty 
acres,  and  he  now  owns  a  well-improved  and  cul- 
tivated farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty  acres. 
Upon  it  he  has  erected  a  neat  and  substantial  resi- 
dence, together  with  barns  and  outliuildings  which 
are  models  of  convenience.  The  improvements 
upon  the  plaee  stand  as  monuments  to  his  thrift 
and  enterprise. 

On  the  20th  of  Februa'y.  1867,  in  Pilot  Town- 
ship, Mr.  Mead  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Woods,  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in  Jefferson  .Ian- 
uary  4,  1843,  and  a  daughter  of  Francis  and  Eliza- 
beth (Fraiicess)  Woods,  who  removed  from  the  Hoo- 
sier  State  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Kankakee  County 


422 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArmCAL  RECORD. 


when  Mrs.  Mead  was  about  eight  years  of  age. 
Four  sons  have  been  born  of  this  union:  Delraer, 
who  aids  in  operating  the  home  farm;  George;  Roy 
and  l']inory.  Tlie  two  youngest  ciiildren  are  now 
in  school.  The  family  is  one  of  prominence  in  the 
community,  widely  and  favorably  known. 

Mr.  Mead  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Hon. 
Stephen  A.  Douglas,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
a  stanch  supporter  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the 
Republican  party.  However,  he  has  never  been 
an  oHice-seeker,  preferring  to  devote  his  whole 
time  and  attention  to  his  business  interests,  in 
wliich  he  has  met  with  good  success.  His  wife  is 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Herscher.  This  worthy  couple  liave  long  been 
residents  of  Kankakee  County,  have  seen  much  of 
its  growth  and  development,  and  well  deserve  to 
be  mentioned  among  its  early  settlers  and  promi- 
nent citizens. 


_=]_ 


^+^[ 


~S1 


y^ILLIAJI  HIPKE,  a  well-known  citizen  of 
'I  Herscher,  who  for  many  years  was  con- 
\J^^  nected  with  the  fanning  interests  of  Kan- 
kakee County,  but  is  now  living  a  retired  life,  was 
born  in  Bergenhausen,Schleswig, Germany,  ^larch 
4,  1841.  His  mother  was  also  born  in  Germany, 
and  his  father,  Frederick  Hipke,  was  a  native  of 
Prussia.  He  died  in  his  native  land,  leaving  the 
mother  with  a  family  of  ten  children  to  support. 
About  three  years  after  her  husband's  death,  Mrs. 
Hipke  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America  and  made 
her  first  location  in  Calumet  County,  Wis.  The 
family  settled  upon  a  tract  of  wild  land  in  the 
midst  of  the  forest,  which  the  sons  cleared  and 
transformed  into  a  good  farm.  The  mother  there 
spent  the  last  3'ears  of  her  life,  passing  away  in 
1876,  at  the  age  of  about  seventy-six  years. 

William  Hipke  is  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth  in 
this  family.  John,  the  eldest,  is  now  deceased;  Fred- 
erick is  living  a  retired  life  in  Fremont,  Neb.; 
Jacob  is  also  living  retired  and  m.akes  his  home 
in  Holstein,  Wis.:  Carl  is  engaged  in  fanning  in 
Calumet  County,  Wis.;  Christian  is  a  retired  farmer 


of  Holstein;  the  next  younger  are  our  subject  and 
his  twin  sister  Anna,  who  is  the  wife  of  David 
Hausheldt,  of  Holstein,  Wis.;  Margaret  is  the  wife 
of  Peter  Lipp,  a  farmer  residing  in  Holstein; 
George,  a  contractor  and  builder,  resides  in  Erie, 
Ph.,  and  completes  the  family. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  the  first  fourteen 
3'ears  of  his  life  in  the  land  of  his  birth  and  then, 
bidding  good-bj'e  to  the  home  of  his  childliood, 
accompanied  his  mother  on  her  emigration  to 
America.  He  spent  about  four  yc&rs,  in  Calumet 
County,  Wis.  He  had  good  school  advantages  in 
Germany,  but  in  the  English  language  he  is  entirely 
self-educated.  When  a  young  man  of  eighteen 
3'ears,  he  left  Wisconsin  and  came  to  this  State, 
locating  first  in  Kendall  County,  where  he  worked 
for  S.  P.  Bushnell,  then  of  Keadall  County,  but  now 
of  Paxton,  111.  He  remained  with  that  gentleman 
for  seven  years  and  found  in  his  emplo3'er  a  good 
friend,  whom  he  remembers  with  deep  gratitude. 

About  1867,  Mr.  Hipke  purchased  a  tract  of  wild 
land  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  located  in 
Milk's  Grove  Township,  Ii-oquois  County.  Settling 
thereon,  he  broke  the  land  and  developed  a  farm, 
continuing  its  cultivation  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  afterwards  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Kank.akee  Count3',  an  improved  place,  to 
the  development  of  which  he  devoted  his  energies 
for  a  number  of  3-ears.  In  1883  he  removed  to 
Pilot  Township,  where  carried  on  agricultural  pur- 
suits for  two  years.  He  then  determined  to  make 
his  home  in  the  West  and  in  1885  removed  to  Col- 
orado, locating  in  Denver.  He  spent  the  winter 
in  that  city  and  in  the  spring  of  1886  returned  to 
this  county.  He  then  took  up  his  residence  in 
Pilot  Township,  but  after  two  3'ears  removed  to 
Herscher,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  1891. 
He  then  sold  out  and  changed  his  place  of  abode 
to  Onarga.  This  was  in  the  spring  of  1892.  He 
resided  in  Onarga  until  the  fall  of  that3'ear,  when 
he  purchased  lots  in  Herscher,  built  thereon  a  sub- 
stantial and  pleasant  residence,  and  returned  to  the 
village  in  November  of  that  year. 

On  the  rith  of  November,  1871,  in  Morris, 
Grundy  County,  111.,  was  celebrated  the  marriage 
of  jMr.  Hipke  with  Miss  Mary  J.  Duckworth,  who 
was  born   in    Lisbon,  Kendall    County,  III.,    Feb- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIHCAL  RECORD. 


423 


niary  15,  1845,  and  reared  in  that  count}'.  She  was 
the  youngest  cliild  of  tlie  venerable  Oeorge  and 
Mary  (XiUtall)  Duckworth,  both  natives  of  Lan- 
cashire, Enghind,  who  removed  directly  to  New 
Hartford,  N.  Y.,  and  .again  removed  in  the  your  1836 
to  Lisbon,  Kendall  County,  111.,  remaining  there 
until  retiring,  and  spending  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  with  their  children.  Three  children  have 
been  bftrn  of  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife, 
the  eldest  of  whom,  George  F.,died  on  the  llth  of 
April,  1891,  in  Ilerscher.  He  had  received  agood 
education,  fust  graduating  from  the  Ilerscher  public 
schools,  then  pursuing  a  commercial  course  of  stud}' 
in  Onarga  Seminary.  He  was  a  young  man  of  many 
excellencies  of  character,  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  beloved  and 
esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him.  His  health, 
however,  was  never  very  robust  and  disease 
fastening  itself  upon  him,  he  passed  away  at 
his  parents'  home  in  Herscher,  mourned  by  a 
large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances.  Walter 
W.,  the  second  son,  is  attending  school,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Chm'ch  at  Ilerscher. 
Lulu,  a  bright  little  maiden  of  six  summers,  com- 
pletes the  famil}'. 

Mr.  Ilipke  began  life  for  himself  empty-handed, 
possessed  of  a  strong  determination  to  succeed  and 
a  young  man's  bright  hope  of  the  future.  With  un- 
tiring energy  he  steadily  worked  his  way  upward, 
overcoming  the  obstacles  in  his  path  b}'  his  great 
energjaud  progressive  spirit.  With  the  .assistance 
of  his  wife  he  has  accumulated  two  valuable  farms, 
together  with  a  good  home,  and  to-day  is  one  of 
the  substantial  eiiizens  of  Kankakee  County.  Up- 
right and  luinorable  in  all  his  business  relations, 
his  career  has  been  acommendable  one,  well  worthy 
of  emulation.  He  is  now  living  retired,  enjoying 
a  well-earned  rest. 

In  political  sentiment,  ]\Ir.  Ilipke  is  a  Republican, 
having  been  identified  with  that  part_y  since  he 
cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lin- 
coln in  1K64.  Since  that  time  he  has  supported 
each  .Republican  nominee  for  the  Presidenc}'. 
While  in  Milk's  Grove  Township  he  served  as 
Trustee  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  a  member 
of  the  School  Board.  He  gives  his  support  to  all 
worthy  enterprises  calculated  to   prove    of    public 


benefit  and  is  a  warm  friend  to  the  cause  i^f  edu- 
cation. Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  which  Mr.  Ilipke  served 
as  Elder  and  Trustee  for  a  number  of  years,  or  un- 
til his  removal  to  Onarga  in  the  spring  of  1892. 
This  worthy  couple  are  held  in  the  warmest  regard 
throughout  the  community  where  they  reside,  for 
universal  confidence  and  esteem  are  theirs. 


-^1= 


ERBERT  WHEELER,  M.  I)., is  a  well-known 
)lj  physician  and  surgeon  of  Grant  Park,  111., 
and  was  born  December  4th,  1851,  near 
(^  Saratoga,  N.  Y.  According  to  familj' 
tradition,  three  brothers  by  the  name  of  Wheeler 
emigiated  from  England  at  an  early  day,  settling 
in  Connecticut,  and  from  them  have  descended  the 
numerous  families  of  that  name  in  the  United 
States.  Elias  Wheeler,  who  was  born  February  1, 
1780,  and  died  May  1 1,  1834,  was  a  wealthy  farmer 
residing  near  Shaftsbury,  Vt.  He  was  a  man  of 
strict  integrity  and  was  highly  respected.  He 
married  Miss  Olive  Niles,  who  was  born  October 
22,  1784,  and  whose  death  occurred  M,ay6,  1875. 
To  them  were  born  eight  sons  and  six  daughters, 
who  grew  to  maturity.  The  Niles  family  was  of 
pure  AVelsh  extraction  and  was  possessed  of  great 
strength  and  vitality. 

Andrew  Pitcliner  Wheeler,  the  tenth  cliild  born 
to  Elias  Wheeler,  was  the  father  of  our  subject. 
He  was  born  January  7,  1817,  and  died  Ajjril  20, 
1882.  He  inherited  almost  a  giant's  strength  and 
was  a  man  of  great  activity  and  energy.  Though 
quick  to  resent  a  wrong,  he  was  ever  the  first  to 
come  to  the  defense  of  a  friend.  On  the  5th  of 
May,  1846,  he  wedded  Sarah  Jewett,  who  w.as  born 
near  Bennington,  Vt.,  October  26,  1822,  and  who, 
though  over  seventy'  years  of  age,  is  still  living, 
making  her  home  in  Grant  Park,  111.  Her  father, 
Levi  Jewett,  who  was  born  July  18,  178'J,  and 
wliose  death  occurred  on  the  same  farm  near 
Bennington,  was  a  respected  agriculturist  and 
survej-or  of  that  section.  His  wife,  who  was  for- 
med}' Miss  Laura  Perry,  was  born  in  Stamford, Vt., 


424 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


on  the  8tli  of  February,  1799,  and  died  when  her 
dauijihter  Sarah  was  a  child  of  but  seven  years. 
Though  subjected  to  many  hardships,  and  left  an 
orphan  at  an  early  age,  the  latter  succeeded  in  at- 
taining a  good  education  in  the  private  and  aca- 
demic schools  of  Bennington  and  was  a  successful 
teacher. 

To  Andrew  P.  and  Sarah  (.Jewett)  Wlieeler  were 
born  the  following  children:  Harriet  Maria,  born 
on  the  8th  of  March,  1847;  Hamilton  Jewett 
Kincaid,  on  the  ■')th  of  August,  1848;  Herbert,  on 
tlie  4th  of  December,  18ol;  Mary,  on  the  6th  of 
November,  1853;  Charles  Harry,  March  10,  1857; 
Thomas,  July  19,  1859;  and  Laura  Finett,  Jan- 
uary 7,  1865.  The  two  older  children  are  na- 
tives of  Shaftshury,  Vt.,  and  the  four  younger 
were  born  on  the  old  homestead  near  Grant  Park. 

In  the  spring  of  1853,  when  our  subject  was  not 
two  3'ears  of  age,  his  parents  located  on  section  30, 
Yellowliead  Township.  The  farm  consisted  of  forty 
acres  of  land,  one  mile  south  of  the  present  village 
of  Grant  Park.  After  living  in  a  log  house  for 
two  years  they  purchased  and  removed  to  a  farm 
adjoining  the  village.  This  farm  consists  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  and  is  the  soutli  half  of  the 
nortliwesl  quarter  and  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  19,  Yellowhead  Township.  In  com- 
mon with  the  other  children,  Herbert  Wheeler 
had  to  endure  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life, 
and  while  young  was  only  enabled  to  attend 
school  during  the  winter  months.  In  1868  he 
entered  the  public  schools  of  Kankakee,  residing 
in  the  home  of  A.  B.  True.  The  following  winter 
he  attended  the  district  school  at  McKinstr.y  Cor- 
ners for  a  term  comprising  flfty-six  days.  From 
November,  1869,  until  March, 1870,  he  was  a  student 
at  St.  Paul's  School  at  Kankakee.  On  the  12th  of 
April,  1870,  he  passed  an  examination  given  b^- 
County  Superintendent  T.  W.  Beecher,  a  nephew 
of  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  and  received  a  teacher's 
ccrtiticate.  He  did  not  immediately  avail  himself 
of  this,  but  during  the  summer  worked  on  the  home 
farm  and  in  the  fall  again  entered  St.  Paul's  School. 
On  the  10th  of  April,  1871,  he  commenced  teach- 
ing at  SherburnviUe,  where  he  remained  for  four 
months.  The  following  winter  he  taught  in  the 
same    town    for    six    months    and   then    later  a 


three  months'  term.  In  1872  he  taught  for  one 
term  at  Yellowhead  Point,  and  in  the  following 
year  conducted  the  first  public  school  in  Grant  Park, 
where  his  sister  Harriet  had  previously  carried  on  a 
private  school.  In  September,  1872,  Mr.  Wheeler 
entered  the  Illinois  Industrial  University'  (now  the 
University  of  Illinois)  at  Urbana,  where  he  took  a 
course  in  literature  and  science.  He  remained 
tliere  until  1874,  when,  on  account  of  a  severe  ill- 
ness, he  was  not  able  to  return. 

Mr.  Wheeler  became  a  student  in  the  medical 
department  of  the  University'  of  Michigan  in 
October,  1874.  After  taking  a  six  months'  course 
he  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  a  drug  store  at  Grant 
Park  until  the  fall  of  1875,  when  he  entered  Rush 
Medical  College  of  Chicago,  there  remaining  until 
the  close  of  the  spring  term  in  1876.  At  that  time 
the  conditions  for  graduating  in  that  college  re- 
quired three  years^  study,  and  though  he  had  given 
his  attention  to  the  study  of  medicine  for  tw0  3'ears 
he  did  not  then  apply  for  a  diploma.  However,  in 
the  following  year,  when  the  Medical  Practice  Act 
of  Illinois  took  effect,  he  stood  the  firstexamination 
held  b}'  the  State  Board  of  Health  of  Chicago, 
which  he  passed  creditably.  He  received  certificate 
No.  3,  of  the  State  Board  of  Health,  dated  Janu- 
ary 12,  1877.  Newton  Bateman,  LL.  D.,  and  J.  M. 
Gregory,  LL.  D.,  were  then  members  of  the  Board. 

In  May,  1876,  Dr.  Wheeler  commenced  the 
practice  of  medicine  at  Momence,  where  he  was 
located  for  six  months,  after  which  he  removed  to 
Grant  Park,  where  he  has  successfully  practiced 
since.  He  now  owns  a  handsome  residence  and 
has  a  pleasant  home  in  this  place.  His  practice  is 
large  and  lucrative  and  he  is  held  as  a  worthj' 
citizen  and  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  Grant 
Park. 

On  .September  6,  1881,  Dr.  Wheeler  and  Miss 
Anna  Matilda  Herbert  were  married  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Grant  Park.  The 
lady  was  born  at  Monee,  Will  Count}',  May  7, 1860. 
Her  father,  who  was  a  native  of  Germany,  was  the 
first  settler  and  founder  of  that  village,  where  for 
many  years  he  served  as  a  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
He  was  in  the  Regular  United  States  Army  during 
the  Mexican  War.  While  a  resident  of  Will  Count}' 
he    was  a  member   of   the    Board    of    Supervisors. 


ii. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


425 


In  1876  he  removed  to  Grant  Park,  which  is  still 
liis  home.  Mis.  Wheeler  is  an  accomi)lished  musi- 
cian and  is  very  popular  in  social  circles.  Hy  her 
marriage  she  has  become  the  mother  of  two  chil- 
dren: Herbert  Edward,  born  Maj'  10,  1883;  and 
Mary  Margaret,  born  August  5,  1884.  15oth  our 
subject  and  iiis  estimable  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Churcli.  Tlie  Doctor  is  a 
stanch  Reiiublican  in  politics. 


ellARLES  F.  SMITH,  M.  D.,  a  leading  phy- 
sician and  surgeon  of  Kankakee,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Hermon,  St.  Lawrence 
Count}',  N.  Y.,  June  6,  1851.  His  parents  were  Mor- 
ris G.  and  Orissa  (Lake)  Smith,  and  are  now  de- 
ceased. Our  subject  came  to  Illinois  with  his  par- 
ents when  tliirteen  years  of  age.  The  family 
located  in  Kendall  CouQty  and  he  attended  the 
public  school  at  Bristol.  At  an  early  age  he  was 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources  and  had  to  secure 
the  means  for  his  education.  He  became  a  student 
at  the  Aurora  (111.)  College,  and  later  in  the 
University  of  Champaign.  Under  Dr.  N.  A. 
Wantling,  of  that  city,  he  began  the  study  of  med- 
icine and  attended  lectures  at  Miami  Medical  Col- 
lege of  Cincinnati,  receiving  his  degrees  in  1874 
and  1878.  He  began  practicing  in  Cincinnati,  but 
on  account  of  his  health  he  removed  to  Danforth, 
Iroquois  Count}',  111.,  where  he  built  up  a  large 
and  lucrative  practice.  He  continued  to  live 
there  for  seventeen  3-ears,  or  until  May,  1892, 
when  he  moved  to  Kankakee,  where  he  liopcd  to 
get  a  little  rest  from  overwork.  While  only  six 
montlis  have  elapsed  since  opening  an  olHce  here, 
his  practice  has  grown  to  be  extensive.  About 
the  year  1886  it  occurred  to  Dr.  Smith  that  he 
would  like  to  be  a  lawyer,  so  be  read  under  tlie  di- 
rection of  the  Hon.  Free  P.  Morris,  of  Watseka,  and 
in  1888  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  tlirougli  examina- 
tion in  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois.  He  prac- 
ticed but  a  short  time,  however,  and  then  returned 
to  his  first  love  and  has  since  devoted  himself  to 
the  medical  profession. 


In  February,  1880,  Dr.  Smith  was  married  in 
Danforth,  Iroquois  County,  to  Miss  Emma  Mc- 
Dougall,  daughter  of  Jolin  McDougall,  and  a 
native  of  Kentucky.  They  liave  one  clidd,  a  son, 
Charles  K.,  wlio  was  born  in  1883. 

Dr.  Smith  is  a  member  of  tiie  Illinois  Stale  Med- 
ical Association,  tlic  Kankakee  County  Medical 
Society  and  of  tiie  National  Association  of  Railway 
Surgeons.  In  his  social  relations  lie  is  a  member 
of  (iilman  Lodge  No.  591,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  of 
AVatseka  Chapter  No.  114,  R.  A.  M.,  and  of  Ivan- 
hoe  Commandeiy  No.  33,  K.  T.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  Gilman  Lodge,  No.  648  I.  O.  O.  F. 
Dr.  Smith  is  essentially  a  self-made  man.  He  has 
had  to  make  his  own  way  since  childhood,  and  by 
pluck,  energy  and  hard  work  lie  has  attained  to  a 
prominent  place  in  his  profession  and  has  accum- 
ulated a  valuable  property. 


♦^^ 


z^ 


[ir^UANKLIN  S.  FRIES,  a  well-known  drug- 
JlpHfe-  gist  of  Kankakee,  is  a  native  of  Illinois, 
/li  his  birth  having  occurred  near  Geneseo, 
Henr}'  County,  on  the  11th  of  June,  1854.  The 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  George  Fries, 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  German  de- 
scent. He  wiis  a  cabinet-maker  b}'  trade,  and  of 
his  large  family  of  children  six  are  still  living, 
four  sons  and  two  daughters.  They  have  all 
reached  a  ripe  old  .age  and  have  families  of  their 
own.  One  of  the  sons  lives  in  Moline,  one  in  Neb- 
raska, one  near  and  the  other  in  Geneseo,  111. 
One  daughter  resides  in  Johnson  County,  Neb.; 
and  the  other  in  Kingman,  Kan. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  are  John  and  Su- 
sanna (Klinger)  Fries,  the  former  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  Four  sons 
and  five  daughters  were  born  to  them,  but  three 
of  wliom  are  now  living:  Franklin  S.,  Hannah  A. 
and  Sarah  E.,  the  others  d3'ing  in  infanc}'.  In 
the  summer  of  1853,  the  parents  emigrated  to  Illi- 
nois from  Ohio,  where  they  li.ad  lived  for  some 
years.  They  settled  upon  a  farm  in  Henry 
County,  near  Geneseo,  where  Mr.  Fries  has  engaged 


426 


PORTRAIT  AND  BTOGEAPHICAL   RECORD. 


in  agi-icultuial  pursuits  for  about  fortj'  years.  He 
has  now  readied  seventy  years  of  age  and  is  still 
bale  and  hearty.  He  comes  from  a  long-lived 
family,  his  grandparents  having  been  octogenarians. 
He  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  having  enlisted  in 
the  one  hundred  day  service.  He  and  his  wife  are 
consistent  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  to 
which  they  liave  belonged  for  many  years  and  in 
which  Mr.  Fries  has  held  various  offices. 

The  bo3'hood  days  of  our  subject  were  passed 
upon  his  father's  farm,  where  he  worked  in  the 
summer  season,  attending  the  district  school 
through  the  winter  term.  In  1874,  he  left  the 
parental  roof,  going  to  Ackley,  Iowa,  where  he 
entered  a  drug  store  and  served  a  three  years'  ap- 
prenticeship under  Dr.  W.  H.  Roberts,  learning  thor- 
oughly the  compounding  of  prescriptions.  In  1877, 
he  returned  to  his  home  in  Geneseo,  where  he  re- 
mained for  two  years.  Mr.  Fries  next  went  to  Chi- 
cago, and  entering  the  employ  of  Rockwood  Bros., 
druggists,  remained  with  them  until  1882.  He 
then  came  to  Kankakee  and  clerked  for  about  six 
years  in  the  drug  stores  of  Kurrasch  <fe  Stege  and 
that  of  F.  Swannell.  About  1888,  Mr.  Fries 
formed  a  partnership  with  .J.  S.  Cline  and  pur- 
chased the  stock  former!)'  owned  b)'  F.  Swannell. 
They  continued  in  business  together  until  March, 
1890,  when  Mr.  Cline  sold  his  interest  to  Dr.  H. 
H.  Rogers,  since  which  time  the  style  of  the  firm 
has  been  Fries  ife  Rogers.  They  have  a  well- 
stocked  store  of  druggists'  supplies,  also  paints, 
oils,  wall  paper  and  stationery.  Since  embarking 
in  business  in  this  city,  Mr.  Fries  has  met  with 
signal  success  and  has  a  constantly  increasing- 
trade. 

The  17th  of  .lanuary,  1878,  was  an  eventful  day 
in  the  history  of  Mr.  Fries,  for  he  was  then  united 
in  marriage  with  Sarali  A.  Babel,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Jlary  (Siusinnicht)  Babel,  of  Naperville, 
111.,  who  were  natives  of  Germany,  and  emigrated 
to  America  when  young.  Mr.  Babel  was  a  black- 
smith, farmer  and  carpenter,  and  at  the  present 
time  has  a  shop  on  his  farm.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fries 
have  one  child,  a  son,  Howard  Lloyd,  who  is  now 
about  twelve  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Fries  is  interested  in  civic  societies  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United   Work- 


men, and  also  holds  membership  with  Lodge  No. 
379,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  He  is  not  a  politician,  as  his 
time  is  fully  occupied  in  carrying  on  his  business 
without  aspiring  to  the  honors  of  office,  but  he  is  a 
loyal  Republican  and  has  always  voted  that  ticket. 
He  is  one  of  the  enterprising  business  men  of  Kan- 
kakee and  has  a  large  acquaintance  and  patronage. 


\f  ONAS  J.  NEFF,  who  resides  on  section   10,' 
Sumner  Township,  is  a  well-known  and  pro- 
^;^       gressive  farmer  and  has  been  a  resident  ol 
^^^    this  county  for    nearly  thirty   years.     Hii 
birth  occurred  in  the  Buckeye   State   on  the  29tl 
of  December,  1836,  in   Tuscarawas   County.     Hii 
grandfather,  Christopher  Neff,  was  of  German  de 
scent,  and  his  father,  Jonas,  was  born  in  the   Key 
stone  State.     At  an  early  day  the  latter   remove' 
to  Ohio  and  throughout  life  has  been  a  farmer.  II 
is  still  living  in  Ohio  cm  the  old  homestead,  at  tii 
advanced  age  of  eighty-five  years.     The  mother  o: 
our   subject    bore    the   maiden  name  of    Susann 
Royer,  and  by  her  marriage  became  the  mother  of' 
ten   children:    David,  Jacob,  Simon  and  Mary  A. 
(twins),  Jonas, Elizabeth,  Ezra,  Martin  L.,  Susanna 
and  Peter.     The  mother's  death  occurred  in  1857. 
Both  she  and  her  husband  were  members  of  the 
Lutheran   Church.     Afterward  the  father  married 
again  and  had  one  child,  Austin. 

Until  twenty-one  years  of  age  our  subject  re- 
mained at  home  with  his  father.  His  early  educa- 
tion was  acquired  in  the  district  schools,  after 
which  he  attended  a  select  school  for  four  sum- 
mers, teaching  during  the  winter  months.  He  en- 
gaged in  that  profession  most  of  the  time  until 
coming  to  Illinois  in  1864.  LTpon  his  arrival  in 
Kankakee  County,  IMr.  Neff  rented  land,  turned 
his  attention  to  .agricultural  pursuits  during  the 
summer,  and  taught  school  during  the  winter 
terms  for  three  3'ears.  In  1868  he  purchased  the 
farm  which  has  been  liis  home  ever  since.  This 
tract  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
on  section   10,  and  w.as  raw,  unimproved  railroad 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

»«'vui8ITy  OP  iLLINOiS 


**■  ^ 


iiinlWiiiiiim»*iin^  ^i 


4 


«■ 


2?^^      ^^^ 


Sarah     webler 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

HNIVERSITY  OF  iLLINOiS 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


i;ii 


land.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  one  lunulicd  and 
sixt3'  acres,  liuving  all  modern  improvements.  In 
addition  to  general  farming,  lie  makes  a  specialty 
of  raising  a  high  grade  of  hogs.  He  has  acquired 
a  good  competence,  the  residt  of  years  of  econom}' 
and  industry. 

In  1860  occurred  the  wedding  of  Mr.  Xeff  and 
Miss  Caroline  Swiiiart,  a  sketch  of  whose  family 
appears  elsewliere  in  this  volume.  Two  children, 
sons,  have  graced  their  marriage.  David  Lincoln 
is  a  farmer  of  Sumner  Township,  and  Herbert  as- 
sists his  father  in  earr3'ing  on  the  homestead. 

As  is  natural  on  account  of  his  many  years  spent 
as  a  teacher,  Jlr.  Neff  has  always  been  especially 
interested  in  educational  matters  and  is  a  believer 
in  good  schools  and  teachers.  He  has  served  his 
townships  in  a  number  of  minor  offices  and  does 
his  share  toward  the  promotion  of  all  measures 
calculated  to  benefit  the  community  in  which  he 
dwells.  Politically,  Mr.  Xeff  is  a  Rei)ublican  and 
uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  that  party. 
For  many  years  he  and  his  wife  have  been  valued 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Churcli. 


ll^ETEK  WEBLER,  one  of  Kankakee's  well- 
Jji  known  citizens,  has  been  a  resident  of 
this  cit\-  since  18G3,  and  of  the  State  of 
Illinois  for  about  fort}-  years.  He  oper- 
ated a  foundry-  and  machine  shop  in  Kankakee 
fur  nearly  eighteen  years,  but  finally  sold  that 
branch  of  his  business  to  Messrs.  Woodruff  .t  Beau- 
mont. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  his 
birth  occurring  .hily  1,  1821.  His  parents  were 
Reivlwn  and  Martha  (Maynard)  Webler,  the  fam- 
ily name  having  doubtless  originally  been  spelled 
Webber.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject was  a  Hollander  by  birth,  and  on  his  arrival 
in  this  country  he  settled  in  Connecticut,  where 
be  resided  until  his  death.  The  Maynard  fam- 
ily is  supposed  to  be  of  German  origin.  Reuben 
Webler  was  engaged  in  the  codfishery  business  for  a 
number  of  years  off  the  Xew  England  coast.  Soon 
20 


1, 


after  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California  he  started 
for  the  Pacific  Coast,  hoping  to  make  his  fortune, 
and  to  this  day  his  family  have  never  received 
any  tidings  from  him.  Whether  he  reached  his 
destination  or  perished  on  the  way  has  never  been 
learned.  Previous  to  this  time,  however,  his  fam- 
ily had  removed  from  Connecticut  to  Cherry  Val- 
ley, N.  Y.,  and  later  the  mother  removed  with  her 
family  to  Cazenovia,  in  Madison  County,  the 
same  State.  A  number  of  years  afterward  the 
mother  removed  to  Illinois  and  passed  her  re- 
maining years  with  her  son,  our  subject,  her 
death  occurring  when  she  had  attained  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-two  years.  Her  family  con- 
sisted of  five  children,  three  of  whom,  two  sons 
and  a  daughter,  are  still  living.  The  eldest  of 
the  surviving  members  of  tlie  family  is  Fannie, 
widow  of  George  Miller,  who  makes  her  home  at 
Pleasant  Mount,  Wayne  County,  Pa.;  Peter  is 
the  next  in  order  of  birth;  and  Jerome  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Wilmington,  111.  Those  deceased  are  Mary 
and  Thomas. 

Mr.  Webler  learned  the  trade  of  a  molder  or 
stove-maker,  which  occupation  he  has  followed 
much  of  his  life  in  connection  with  other  brandies 
of  the  foundry  business.  About  1850  he  came 
to  Illinois  and  located  at  Wilmington,  where  he 
had  friends.  In  that  city  he  lived  until  coming 
to  Kankakee  in  1863. 

In  Madison  County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  6th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1847,  Mr.  Webler  married  Miss  Sarah,  daugh- 
ter of  Adam  Walrath.  On  the  "iOth  of  October, 
1891,  Mrs.  AYebler,  who  had  been  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  passed 
away.  Five  children  had  graced  their  union,  but 
two  of  whom  are  now  living,  a  son  and  a  daugh- 
ter. George  is  a  resident  of  Kankakee;  and  Ella 
is  the  wife  of  John  Pitzel,  who  operates  a  farm 
owned  by  Mr.  Webler  in  Otto  Township.  Our 
subject  has  ten  grandchildren,  four  of  whom  are 
children  of  his  sou  and  six  of  his  daughter. 

For  quite  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Webler  has 
devoted  considerable  attention  to  real  estate,  in 
fact  that  has  been  his  principal  business  since  he 
sold  his  foundiy.  He  has  done  considerable  build- 
ing, and  thus  has  contributed  to  the  growth  and 
development  of  the  city.     He  has  been  successful 


432 


PORTKAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  business  and  is  respected  as  a  worthy  and  esti- 
mable citizen.  He  resides  at  his  pleasant  home 
situated  at  No.  203  Third  Avenue.  Politically, 
lie  was  a  AVhig  until  the  rise  of  the  Republican 
party,  with  which  he  has  since  been  identified. 
Though  he  has  held  a  number  of  minor  offices  in 
the  city  he  has  never  been  an  office-seeker. 


-^^ 


ATTHEW  ANDERSON,  who  has  been  for 
nearly  half  a  century  a  resident  of  this 
countj-,  was  born  in  Lanarkshire,  Scot- 
land, on  the  19th  of  February,  1814.  He 
is  the  son  of  Alexander  and  Elizabeth  (Miller) 
Anderson,  also  of  Scotland.  Their  family  con- 
sisted of  seven  children,  six  of  whom  were  sons 
and  one  a  daughter:  Alexander,  John,  Thomas, 
Robert,  Mary,  Matthew  and  Robert. 

Our  subject  was  born  and  reared  on  a  farm  and 
is  largely  self-educated,  as  his  advantages  for  ob- 
taining an  education  were  most  limited.  Wiien 
only  seven  years  of  age  he  commenced  herding 
cattle  in  his  native  land  and  continued  in  that 
occupation  until  thirteen  years  of  age.  For  a 
number  of  j-ears  he  worked  at  general  labor,  prin- 
cipally upon  farms,  and  received  but  small  re- 
muneration. Believing  that  the  New  World  would 
afford  him  better  chances  of  making  his  way  in 
the  world,  he  bade  adieu  to  the  friends  and  scenes 
of  his  youth,  and  in  1833  took  passage  on  a  sail- 
ing-vessel bound  for  Canada.  After  a  voyage 
upon  the  briny  deep  of  over  eight  weeks  he  landed 
at  Quebec.  From  there  he  went  to  Huntington, 
Canada,  where  he  lived  for  four  years.  Then 
going  to  Wayne  County,  N.  Y., Mr.  Anderson  com- 
menced working  on  a  farm,  receiving  $10  per 
month.  He  was  industrious  and  frugal  and  re- 
mained there  for  about  six  j-ears,  thence  returning 
to  Canada,  where  he  lived  until  1844.  That  year 
witnessed  his  arrival  in  Kankakee  County,  which 
was  then  a  portion  of  Will  County.  For  the  period 
of  a  year  he  worked  in  a  sawmill  at  Wilmington, 
and  then,  coming  to  Momenco,  was  in  asawmillfor 
ten  years.     He  next  determined  to  turn  his  atten- 


tion to  agricultural  pursuits  and  accordingly  moved 
on  an  eighty-acre  farm  of  wild  land,  which  he  had 
previously  purchased  on  section  10,Ganier  Town- 
ship. There  were  at  that  time  three  log  and  three 
frame  houses  in  Momence.  The  farm  on  which  he 
is  now  living  he  settled  upon  in  1857,  and  has 
made  it  his  home  up  to  the  present  date.  When 
he  first  came  to  this  section  the  Indians  were  still 
numerous  and  the  country  was  almost  a  wilder- 
ness. He  now  owns  one  hundred  and  twenty 
.acres,  which  are  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  have  many  improvements. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  married  September  24,  1850, 
to  ISIiss  .Sarah  A.  Beadle,  and  by  their  union  were 
born  four  children:  Mary,  John,  and  twins  who 
died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Anderson  was  called  to  her 
final  rest  in  1856,  and  her  remains  are  interred  in 
the  Momence  Cemetery'.  Our  subject  was  united 
in  marriage  in  1859  to  Miss  Rebecca  Wilson. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  a  supporter  of  the  old  Whig 
party  previous  to  the  organization  of  the  Republi- 
can part}',  and  since  that  time  he  has  l)een  one  of 
its  stanch  adherents.  He  is  public-sjiirited  and 
alvv.ays  ready  to  do  his  part  in  the  various  enter-  ' 
prises  intended  for  the  advancement  and  progress 

of    the    communitv   in  which   he  dwells.     For  be-   , 

I 
tween  twent^'-flve  and  thirty  years  our  subject  has  I 

served  in  the  capacity  of  Highway  Commissioner 

and  School  Director.     In  a  business  and  financial  | 

way  he  has  been  very  successful,  and  from  a  most  - 

humble  beginning  has  worked  his  wa}'  upwards  to 

a  fair  competency  by  his  own   unassisted  efforts 

and  industry. 


'il^'REDERlCK  HOLTZMAN,  a  grain  and  seed 
ri^\^  merchant   and    wealthy   citizen    of   Grant 
_1  Park,   is  a  native  of  German}'.     His  birth 

occurred  on  the  17th  of  February,  183G,  in  Prussia 
He  is  the  elder  of  two  children,  a  son  and  daugh- 
ter, born  to  Frederick  and  Fredericka  (Rossen 
Holtzman,  who  were  also  natives  of  Prussia,  a 
were  their  ancestors  for  many  generations.  Ii 
1856  thev  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to   the  Nei 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOORAPHICAL  RECORD. 


433 


World,  and  came  directly  to  Du  Page  County,  111., 
where  they  located  upon  a  farm,  wiiicli  was  their 
home   for  the   following    ten   years.     From    there 

'  they  came  to  Yellowhead  To\vnslii|i,  where  they 
are  both  still  living,  the  father  having  attained  the 
advanced  ago  of  eiglitj'-seven  years,  while  his  wife 
is  over  eighty-two.  Botli  are  members  of  tlie 
Lutheran  Church. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject  were 
p.issed  in  his  native  land,  and  there  he  received 
good  educational  advantages,  lie  came  to  llie 
United  States  when  twenty  years  of  .age, and  tlieie 
got  rid  of  serving  in  the  German  arni^-.  For  two 
years  after  his  arrival  in  Illinois,  he  assisted  his  fa- 
ther on  his  new  farm  in  Du  Page  County.  He  then 
purchased  a  farm  in  Vellowhead  Township,  and 
there  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  on  his  own 
behalf  for  some  five  years,  after  which  he  deter- 
mined to  become  a  merchant,  and  accordingh'  came 
to  (i rant  Park,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in 

,  the  grain  business. 

j  March  .31.  1865,  occurred  the  marriage  of  l\Ir. 
Holtzman  and  Miss  Sophia  Rave,  of  Du  Page 
County.  By  their  union  were  Ijorn  four  children: 
Bertha,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Rev.  Sir.  Ilornung, 

j  aLulherau  ministerof  Effingham,  111.;  August,  who 

I  is  the  second  of  the  family;  Louisa,  wife  of  Fred 
Komman,  a  merchant  of  Chicago;  and  Rassie,  who 

i I  is  the  youngest.  In  1871,Mr.  Iloltzraan  was  called 
upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  whose  death 
occurred  in  Kankakee  County.  In  1872,  he  wed- 
ded Miss  Ellen  Hoffman,  a  resident  of  Will 
County.  Two  children,  Minnie  and  Albert,  were 
born  to  them.  Mrs.  lloltzman  met  death  b3'  acci- 
dent in  1879,   while  crossing   the  railroad  tracks. 

I  Our  subject  w.as  again  married  in  1880,  at  which 
time  Miss  Louisa  Garchow  became  his   wife.     The 

ilady  is  a  native  of  Piussia,  and  emigrated  to   Chi- 

'cago  while  quite  young. 

In  his  business  Mr.  lloltzman  has  been  very  suc- 

[Cessful,  energetic  and  enterpri.^ing.  He  is  the 
owner  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  fine  farm 

I  land  in  Yellowhead  Township,  all  under  good  cul- 

itivation.     He  also  owns  thirty-five  lots  in  Glen- 

|d!ile,  a  suburb  of  Chicago,  and  i)roperty  in  Normal 
'Bark,  in  addition  to  large  land  interests  in  Ilam- 
Imond,  Ind.,  the  latter  being  valued  at  about  8100,- 


000.     He   has   a  beautiful  home  in  Grant   Park, 

which  is  hospitably  opened  to  his  many  friends. 
He  owns  and  operates  two  elevators,  and  is  one  of 
the  wealthiest  men  of  the  county.  By  his  honor- 
able business  methods  and  strict  integrity,  Mr. 
Holtzman  has  won  the  respect  of  all  who  know 
him.  In  his  political  views,  he  is  a  stalwart  Dem- 
ocrat, as  is  also  his  father,  but  though  taking  an 
active  interest  in  political  and  public  affairs,  he  has 
devoted  himself  to  his  extensive  business  interests, 
and  has  never  desired  to  hold  official  positions. 
He  is  a  respected  member  of  the  German  Lutheran 
Church,  in  which  faith  he  was  reared. 


^AVID  D.  LYNDS,M.D., deceased,  who  for 
many  long  years  was  one  of  the  leading 
medical  practitioners  and  prominent  citi- 
"  zens  of  Kankakee  County,  w.as  a  native  of 

Nova  Scotia.  He  was  born  in  the  city  of  Truro 
in  1811,  and  comes  of  a  family  of  English  origin, 
whicii  at  an  early  day  was  founded  in  the  I'nited 
States.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  his  mother  was  also  of  English  de- 
scent. From  the  old  (iranite  State  tiicy  removed 
to  Nova  Scotia  and  the  father  devoted  iiis  energies 
to  agricultural  pursuits. 

The  early  years  of  bis  life  Dr.  Lynds  spent  upon 
the  home  farm  with  his  parents,  but  his  taste  seemed 
not  to  lie  in  the  direction  of  agriculture.  He  early 
manifested  a  desire  to  engage  in  the  practice  of 
medicine,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  entered 
the  office  of  his  uncle  and  began  the  study  of  that 
science.  Some  time  afterward  he  pursued  a  course 
Of  medical  lectures  in  New  York  City,  and  then 
finished  his  studies  in  Canada,  where  he  also  began 
the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession.  AYith  the 
desire  to  try  his  fortune  in  Illinois,  Dr.  Ljnds  lo- 
cated in  Iro(iuois  County  in  1840,  and  began  prac- 
tice, but  he  remained  there  only  a  short  time  and 
in  1841  came  to  Momence,  Kankakee  Count}%  where 
he  opened  an  office.  It  was  not  long  ere  he  was 
receiving  a  liberal  patronage  and  from    that   time 


434 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


to  the  day  of  his  death  he  was  recognized  as  one  of 
the  leading  physicians  of  the  community. 

On  the  22d  of  December,  1842,  tlie  Doctor  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Loraine  Bcebe,  who 
was  born  April  23,  1812,  in  Bennington  County, 
Vt.,  and  was  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in  a  fam- 
ily of  four  children.  Her  parents,  Hardin  and 
Susan  (Mellen)  Beebe,  were  among  the  first  settlers 
of  this  county,  locating  here  in  1836.  The  remain- 
der of  their  lives  was  here  passed  and  they  were 
recognized  as  leading  and  highly  respected  people. 
Mrs.  L_ynds  is  a  sister  of  the  late  Judge  Orson 
Beebe,  who  was  Probate  Judge  of  this  district  for 
a  period  of  eight  years.  Further  mention  of  her 
family  is  given  in  the  sketch  of  Newell  Beebe  on 
another  page  of  this  work.  Mrs.  Lynds  accompa- 
nied her  parents  to  the  West  and  during  the  suc- 
ceeding winter  after  her  arrival  engaged  in  leach- 
ing school,  being  the  only  lady  school  teacher  in 
what  is  now  Kankakee  at  that  time,  in  fact  was  one 
of  the  very  first  ladies  to  teach  school  in  the  county. 

The  Doctor  and  his  wife  became  parents  of  three 
children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Sophia  Jane,  is  now 
the  wife  of  George  Little,  a  professor  of  music  in 
Newton  Falls,  Ohio;  Susan  is  the  wife  of  E.  S.  Cook, 
a  well-known  druggist  of  Momence;  and  Eva  is  the 
wife  of  J.  H.  Freeman,  a  prosperous  farmer  resid- 
ing on  the  old  Lynds  homestead. 

The  Doctor  was  a  man  of  recognized  abilit}' 
among  his  professional  brethren  and  throughout 
the  county.  He  was  ever  a  close  student  of  his 
profession  and  ever  kept  abreast  with  the  advance- 
ment and  discoveries  of  the  science.  From  the  be- 
ginning his  practice  constantly  increased  until  it 
assumed  extensive  jiroportions,  and  his  liberal 
patronage  brought  lum  a  good  income,  which  he 
judiciously  invested  in  land  and  thus  left  to  his 
widow  a  handsome  property.  The  Doctor  was  a 
stanch  Republican  in  his  political  views  and  for  a 
number  of  years  was  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows' 
lodge.  He  went  to  Momence  in  the  days  of  its 
early  infancj',  and  ever  took  a  prominent  part  in 
all  that  pertained  to  its  upbuilding  or  was  calcu- 
lated to  promote  the  general  welfare.  His  pleasant, 
genial  manner  won  him  many  friends,  and  his  ster- 
ling worth  and  many  excellencies  of  cliaracter 
gained  him  the  hi^h  esteem  of  all  with  whom  busi- 


ness or  social  relations  brought  him  in  contact. 
He  died  at  his  home  in  Momence  on  the  19th  of 
May,  1877,  and  his  loss  was  deeply  regretted 
throughout  the  community. 

Mrs.  Lj'nds  still  survives  her  husband  and  is  now 
living  upon  the  old  homestead,  which  his  care  and 
forethought  provided  ft>r  her.  It  is  pleasantly 
located  only  about  a  mile  from  Momence  and  com- 
prises three  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres  of  val- 
uable land,  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
well  improved.  With  her  reside  her  daughter  and 
son-in-law,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Freeman.  Mrs.  Lynds 
has  now  reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-one, 
but  her  >-ears  rest  lightly  upon  her  and  she  is  now 
enjoying  quite  good  health.  Her  faculties,  both 
mental  and  physical,  are  scarcely  impaired  and  slie 
is  a  well-informed  lady  whocan  talk  entertainingly 
on  most  subjects  of  general  interest.  Mrs.  Lynds 
is  numbered  among  tiie  pioneer  settlers  of  this 
coxmty,  where  for  fifty-six  j'ears  she  has  made  her 
home,  and  well  deserves  mention  among  its  pioneer 
settlers. 


♦^^ 


E^^^ 


s^  AMER  D.  DENNIS  is  a  progressive  farms 
owning   property   on   section   27,  Sumne 
Township.     He   was   born    on   the  22d  c 
March,   1845,   near  the  town  of  Liberty 
Jackson  County,  Mich.,  and  is  a  son  of  William  ] 
and   Jane  (Goodwin)   Dennis.     The   father  was 
native   of   Connecticut  and    was  largel3r  self-edr 
cated.     B}'  trade  he  was  a  cabinet-maker.     He  r 
moved   to   Oneida   County,   N.  Y.,  in  1828,  whe 
he  was  married  and  remained  for  about  three  yea 
working   at  his  trade.     In  1831  he  went  by  tea 
with  his  family  to  Jackson  County,  Mich.,  wh( 
he  was    one   of   the   early  settlers.     He  purchas' 
eighty  acres   of  heavy   timber  land  and  erectec 
small  log  cabin  in  the  woods.     Much  of  this  pr<  • 
erty  he  cleared  and  otherwise  improved.     He  a  i 
entered  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  Gove  - 
ment    land    some    four   3'ears  after   his  arrival  i 
Michigan.     Later,   he   removed   to   the  village  f 
Brooklyn,  where  he  started  a  cabinet  factory  jt 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


43£ 


the  manufacture  of  furniture,  and  also  ran  an  old- 
time  tavern.  In  these  various  lines  he  was  engaged 
until  1857,  at  whifli  time  he  came  to  Illinois,  set- 
tling upon  land  which  he  had  purchased  in  1853, 
in  Sumner  Township,  tliis  county.  The  tract  con- 
sisted of  one  hundred  and  sixtj'  acres  of  raw 
prairie  land,  located  on  section  27.  For  many 
years  he  gave  his  whole  attention  to  the  cultiva- 
tion and  general  improvement  of  this  property, 
and  here  he  lived  when  cut  down  by  the  hand  of 
death  on  the  18th  of  February,  1880.  His  remains 
were  interred  in  Union  Corners  Cemetery,  and  by 
his  side  was  buried  his  wife,  whose  death  occurred 
April  12,  1887.  Mr.  Dennis  was  an  ardent  suij- 
porter  of  Gen.  .Jackson,  but  later  became  a  Re- 
publican. By  his  energy  and  industry  he  had  ac- 
cumulated two  hundred  and  fortj'  acres  of  land,  all 
located  in  Sumner  Township.  Unto  AVilliam  Den- 
nis and  his  wife  were  born  seven  children,  of  whom 
but  four  are  living:  Calvin  G.,  who  lives  in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C;  Mary  J.,  who  lives  in  Beaufort,  S. 
C;  Damer  D.,  and  Stephen  \V.,  who  lives  in  Chi- 
cago. Those  deceased  are  Amelia  M.,  whose  death 
occurred  August  12,  1872;  AVilliam  F.,  who  de- 
parted this  life  the  9lh  of  September,  1839;  and 
Willie,  who  died  August  6,  1851. 

The  boyhood  of  our  subject  was  passed  in  his 
native  village  in  Michigan,  and  when  eleven  years 
of  age  he  came  with  his  father  to  Illinois,  where 
he  has  lived  continuously  up  to  the  present  date. 
His  educational  advantages  were  fair,  and  since 
arriving  at  mature  j'ears  he  has  become  well  read. 
When  twenty-one  years  of  age,  Mr.  Dennis  rented 
land  of  his  father,  and  from  that  time  forward  has 
given  his  attention  exclusively  to  his  farming  in- 
terests. After  renting  for  about  a  year  he  pur- 
chased fort}'  acres  of  land  on  section  27,  which  is 
Still  in  his  possession.  In  addition  to  this  he  owns 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  which  formerly  be- 
longed to  his  father,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  in  Gauier  Township.  His  home  residence  is 
situated  on  the  property  which  was  purchased  by 
his  father.  His  farms  now  comprise  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  which  are  well  improved 
and  valuable  land. 

On  the  29th  of  December,  1878,  occurred  the 
wedding  of  Mr.  Denais  and  Alice  E.,  daughter  of 


Albion  and  Laura  (Sheldon)  Smythman.  Mrs. 
Dennis  was  born  in  Momence  Township  Septem- 
ber 4,  1851.  By  their  marriage  they  became  the 
parents  of  six  children,  of  whom  five  are  living, 
one  having  died  in  infancy.  Those  surviving  are 
Harold  X.,  Lena  M.,  Laura  .1.,  Raymond  and 
Percy  D. 

Mr.  Deunis  has  always  been  a  firm  believer  in 
one  of  America's  distinctive  features — her  grand 
public  school  system.  He  is  also  mucii  interested 
in  the  welfare  of  his  party,  but  is  not  an  office- 
seeker.  He  uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  favor  of 
the  Republican  party.  Mr.  Dennis  is  a  good  citi- 
zen and  has  won  the  esteem  of  his  friends  and 
neighbors  by  his  upright  course  in  life.  His  wife 
is  a  faithful  and  consistent  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church. 


WJOIIN  SMITH  makes  his  home  on  section  36, 
Yellowhead  Township,  and  is  one  of  the 
^^  pioneers  of  this  county.  He  was  born 
(^/  March  5,  1828,  in  Vigo  County,  Ind.  His 
parents  were  James  and  Mary  (Soesbe)  Smith. 
The  father  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1802,  and  was 
among  the  pioneers  of  Indiana.  At  an  early  da}' 
he  removed  to  what  is  now  Kankakee  County, 
where  he  located  on  a  piece  of  Goverunient  land 
and  resided  until  his  deatli,  on  the  25th  of 
March,  1843.  He  was  one  of  the  very  first  set- 
tlers of  Yellowhead  Township.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  was  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  died  in 
Kankakee  County  February  2()tli,  187G.  By  her 
marriage  she  became  the  mother  of  five  children, 
three  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  .lolin  was 
the  fourth  in  order  of  birth. 

When  about  seven  3'ears  of  age,  John  Smith 
came  to  Yellowhead  Township  with  his  parents, 
and  well  knows  what  life  on  the  frontier  means 
with  its  inconveniences  and  privations.  Forsome 
years  his  father  w.as  obliged  to  go  ninet}-  miles  to 
Fountain  County,  Ind.,  for  jjrovisions  and  other 
supplies.     There   were  no   public   or   free  schools, 


436 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHJCAL  RECORD. 


and  so  the  educational  advantages  were  of  the 
most  limited  order.  Our  subject  was  the  eldest 
boj'of  the  famil}'  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death, 
which  occurred  when  he  was  fourteen  years  old. 
For  many  years,  he  assisted  nobly  and  manfully 
in  the  support  of  the  family.  He  is  really  self- 
educated  and  largely  since  arriving  at  mature 
years.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  the  same  land  upon 
which  his  father  located  over  half  a  century  ago. 
He  has  a  verj'  pleasant  home  and  a  desirable  prop- 
erty situated  five  miles  east  of  Grant  Park  and 
about  one  mile  from  Sherburnville.  He  has  ac- 
quired over  three  hundred  acres  of  land  in  this 
county,  which  represents  his  years  of  toil  and  in- 
dustry. 

In  this  county,  on  the  2d  of  November,  1851, 
Mr.  Smith  and  Miss  Jane  Britton  were  joined  in 
marriage.  The  lady  was  born  on  the  IGth  of  Oc- 
tober, 1833,  in  Fountain  County,  Ind.,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  David  and  Mar3'  (Fitzgerald)  Britton, 
who  located  in  what  is  now  Kankakee  County  in 
1833,  when  Mrs.  Smith  was  a  small  child.  Her 
mother  was  the  first  white  woman  ever  in  Yellow- 
head  Township,  but  the3'  only  remained  here  for  a 
short  time  on  account  of  sickness.  They  returned 
to  Fountain  County,  Ind.,  from  which  ten  years 
later  the3'  again  came  to  Kankakee  County,  and 
until  about  1862  were  residents  of  this  neighbor- 
hood. Mr.  Britton  now  lives  in  Anna,  Union 
County,  111., aged  eighty' -four  3'ears.  His  first  wife 
died  some  three  years  after  going  to  Anna.  Mrs. 
Smith  is  the  eldest  of  eight  children,  of  whom  only 
three  now  live. 

Ten  children,  three  sons  and  seven  daughters, 
have  graced  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith: 
Daniel,  an  enterprising  farmer  of  Yellowhead 
Township;  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Irwin  Dicke^',  also  a 
farmer  of  the  same  township;  Xancy  J.,  who  is  now 
the  wife  of  Elmer  Harden,  who  carries  on  a  farm 
in  Lake  Count}',  Ind.;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  Robert 
Ha\'den,  also  an  agriculturist  of  Lake  County; 
Julia,  deceased;  Ansel,  who  is  engaged  in  farming 
near  the  old  homestead;  Darius  and  Maggie  L., 
at  home;  Lucy  M.,  a  student  in  the  school  at  Low- 
ell, Ind.;    and  Alma,  attending  school   near  home. 

Mr.  Smith  holds  membership  with  Grant  Park 
Lodge  No.  740,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Grant  Park.    He 


and  his  wife,  with  their  family,  are  active  members 
and  workers  in  the  Christian  Church.  Our  subject 
supports  the  Prohibition  party  and  takes  an  active 
part  in  both  temperance  and  educational  affairs. 
For  fifty-eight  years  he  has  lived  on  the  same  farm. 
As  pioneers,  he  and  his  wife  are  widely  known  and 
esteemed. 


/^^  AMUEL  NICHOLS,  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
^^^    eral  farming  on  section  8,  Momence  Town- 
Ijiyjj)  ship,  is  one  of  the  honored  pioneer  settlers 
of  this  county,  his  residence   here  dating 
from    1837.      Few    have    longer    been    numbered 
among  the  citizens   of   this  communit}'  than    our 
subject,  who  lias  been  an  eye-witness  of  almost  the 
entire    growth  and  development  of    the    county. 
He  has  seen  its  wild  lands  transformed  into  beau- 
tiful homes  and  farms,  it  hamlets  grow  into  thriv- 
ing towns,  and  while  watching  its   progress  and 
advancement  he  has  also  aided  in   its   upbuilding. 
In  writing  the  history  of  the  old   settlers  of  this 
count}'  his  sketch  cannot  well  be  omitted. 

Mr.  Nichols  claims  Ohio  as  the  State  of  his  birth, 
having  been  born  in  Franklin  County,  on  March 
11,  1817.     He  was  the    fourth  child   in  a  family 
of  twelve  children,  numbering  seven  sons  and  five 
daughters,  whose  parents  were  William  and  Mary 
(Gundy)  Nichols.     The   father  was  born    in  Vir- 
ginia April  7,  1788,  and  was  of  English   descent, 
the  Nichols  family  being  founded  in  this  couutryi 
in  early  Colonial  daj'S.     In  early  life  he  left  Vir- 
ginia, removing  AVestward   to   Ohio.     From  there 
he  moved  to  Vigo  County,  Ind.,  where   he   lived 
some  eight  years,  and  in  1836    came  to  Vermilior 
County,  111.     The  spring  of  1837  witnessed  his  ar- 
rival in  what  is  now  Kankakee   County,  where  h( 
took  up  Government  land  and  began  the  develop 
ment  of  a  farm.     There  were   few  settlers   in   tli^ 
county  at  that  time,  and  with  its  pioneer  histor; 
his  name  is  closely   connected.     Mr.   Nichols  wa 
the  first  Justice  of  the  Peace  ever  elected   in    thi 
part  of  the  State,  and  he  took  quite  an  active  pai' 
in  [iiiblic  affairs.     His  wife   died  two  years  aft€ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


437 


they  came  to  Illinois.  She  was  called  to  lier  final 
rest  Deeenilicr  25,  lt<.'V.),  and  her  remains  were  in- 
terred in  the  Nichols  ("emetery.  The  iiusbaud  and 
father  died  on  the  old  homestead  in  Momence 
Townshii),  November  1 1,  1H7I,  at  the  ripe  old  age 
of  eighty -six  years. 

Samuel  Nichols,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
spoilt  the  first  ten  \'ears  of  his  life  in  the  State  of 
his  iiativit}-,  and  then  accompanied  his  [larents  on 
their  removals  to  Indiana  and  Illinois.  Ilis  en- 
tire life  has  been  passed  upon  a  farm.  lie  was 
reared  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads, and  in  tlie 
winter  season,  when  his  services  were  not  needed 
at  home,  he  attended  the  district  schools  of  the 
neighborhood.  Thus  was  he  educated.  He  worked 
with  his  father  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  but 
on  attaining  his  majority  left  the  parental  roof 
and  started  out  in  life  for  himself  with  -^1  capi- 
tal. Content  to  follow  the  occupation  to  which 
he  was  reared,  he  entered  land  from  the  Govern- 
ment in  Momence  Township,  and  began  farming. 
Upon  the  tract  of  land  which  he  secured,  not  a 
furrow  had  been  turned  or  an  improvement  made, 
but  with  characteristic  energy  he  began  its  devel- 
opment, and  in  the  course  of  time  rich  and  fertile 
fields  were  yielding  to  him  golden  tribute  in  re- 
turn for  the  care  and  labor  he  bestowed  upon  them. 

On  the  27th  of  March,  1850,  Mr.  Nichols  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  Ilill,  a  native  of  Sullivan  County, 
Ind.,  born  June  17,  1828,  and  a  daughter  of  AVill- 
iam  and  Elizabeth  (Silvers)  Hill,  of  the  same 
county.  By  their  marriage  tliey  became  the  par- 
ents of  eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. In  order  of  birth  they  are  as  follows:  John 
H.,  who  is  now  foreman  of  a  railroad  force  em- 
ployed in  carpenter  work;  Sarah  E.,  who  is  next 
in  order  of  birth;  Emily  E.  and  Charles  G.,  both 
deceased;  James  M.,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  who  mar- 
ried Miss  Nellie  Innian,  of  Sutherland,  Iowa;  Frank 
L.,  a  telegraph  operator;  Thomas  G.,  a  prosperous 
farmer  of  Momence  Township;  and  Cora  Z.,  a 
teacher  of  recognized  ability  in  the  public  schools 
of  this  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nichols  have  a  pleasant  home,  lo- 
cated upon  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred  and  thir- 
ty-five acres  of  well-improved  land,  conveniently 
situated  about  a  mile   north   of  Momence.     He  is 


now  in  comfortable  circumstances,  and  for  his  suc- 
cess he  certainly  deserves  credit,  as  it  has  been 
achieved  entirely  througli  his  own  efforts.  In  pol- 
itics, he  is  a  stalwart  supporter  of  the  principles  of 
the  Republican  party.  Mis  first  Presidential  vote 
was  cast  for  William  Henr3'  Harrison,  and  his  last 
for  the  illustrious  grandson  of  that  general,  Hon. 
IJenjamin  Harrison.  Mr.  Nichols  takes  an  active 
interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the 
community,  and  is  a  valued  citizen,  as  well  as  a 
leading  farmer  and  honored  pioneer  of  Kankakee 
County. 


-4- 


-^^ 


-^ 


FREDERICK     IlERSCHER,    a   well-known 


merchant  and  the  President  of  the  ^^illage 
Board  of  Herscher,  Kankakee  County,  de- 
serves mention  in  this  volume,  for  he  is  one  of 
the  honored  pioneers  of  the  community.  He  dates 
his  residence  in  the  county  from  the  2d  of  Maj', 
1855,  when  he  located  in  Pilot  Township. 

Mr.  Herscher  is  a  native  of  France.  He  was 
born  on  the  River  Rhine,  October  17,  1839,  and  is 
a  son  of  Andrew  and  Catherine  (Welsh)  Herscher, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  same  country. 
The  father  died  when  our  subject  was  a  small 
child.  Frederick  remained  in  the  land  of  his  birth 
until  about  thirteen  years  of  age  and  there  ac- 
quired a  good  education,  both  in  French  and  Ger- 
man languages.  In  1854,  when  a  lad  of  fourteen, 
he  bade  good-b\e  to  his  old  home  and  crossed  the 
broad  Atlantic  to  the  New  World,  joining  his 
mother  and  family  at  Newark,  Wa^Mie  County-, 
N.  Y.  Andrew  Herscher,  with  the  family,  moved 
West  the  same  year  and  spent  that  season  in  Cook 
County,  111.  The  following  3'ear  he  remove<l  to 
Kankakee  County,  locating  in  Pilot  Township,  and 
was  among  the  first  settlers  in  this  part  of  the 
county. 

After  coming  to  Kankakee  County,  Frederick 
Herscher  began  life  for  himself  by  working  as  a 
farm  hand.  He  gave  evidence  of  his  progressive 
spirit  and  enterprise,  two  prominent  characteristics 
of  his  nature,  by  spending  his  leisure  time  in  study. 
Thus   he    became    proficient    in    the  English  Ian- 


438 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


guage.  To  agricultural  pursuits  he  devoted  his 
energies  until  the  summer  of  1862,  wheu,  prompted 
by  patriotic  impulses,  he  responded  to  the  call  of 
his  adopted  country  for  troops,  enlisting  in  the 
First  Marine  Artillery  and  Joining  the  navy  in 
New  York.  Remaining  in  the  service  until  tlie 
following  spring,  he  then  received  his  discharge 
and  returned  home. 

When  he  again  reached  home,  Mr.  Herscher  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  land  with  slight  improvements 
and  began  its  further  development.  The  land 
was  transformed  into  rich  and  fertile  fields,  and 
the  place  under  his  care  became  one  of  the  ex- 
cellent farms  of  the  neighborhood.  Mr.  Herscher 
was  actively  and  successfully  engaged  in  farming 
until  1879,  wheu  he  rented  out  his  farm  and  re- 
moved to  Herscher,  the  village  which  had  been 
founded  by  his  brother  and  was  named  in  his 
honor.  There  our  subject  took  charge  of  and  car- 
ried on  the  grain  business  for  his  brother,  John 
Herscher,  until  the  death  of  the  latter  in  1885. 
Our  subject  then  engaged  in  the  same  line  of  busi- 
ness for  himself  for  a  period  of  about  three  years, 
when  he  embarked  in  the  furniture  business,  which 
he  has  now  carried  on  for  four  years.  He  has 
been  a  successful  merchant  and  is  doing  a  thriving 
and  constantly  increasing  business.  This  liberal 
patronage  he  well  deserves,  for  in  all  his  dealings 
he  is  upright  and  honorable  and  desires  to  please 
his  customers. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  1867,  in  this  county 
and  township,  Mr.  Herscher  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Millie  E.,  daughter  of  John  M. 
Falkenberry.  She  was  born  in  Tennessee,  August 
28,  1846,  but  was  reared  and  educated  in  Mis- 
souri. Six  children  came  to  bless  this  union,  the 
eldest  of  whom,  William  A.,  is  a  young  man  of 
sterling  worth  and  excellent  business  ability,  and 
aids  his  father  in  the  furniture  store;  John  F.  died  ' 
at  one  year  of  age;  Mary  I.,  Charles  F.,  Ueniy  R. 
and  Martha  E.  are  all  at  home,  and  the  three  young- 
est are  attending  school. 

Since  becoming  a  voter,  Mr.  Herscher  has  been 
identified  with  the  Republican  party.  His  first 
ballot  was  cast  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1864,  and 
he  has  supported  each  Republican  nominee  for  the 
Presidency  since  that  time.     He  has  never  been  a 


I 


politician  in  the  sense  of  ofHce-seeking,  yet  his 
worth  and  abilit}'  have  led  his  fellow-townsmen  to 
select  liim  for  several  public  positions.  He  has 
been  Constable,  Collector  and  Town  Clerk,  and  is 
now  serving  as  President  of  the  Town  Board.  He 
has  been  thrice  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  and 
has  served  as  such  twelve  consecutive  years  in 
Pilot  Township.  His  duties  in  all  the  offices  he 
has  filled  have  been  promptly  and  faithfully  per- 
formed, and  thereby  he  has  won  the  commenda- 
tion of  all  concerned. 

Mr.  Herscher  commenced  life  a  poor  boy,  and  to 
his  own  labor,  enterprise  and  industry  and  the  as- 
sistance of  his  estimable  wife,  is  due  his  success  in 
life.  He  has  acquired  a  valuable  farm,  a  good 
home,  a  thriving  business,  and  to-day  is  one  of  the 
well-to-do  and  substantial  citizens  of  Kankakee 
County.  In  1881  JMr.  Herscher  returned  to  France 
and  visited  his  friends  and  the  scenes  of  his  youth, 
spending  about  two  months  in  his  native  country, 
the  trip  proving  a  vevy  pleasant  one.  Almost  his  i 
entire  life,  however,  Mr.  Herscher  has  passed  in  f 
Kankakee  County,  where  he  is  widely  known.  His 
honorable  career  is  well  worthy  of  emulation  and 
has  won  him  high  regard.  A  representative  and 
valued  citizen  of  this  county  is  Frederick  Herscher. 


"\|  AMES  BOWLBY,  one  of  the  honored  pio- 
neers of  Kankakee  County,  is  numbered 
among  the  leading  citizens  of  Herscher,  and 
has  for  a  number  of  years  been  prominently' 
connected  with  the  business  interests  of  this  place. 
His  life  record  is  as  follows:  He  was  born  in  Nova 
Scotia,  July  24,  183.5,  and  his  father,  George 
Bowlby,  was  also  a  native  of  that  country.  The 
latter  removed  to  Canada  in  1851,  and  there  spent 
the  last  years  of  his  life. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  passed  the  d.ays  of  his 
boyhood  and  j'outii  under  the  parental  roof,  and 
received  such  educational  privileges  as  the  com- 
mon schools  afforded.  Wheu  a  young  man,  he 
came  to  the  United  States,  and  in  1855  located  in 
Kankakee  County,  111.,  where  he  embarked  in  farm- 


OF    I  HE 
UNIVtRSIIY  OF  iLL!*JOIS 


•V 


,>%^ 


^;^i>t>C^ 


^>P^7^^'^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


411 


ing.  The  following  year  he  commenced  farming 
as  a  laborer  by  the  montii,  which  occupation  lie 
continued  for  about  one  3'ear.  In  this  county  he 
was  married  on  the  3d  of  December,  1860,  the 
lady  of  his  choice  being  Mrs.  Mary  Jane  Howe, 
a  widow,  daughter  of  John  Barber.  She  w.as 
born  in  Ireland,  and  when  a  child,  emigrated  to 
Canada,  where  her  maidenhood  days  were  passed. 
Four  children  were  born  of  this  union.  Charles 
W.,  a  young  man  of  excellent  business  ability  and 
sterling  character,  is  now  engaged  in  merchandis- 
ing in  Silver  Creek,  Merrick  County,  Neb.;  Nor- 
man L.  is  married,  and  follows  farming  on  the  old 
liomestead;  Elmer  H.  holds  a  responsible  business 
position  in  Chicago;  Rhoda  C.  completes  the  fam- 

'Iv- 

Mr.  Bowlby's  first  purchase  of  land  consisted  of 
a  tract  lying  on  either  side  of  the  dividing  line 
between  Norton  and  Pilot  Townships.  It  was  all 
wild  prairie,  upon  which  not  a  furrow  had  been 
turned  or  an  improvement  made,  but  with  char- 
acteristic energy  he  began  its  development,  and  in 
course  of  time  the  entire  amount  was  transformed 
into  fields  of  great  fertilitj'.  He  there  carried  on 
farming  until  1880,  when  he  abandoned  agricul- 
tural pursuits  and  removed  to  Ilerscher.  Here  he 
built  a  business  house,  and  embarked  in  merchan- 
dising, which  he  successfull3'  carried  on  for  about 
ten  years.  In  1889,  he  engaged  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness, and  then  closing  out  his  mercantile  establish- 
ment, he  continued  to  carry  on  the  hotel  until  the 
fall  of  1892.  Mr.  Bowlby  was  not  only  a  prosper- 
ous farmer,  but  also  a  successful  merchant  and 
hotel-keeper. 

We  see  in  our  subject  a  self-made  man,  who  has 
worked  his  way  upward  from  a  humble  position  in 
life  to  one  of  independence.  He  now  li.as  a  hand- 
some property,  vvhich  enables  him  to  live  retired, 
and  stands  as  a  monument  to  his  thrift  and  en- 
terprise. In  |)olitics,  Mr.  Bowlb}'  was  formerh' 
identified  with  the  Republican  party,  but  for  a 
number  of  years  he  has  now  been  identified  with 
the  Prohibition  part3-,  supporting  its  men  and 
measures.  He  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  pub- 
lic office,  preferring  to  devote  his  entire  time  and 
attention  to  his  business  interests,  in  which  he  has 
met  with  such  excellent  success.     He  and  his  wife 


are  active  and  faithful  members  of  the  Methodist 
P^piscopal  Church,  in  which  Mr.  Bowlby  holds  tlie 
office  of  Trustee.  In  social  life  they  hold  an  en- 
viable position  for  their  man}' excellencies  of  char- 
acter have  won  them  the  high  regard  of  all  with 
whom  they  have  been  brought  in  contact. 


eAPT.  WILLIAM  T.  GOUGAH,  proprietor 
of  Gougar's  Park  and  owner  of  three  steam 
pleasure  3'achts  and  also  of  extensive  sand 
pits,  is  a  native  of  Will  Count}-,  111.,  his  birth  oc- 
curring on  the  26th  of  March,  1811.  He  is  the 
only  son  of  Jacob  F.  and  Artie  (Durham)  Gougar, 
of  whom  see  sketcli  elsewhere. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  and  in  Beloit 
College,  situated  at  Beloit,  AVis.  In  1865,  he  came 
to  Kankakee  and  engaged  in  the  grain  trade,  later 
going  into  the  coal  business.  In  1882  he  fitted  up 
his  park,  which  is  situated  on  the  Kankakee  River, 
about  two  and  a-half  miles  above  the  cit}-,  and  is 
a  very  charming  picnic  and  pleasure  ground.  His 
three  steam  pleasure  yachts,  the  "Minnie  Lil- 
lie,"  "Modoc"  and  "Shabbona,"  are  commodious, 
well-equipped  and  popular  pleasure  boats.  In  ad- 
dition to  his  other  business,  Capt.  Gougar  has 
built  up  an  extensive  trade  in  sand,  of  which  he 
has  an  almost  unlimited  suppl}',  both  for  plaster- 
ing and  foundry.  He  ships  large  ciuantilies  by 
rail  to  neighboring  towns,  and  was  awarded  the 
contract  of  furnishing  sand  for  the  construction  of 
the  immense  mass  of  buildings  forming  the  Insane 
Hospital.  His  annual  trade  amounts  to  upward  of 
four  thousand  yards  of  sand. 

Capt.  Gougar  is  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  h.as 
held  various  local  offices.  He  has  served  as  Alder- 
man of  Kankakee  almost  continuously  since  1870, 
has  been  a  member  of  the  School  Board  for  five 
years,  and  has  been  twice  made  Assistant  Super- 
visor of  his  town.  Socially,  he  holds  membership 
with  Kankakee  Lodge  No.  389,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and 
with  Howard  Lodge  No.  281,  I.  O.  O.  F.  The 
Captain   is  an   enterprising  business  man,  and  has 


442 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


been  quite  successful.  His  im]n-ovement  of  tlie 
suburban  pleasure  grounds  and  the  putting  on  the 
river  of  his  boats  have  proved  a  source  of  enjoy- 
ment to  the  citizens  of  Kankakee  and  neighboring 
towns  and  he  has  won  popular  favor  by  his  court- 
eous and  prompt  attention  to  the  wants  of  his 
patrons. 

In  January,  1892,  Capt.  Gougar  was  appointed 
Maj'or  of  Kankakee  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by 
the  resignation  of  P.  J.  Kelly,  and  his  long  familiar- 
ity with  the  affairs  of  the  city  pre-eminently  fits 
him  for  the  position  which  he  is  now  filling. 


^ 


E^ 


"if  EFFERSON  O'BRIEN,  who  owns  a  farm  on 
section  35,  Sumner  Township,  lias  the  honor 
of  being  a  native  of  this  county.  His  birth 
occurred  in  Yellowhead  Township  on  the 
13th  of  November,  1844.  His  father,  Martin 
O'Brien,  was  liorn  on  the  9th  of  December,  1810, 
on  the  Emerald  Isle.  His  mother,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  was  before  her  marriage  Amy  Hurley. 
The  father  was  three  times  married,  and  bj'  his 
first  union  there  were  eight  children.  James  died 
in  1888;  Ehoda  is  also  deceased;  Thomas  enlisted 
as  a  private  soldier  in  Company  D,  Forty-second 
Illinois  Infantry,  in  1862,  and  was  killed  in  a  bat- 
tle on  the  19th  of  September  of  the  following  year; 
our  subject  is  next  in  order  of  birth;  Daniel  re- 
sides in  Momence;  Merwin  was  adopted  by  Russell 
Seager,  and  now  makes  his  home  in  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  and  is  a  traveling  salesman  for  a  large  drug 
house;  and  two  children  died  in  infancy'. 

Mai-tin  O'Brien  emigrated  to  America  in  1830, 
and  after  a  voyage  of  sixtj-  da3'S  arrived  in  Que- 
bec, Canada,  and  from  there  traveled  for  about 
two  j'ears  through  the  Eastern  and  Southern 
States.  In  1832,  he  removed  from  New  Orleans  to 
Miami  Countj',  Ohio,  where  in  1834  he  was  mar- 
ried. For  some  two  years  Mr.  O'Biien  resided  in 
Ohio,  and  then,  coming  to  Kankakee  County,  be 
took  up  a  one  hundred  and  sixty  acre  claim  in 
Yellowhead  Township.  This  property  he  after- 
ward purchased  at  $1.25  per  acre,  and  there  he  re- 


sided until  1849,  at  which  time  he  sold  and  re- 
moved to  a  farm  in  Momence  Township.  There 
he  resided  for  some  four  3fears,  devoting  himself 
to  its  cultivation.  In  1853,  he  started  for  Cali- 
fornia by  the  overland  route,  and  upon  his  arrival 
engaged  in  mining  with  good  success  for  about 
three  years.  He  tiien  returned  to  his  home  in  Mo- 
mence Township,  where  he  lived  until  1868,  but 
later  sold  his  farm  and  went  to  Missouri.  He  af- 
terward returned  to  Momence,  which  he  made 
his  home  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on  his 
birthday,  the  9th  of  December,  1876.  Politically, 
he  was  a  Democrat.  His  remains  were  interred  in 
the  Nichols  Cemetery.  The  death  of  our  subject's 
mother  occurred  in  1848. 

Jefferson  O'Brien,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
was  born  and  reared  on  a  farm,  and  received  a 
common-school  education.  At  the  time  of  his 
mother's  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  very 
young,  he  went  to  live  with  Ansel  Chipraan,  and 
with  him  remained  until  1859,  at  which  time  he 
was  fourteen  years  of  age.  For  two  years  he  re- 
sided with  his  father,  and  then  started  out  in  life 
for  himself.  At  first  he  went  to  Iowa,  and  for  ten 
months  worked  in  Appanoose  County  as  a  farm 
hand.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  returned 
to  Illinois,  where  he  was  engaged  on  a  farm  b}'  the 
month  until  1861. 

Soon  after  the  breaking  out  of  the  "War  of  the 
Rebellion,  Mr.  O'Brien,  fired  by  patriotic  impulses, 
enlisted  August  7,  1861,  as  a  private  in  Company 
D,  Forty-second  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  mus- 
tered into  service  at  Chicago.  He  with  his  regi- 
ment took  an  active  part  in  many  of  the  important 
battles  of  the  war.  His  first  active  engagement 
was  at  Farmington,  Miss.  He  also  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Chickaraauga,  Mission  Ridge,  Resaca, 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Jonesboro, 
and  many  other  engagements  of  greater  or  less  re- 
nown. He  was  never  taken  prisoner,  and  was  al- 
ways to  be  depended  upon  by  his  superior  ofHcers. 
For  his  bravery  and  fidelity  to  duty  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  Sergeant.  On  the  lOtli  of 
January,  1866,  he  was  mustered  out  of  service  at 
Springfield,  III.,  having  served  four  years,  five 
months  and  three  days. 

On   leaving  the   armj',  Mr.  O'Brien  returned  to 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


443 


Momence.  111.,  working  at  general  labor  for  two 
years.  Fie  then  learned  the  mason's  trade,  which 
calling  he  followed  until  1886.  At  that  time  he 
was  elected  Sheriff  ou  the  Republican  ticket,  in 
which  position  he  proved  an  able  and  cajjable  oftt- 
cer  for  four  years.  In  1891,  he  purchased  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides.  This  tract  consists  of 
one  hundred  and  forty  acres  located  on  section  3a, 
Sumner  Township,  and  to  its  cultivation  and  im- 
provement he  is  now  devoting  himself. 

On  the  loth  of  April,  1866,  soon  after  his  return 
from  the  war,  Mr.  O'Brien  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Lovisa  Burns,  who  was  born  in  Momence 
Township,  on  the  12th  of  January,  1847,  one  of 
nine  children  in  the  family  of  Alva  and  Julia  A. 
(Force)  Burns,  who  were  both  natives  of  Canada, 
and  pioneer  settlers  of  Kankakee  County.  To  our 
subject  and  his  wife  four  children  were  born, 
two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Grace  is  the  wife  of 
Fred  Wiltse,  .and  resides  in  Momence,  111.;  and 
Florence  m.akes  her  home  with  her  parents. 

In  his  political  aftiliations,  Mr.  O'Brien  is  a  loyal 
Republican,  and  h.as  held  various  offices  in  the 
gift  of  the  people.  He  has  been  .Sheriff,  Township 
Collector,  School  Director,  etc.  lie  is  a  member 
of  Whipple  Post  No.  414,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Kankakee, 
and  Mrs.  O'Brien  holds  membership  with  the  ]\Ietli- 
odist  Church. 


^EBASTIAN  L.  EASTWOOD,  who  resides 
^^^  on  section  31,  Pilot  Township,  is  an  enter- 
prising and  progressive  farmer,  the  owner 
of  a  valuable  farm  pleasantly  and  con- 
veniently located  within  two  and  a-half  miles  of 
Herscher.  He  deserves  mention  in  this  volume,  for 
he  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  esteemed  citizens  of 
the  community.  Mr.  Eastwood  has  the  honor  of 
being  a  native  of  Illinois,  his  birth  occurring  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  State,  on  the  19th  of  July, 
1833.  He  was  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in  a 
family  of  three  children  born  unto  Jacob  and  De- 
lina  (Little)  Eastwood.     His   father  w.as  a  native 


of  Missouri,  and  his  mother  was  born  in  Kentucky. 
When  a  young  man,  Jacob  Eastwood  went  to 
soutliern  Illinois,  locating  near  St.  Louis,  where 
he  eng.aged  in  farming  for  three  years.  When  the 
trouble  with  the  Indians  arose  he  aided  in  the 
protection  of  the  settlers  and  served  in  the  Black 
Hawk  War  under  Gen.  Atkinson.  By  a  removal 
to  La  Salle  County  he  became  one  of  its  pioneers 
and  there  resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  April,  1840.  Mrs.  Eastwood  is  still  living,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years,  and  now 
makes  her  home  with  her  eldest  son.  Abraham  J. 
Eastwood,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  is  a  car- 
penter by  trade,  and  resides  in  Streator,  HI.  The 
sister,  Marena  D.,  is  now  deceased. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  who  spent  the  days  of  his  youth  upon  a 
farm  in  La  Salle  County,  III.  He  received  fair 
school  privileges  and  after  (juitting  the  school 
room  he  devoted  his  time  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
On  arriving  at  years  of  maturity  he  was  married 
in  La  Salle  County,  November  1,  1853,  to  iSIiss 
Lorinda  Brunson,  a  native  of  New  York,  born  July 
6,  1831,  and  a  daughter  of  Benoni  and  Nancy 
(Cargill)  Brunson.  The  young  couple  began  their 
domestic  life  upon  a  farm  in  La  Salle  County, 
where  they  resided  for  about  seventeen  years.  In 
the  spring  of  18G9  they  came  to  Kankakee  County, 
and  Mr.  Eastwood  purchased  a  farm,  consisting  of 
a  tract  of  land  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
which  was  only  slightly  improved.  He  placed  the 
entire  amount  under  the  plow  and  soon  the  wild 
prairie  was  transformed  into  rich  and  fertile  fields. 
Buildings  were  erected  thereon  and  the  work  of  de- 
velopment wascarried  forward  until  the  Eastwood 
farm  is  now  one  of  the  valuable  and  desirable  places 
in  this  part  of  the  county.  The  lawn  is  decorated 
with  forest  and  ornamental  trees  and  shrubs  and  a 
great  many  varieties  of  small  fruits  supply  the 
table  with  their  delicacies  in  se.ason.  A  splendid 
rock-lined  well  with  a  wind-pump  furnishes  an 
abundance  of  excellent  water  sufllcicnt  for  the 
stock  and  all  other  purposes. 

Unto  Mv.  and  Mrs.  Eastwood  was  born  a  fam- 
ily of  four  children,  three  sons  and  a  daughter. 
The  eldest,  Benoni  T.,  died  at  the  age  of  eleven 
months;     Ernest   E.,  who    married    Miss    Isabella 


444 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Smith,  a  native  of  Scotland,  February  9,  1881,  is 
engas^ed  in  fanning  in  Pilot Townsliip;  Jasper  N. 
follows  .the  carpenter's  trade;  and  Lillian,  the 
youngest  and  only  daughter,  is  the  wife  of  Robert 
Wadleigh,  a  farmer  of  Iroquois  County. 

In  political  belief  Mr.  Eastwood  did  not  follow 
the  example  of  his  father  and  brother,  who  were 
Jackson  Democrats,  but  instead  he  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Gen.  John  C.  Fremont  in 
1856,  and  has  since  supported  each  Presidential 
nominee  of  the  Republican  party.  His  fellow- 
townsmen,  appreciating  his  worth  and  ability, 
have  several  times  called  upon  him  to  serve  in 
public  positions  of  lionor  and  trust.  To  those 
who  know  him  and  are  acquainted  with  his  honor- 
able, upright  career,  it  is  needless  to  say  that  his 
duties  were  ever  promptly  and  faithfully  per- 
formed. Mr.  Eastwood  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  enterprising  and  practical  farmers  to  whom 
good  management  has  brought  success,  and  is 
known  as  a  valued  and  worthy  citizen. 


-J^i- 


& 


m 


M^x. 


^  OIIN  J.  PASEL  has  been  for  eighteen  years 
engaged  in  farming  on  section  26,  Aroma 
--.  Township.  He  was  born  in  German}',  on 
^^)J  the  22d  of  December,  1823.  He  is  a  son  of 
Samuel  and  Mary  (Westfall)  Pasel,  who  were  the 
parents  of  nine  children.  Our  subject  w.as  the  sec- 
ond child  in  order  of  birth,  and  was  born  and 
reared  upon  his  father's  farm.  He  received  a  good 
common-school  education  in  his  native  language, 
and  remained  until  twenty-seven  years  of  age 
with  his  parents,  assisting  his  father  in  carrying 
on  the  home  farm.  He  was  in  the  service  of  his 
country  as  a  soldier  for  nearly  six  years,  lacking 
only  fifteen  days  of  that  time. 

Mr.  Pasel  remained  in  the  Fatherland  until  1857, 
by  which  time  he  had  arrived  at  the  conclusion 
and  determination  to  try  his  fortune  in  the  New 
World;  therefore  bidding  farewell  to  the  home  and 
friends  of  his  youth,  he  took  p.assagc  on  a  sailing- 
vessel,  and  for  six  weeks  and  four  days  was  upon 
the  broad  Atlantic.     Upon  arriving  in   New  York 


he  came  directly  to  the  West,  and  landing  in  Chi- 
cago secured  work  by  the  day,  at  which  he  was 
employed  until  1874.  He  then  determined  to 
adopt  agriculture  as  his  life  occupation,  and  com- 
ing to  this  county  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  af  land  in  Aroma  Township.  This  he 
has  greatly  improved  and  brought  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  He  is  engaged  in  geneial 
farming  and  stock-raising,  and  has  never  had  oc- 
casion to  regret  his  choice  of  occupation.  Bounti- 
ful harvests  have  rewarded  his  labors,  and  on 
every  hand  may  be  witnessed  the  care  and  thrift 
of  the  owner. 

In  1852  Mr.  Pasel  married  Miss  Sophia  Gruger,  a 
and  to  them  have  been  born  ten  children,  seven  of  ^ 
whom  are  now  living:  Frederick,  Lewis,  Gustavus, 
Herman,  Sophia,  Minnie  and  Bettie,  who  have  all  m. 
had  the  beneQt  of  good  educational  advantages  J» 
and  are  worthy  citizens  of  this  community. 

Politically,  our  subject  affiliates  with  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  is  a  loyal  and  devoted  citizen  of  his 
adopted  country.  He  holds  membership  with  the 
German  Lutheran  Church,  to  which  he  gives  his 
earnest  support.  He  is  a  representative  and  lead- 
ing German-American  citizen  of  this  section,  where 
he  has  made  many  friends  by  his  qualities  of  en- 
terprise, industry  and  integrity. 


-^^ 


J]  OHN  T.  JOHNSON,  who  carries  on  general 
farming'  and  stock-raising'  on  section  19 
Ganier  Township,  owns  a  valuable  tract  of 
,^_^'  land  of  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  and 
the  entire  amount  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. It  is  well  improved  with  a  good  residence 
and  all  the  accessories  of  a  model  farm;  the  fields 
are  well  tilled  and  the  neat  and  thrifty  appearance 
of  the  place  gives  evidence  of  the  practical  and 
progressive  spirit  of  the  owner. 

Mr.  Johnson  is  of  German  birth.  He  was  born 
on  the  5th  of  August,  1838,  near  Jever,  in  Olden- 
burg, Germany,  and  is  one  of  six  children  born  of 
the  union  of  John  J.  and  Efka  Johnson.  The  fa- 
ther was  a  weaver  bj'  trade  and  followed  that  bus- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RKCORD. 


445 


iness  for  many  years  in  his  native  land.  The 
children  of  the  fjiiniiy  were  Gerd,  Matlie,  Mar- 
garet, Frederick,  .John  T.  and  Mary.  Our  subject, 
who  was  the  youngest  son,  received  a  good  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools,  which  fitted  him  for 
a  practical  business  life,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
he  left  home  and  began  to  earn  his  own  liveli- 
hood. Kidding  adieu  to  friends  and  native  land, 
he  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  America  on  a  sail- 
ing-vessel. The  voyage  across  the  water  con- 
sumed six  weeks,  hut  at  length  he  arrived  safely  in 
New  York  City  in  June,  1855.  He  had  heard 
much  of  the  advantages  and  privileges  afforded 
young  men  in  tlie  I'nited  Slates  and  with  the  hope 
of  securing  a  comfortable  home  and  property  he 
determined  to  leave  the  Fatherland. 

From  the  Eastern  metropolis,  I\Ir.  Johnson  at 
c>nce  made  his  way  to  Kankakee,  Kankakee  County, 
111.,  and  soon  after  locating  here  began  work  on 
a  farm  b^'  the  month.  For  a  period  of  five  3-ears 
he  was  thus  employed.  During  tiie  first  year  he  was 
to  receive  tlie  munificent  sum  of  86  per  month  in 
compensation  for  his  services,  but  his  employer  ran 
away,  so  he  got  nothing.  The  next  year  he  was  to 
receive  ^7b  and  go  to  school  in  the  winter,  but  as 
the  schoolhouse  was  not  built  he  had  to  work  most 
of  the  winter  also.  The  succeeding  three  j-ears  he 
worked  nine  months  each  year  at  110  per  month, 
and  in  winter  worked  for  his  board  and  went  to 
school.  He  thus  got  his  start  in  the  New  World. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period,  having  attained 
his  majoritj%  he  began  farming  for  himself,  renting 
land  for  three  years.  With  the  capital  he  had  ac- 
quired tlirough  industry,  perseverance  and  econ- 
omy, he  then  purchased  the  farm  upon  which  he 
resides,  buying  at  first  only  forty  acres.  With 
characteristic  energj'  he  began  its  development  and 
soon  the  entire  amount  yielded  to  him  a  good  in- 
come in  return  for  the  care  and  cultivation  he  be- 
stowed upon  it.  He  worked  hard,  and  .as  his  finan- 
cial resources  were  increased  thereby  he  added  to 
his  original  purchase  until,  as  before  stated,  his 
farm  now  comi)rises  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
of  well-improved  land. 

December  27,  1803,  Mr.  Johnson  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Lydia  White,  and  by  their 
union  has  been  born  a  famil}-  of  five  children,  a 


son  and  four  daughters,  all  of   whom  are  living. 

Rose,  the  eldest  of  the  daughters  is  now  married, 
being  the  wife  of  Roy  Corbin,  of  this  county. 
The  other  children  are,  Ella;  Mary,  wlio  is  the 
wife  of  John  T.  Corbin  and  resides  in  Chenango 
County,  N.  Y.;  and  Edgar  and  Lydia,  who  are  still 
under  the  parental  roof.  On  the  27th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1892,  Mr.  Johnson  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  was  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Methodist  Churcli,  and  a  woman  highly  es- 
teemed b}'  her  neighbors  and  friends. 

Mr.  Johnson's  possessions  represent  his  own  la- 
bor and  perseverance  and  his  farm  is  a  monument 
to  his  well-directed  efforts.  Socially,  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  in 
religious  belief  is  a  Methodist,  holding  member- 
ship with  the  church  in  Exiine.  He  has  einciently 
served  in  the  offices  of  School  Director  and  Path- 
master,  and  in  politics  is  a  stalwart  Republican, 
who  warmlj'  advocates  the  principles  of  that  party. 
Mr.  Johnson  is  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this 
county,  where  for  thirty-eight  j'ears  he  has  made 
his  home.  He  well  deserves  mention  in  this  vol- 
ume and  with  pleasure  we  present  to  our  readers 
this  brief  record  of  his  life. 


-^  r=a^  '"      ■ — 

lf]_^  ON.  THOMAS  SYLVANUS  SAAVYER, 
County  Judge  for  Kankakee  County,  was 
born  in  Pomfret,  Windham  County,  Conn., 
on  the  9th  of  November,  18-1  J,  and  is  a  son 
of  Lucius  and  Patience  (Carpenter)  Sawyer.  The 
father  was  also  born  in  the  same  place,  in  1817, 
and  the  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  residing  in 
the  same  town  at  the  age  of  six  years.  The  Judge's 
mother  was  born  in  Coventry,  R.  I.,  in  1821. 

In  1856,  Thomas  S.  Sawyer  came  to  Illinois  with 
his  parents  and  settled  in  Grundy  Count}',  where 
he  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  attended  the  district 
and  High  Schools,  after  which  he  learned  the  prin- 
ter's trade.  In  the  fall  of  1865  he  was  api)ointed 
to  a  clerkship  in  the  United  States  Pension  Ollice 
in  Washington,  D.  C,  and  served  until  the  fall  of 
1806.     He  began  the  study  of  law  in  Washington, 


446 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


while  employed  in  the  Pension  Office,  and  on  his 
return  continued  his  studies  with  E.  Sauford,  of 
Morris,  III.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  June, 
1867.  He  at  once  began  practice  in  Chebanse, 
continued  there  until  elected  County  .Judge,  in  the 
fall  of  1886,  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the 
office  December  1  of  that  year.  In  November, 
1890,  he  was  re-elected  and  is  now  serving  his 
second  term  in  that  responsible  office. 

Judge  Sawyer  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and 
served  as  Representative  in  the  Sixteenth  Senator- 
ial District  of  Illinois  in  1873  and  1874.  He  has 
also  served  as  Supervisor  on  the  Count}-  Board 
from  Otto  Township  and  has  held  other  minor  of- 
fices. In  the  fall  of  1868  he  started  the  Chebanse 
Herald,  a  weekly  Republican  journal,  and  sold  a 
half-interest  in  the  paper  in  1880.  The  other  half 
he  disposed  of  in  1886.  Judge  Sawyer  has  two 
flue  farms,  one  in  the  township  of  Chebanse,  Iro- 
quois County,  and  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Griggs  County,  N.  Dak.,  all  of  wliich  are 
being  carried  on  under  lease. 

In  Morris,  Grundj'  Count}',  on  the  18th  of  June, 
1867,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Judge  Sawyer  and 
Miss  Addie  A.  Barnes,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  C. 
and  Amanda  (Palmer)  Barnes.  Mrs.  Sawyer  was 
born  in  Kendall  Count}',  111.,  and  by  her  marriage 
has  become  the  mother  of  four  children,  three  sons 
and  a  daughter.  Dr.  Clyde  L.,  a  graduate  of  On- 
tario Veterinar}' College,  of  Toronto,  Canada,  is  en- 
gaged in  practice  in  Kankakee.  The  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family  are  Aileeu  P.,  Thomas  Roy  and 
Clifford  B.  Tiie  Judge  had  a  brother  and  sister,  but 
he  is  the  only  survivor  of  the  father's  family. 

Our  subject  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason,  hold- 
ing membership  with  Chebanse  Lodge  No.  429,  A. 
F.  &  A.  M.;  of  Kankakee  Chapter  No.  78,  R.  A. 
M.;  and  of  Ivaniioe  Commandery  No.  3.3,  K.  T. 
of  Kankakee.  Since  entering  upon  the  duties  of 
his  present  ofHce,  Judge  Sawyer  has  made  a  com- 
plete set  of  abstracts  of  Kankakee  County  and 
does  an  extensive  business  in  this  line,  as  he  is 
known  to  be  exact  and  correct  in  his  work.  He 
has  made  a  popular  and  reliable  officer  and  has 
discharged  the  duties  of  his  position  with  prompt- 
ness, ability  and  fidelity.  He  is  a  courteous  gen- 
tleman, kind  and  obliging,  and  enjoys  the  good- 


will of  those  who  have  had  business  in  the  Pro- 
bate Court  during  his  administration,  as  well  as  of 
a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances.  He  has 
made  his  home  in  Kankakee  since  1888. 


ON.  REUBEN    RICHARDSON,   who  is    a 

r    iV  prominent  citizen  engaged  in  the  real-es- 

''^     tate,  loan  and  law  business  of  Grant  Park, 

^)     was  born  on  the  5th  of    August,    1832,   in 
Fletcher,  Franklin  County,  Vt.     He  was   next  to 
the  youngest  of  a  family  consisting  of    four  sons 
and  four  daughters,  children  of  William  and  Mary 
(Strait)    Richardson.      The    father,    who    was   ofj 
Welsh  extraction,  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire, 
and    followed    the    occupations   of    farming    and! 
coopering.     He  went  to  Vermont  in  an  early  day, 
when  he  was  quite  young,  and  there  was  married. 
He  emigrated  to  Pigeon   Prairie,  Mich.,  in  1833,1 
making  the  trip  by  team,  and  there  made  his  home 
for  some  three  years.    Later  he  removed  to  Yellow- 
head  Township,  Kankakee  County,  but  which  was  I 
then  Will  County,  and  located  upon  Government 
land.     His  remaining  years  were  spent  upon  this 
place,  and  in  September,  1847,  he  was  called  from 
the  scene  of  his  labors  by  death.     He  is  numbered  j 
among  the  honored  early  pioneers  of  this  county. 
His  wife,  who  was  a  native  of  the  Green  Mount- 1 
ain  State,  after  surviving    her  husband    just    ten] 
years,  died  in  this  county  in  September,  1857. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  only  about  four] 
years  old  when,  with  his  parents,  he  removed  from] 
Michigan  to  Illinois.     From  that  time  he  lived  on 
the  old  homestead  in  Yellowhead  Township  until 
1870.     He  is  really  a  self-educated  man,  as  when 
he  was  a  boy  there   were  no  schools  in  the  neigh-l 
borhood  in  which  he  lived.     B}"^  extensive  read- 
ing and  study  he  has  kept  himself  well  informed] 
and  is  fully  abreast  of  the  times.     At  his  father's! 
death  Mr.  Richardson  inherited  the  old  homestead] 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  he  carried! 
on  successfully  until   he  removed    to  Grant  Park) 
in  1870,  and  he  still  owns  the  place. 

In  1852  occurred  the    marriage   of  our  subject] 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


447 


and  Miss  Harriet  Curtis,  wiio  is  a  daughter  of 
Solomon  and  riia'be  (.Slocum)  Curtis,  of  New 
York,  who  emigrated  to  this  county  at  an  early 
day.  By  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richardson 
have  been  born  two  children:  Alma,  who  de- 
])arted  this  life  in  1888,  in  Dakota;  and  Clarence 
Slocum,  who  is  a  prominent  farmer  and  real-estate 
dealer  in  Wessington  Springs,  .lerauld  Count3',  S. 
Dak.  He  married  Miss  Minnie  Farrington,  of  that 
State,  and  the^'  have  two  children,  Reuben  F.  and 
Cecil. 

Mr.  Richardson  has  many  tlirilling  remembrances 
of  the  earl}'  pioneer  days.  He  well  remembers 
wiien  they  were  obliged  to  go  to  Michigan  City, 
Ind.,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles  from  where  he 
lived,  in  order  to  get  their  grain  ground.  Often 
two  weeks  were  spent  in  making  the  trip, 
which  was  accomplished  with  an  ox-team.  There 
were  no  roads,  and  traveling  was  far  from  pleas- 
ant. In  1810  a  mill  was  built  at  .Toliet,  and  in 
December  of  that  yeav  our  subject's  eldest  brother, 
Ezra,  started  for  that  point  with  a  large  load  of 
grain  to  be  ground.  While  on  the  return  trip 
there  came  a  heavy  rain  that  caused  the  streams 
to  rise  rapidly.  A  cold  snap  came  on,  and  the 
streams  were  frozen  over.  As  his  oxen  were  not 
shod,  he  cut  prairie  grass  with  his  knife,  spread 
it  on  the  ice,  then  poured  water  on,  letting  it 
freeze  and  roughen  in  order  to  cross.  Having 
returned  as  far  as  Trim  Creek,  his  oxen  broke 
through.  After  working  a  long  time  and  getting 
thoroughly  wet,  he  got  them  out.,  but  so  badly 
sprained  were  they  that  they  could  not  travel.  He 
walked  back  seven  miles  to  John  Dutton's,  of 
Beebe's  Grove,  reaching  there  late  in  the  night 
with  his  clothes  so  frozen  that  he  could  not 
knock  at  the  door.  However,  his  feet  were  nim- 
ble, and  he  succeeded  in  arousing  the  household 
by  kicking.  Having  dried  his  clothes  (for  Mr. 
Button  had  no  second  suit  to  lend  him),  he  loaded 
up  with  hay  for  his  cattle  the  next  morning  and 
carried  that  seven  miles.  His  oxen  had  to  be 
left,  but,  knowing  the  lack  of  bread-stuff  at 
home,  he  took  a  half-bushel  of  meal  on  his  back 
and  started  to  walk  liome — a  distance  of  ten 
miles.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  the  family  wel- 
comed him,  as  he  had  been  gone   from  home  two 


weeks,  and  during  that  entire  time  not  a  bite  of 
bread  had  been  in  the  house.  There  were  but  few 
settlers  in  the  county,  their  nearest  neighbor  being 
four  miles  away.  Many  a  lime  Mr.  Richardson 
has  gone  the  entire  distance  for  a  little  fire,  as  this 
was  before  the  d.ays  of  matches.  Such  were  the 
hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life  in  Kankakee 
County. 

Mr.  Richardson  is  prominent  and  takes  a  gretit 
interest  in  politics,  being  a  stanch  adherent  of  the 
Republican  party.  In  the  winter  of  1874-75  he 
represented  his  district  in  the  Legislature,  and 
has  served  as  Postmaster  of  Yellowhead  Postoffice, 
which  was  on  his  old  farm  for  a  number  of  years; 
he  was  also  Commissioner  of  Highways  for  several 
years, and  for  twelve  years  served  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace  in  this  township.  That  was  when  he  was 
quite  a  3'oung  man  residing  on  a  farm.  He  is  a 
charter  member  of  Grant  Park  Lodge  No.  740, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  of  Grant  Park.  About  thirty 
years  ago  he  joined  Momence  Lodge,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternit}'.  He  is  one  of  the  oldest  living  pio- 
neers in  the  county  to-daj-,  and  has  the  respect 
of  all  in  the  vicinity  in  which  he  resides. 


-.Jiit^Hi  I  I   '     >  ' 


/    I  ^  ^  *  ■■^•r^.i 


rf^A  ARTIN  GEIGER,  an  enterprising  and  suc- 
iV  cessful  farmer  of  Pilot  Township,  resides 
Is  on  section  4,  where  he  owns  a  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  twenty  acres.  Almost  the 
entire  amount  he  has  placed  under  cultivation,  and 
the  well-tilled  fields  yield  to  him  a  golden  tribute 
in  return  for  his  care  and  labor.  The  improve- 
ments upon  the  place  are  many  and  excellent.  In 
addition  to  the  comfortable  home,  Mr.  Geiger  lias 
erected  large  barns,  and  also  a  granary  and  tool- 
house.  His  outbuildings  are  models  of  conven- 
ience, and  altogether  the  place  is  considered  one 
of  the  best  farms  in  the  townshii).  Everything  is 
kept  in  first-class  order,  and  its  neat  appearance  in- 
dicates the  thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  owner, 
which  qualities  have  been  instrumental  in  securing 
him  his  well-merited  success. 


448 


PORTRAIT  AJSTD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Gregier  claims  Germanj'^  as  the  land  of  his 
nativity.  He  was  born  in  that  country  May  30, 
1848.  His  father,  Peter  Geiger,  was  also  a  native 
of  that  country.  In  1849,  when  his  son  was  a  babe 
of  a  year,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the  New 
World,  and  after  a  few  months  spent  in  Chicago, 
located  at  Naperville,  near  Joliet,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  foi- six  years.  On  the  expiration 
of  that  period  he  came  to  Kankakee,  in  18.5.5.  For 
a  few  years  he  rented  land  in  Salina  Township, 
after  which  he  purchased  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  of 
raw  land,  where  his  son  now  resides.  To  this  he 
subsequently  added  forty  acres.  With  character- 
istic energj'  he  began  its  development,  breaking 
and  fencing  it  and  making  of  it  a  good  farm. 
There  he  resided  for  twenty  years,  devoting  his 
time  and  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  his  land. 
He  is  now  living  a  retired  life,  making  his  home 
with  his  son,  who  resides  south  of  Herscher. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  Martin 
Geiger.  In  his  youth  he  received  limited  educa- 
tional privileges,  for  schools  at  that  day  were  poor, 
and  his  time  was  largely  taken  up  with  work  upon 
the  farm.  He  remained  at  home  aiding  his  father 
until  he  attained  his  majority.  He  was  then 
married  on  the  26th  of  May,  1877,  to  Miss  Mary 
Cimmerman,  daughter  of  Christopher  Cimmerman, 
and  a  native  of  Cook  County,  111.  By  their  union 
they  have  become  the  parents  of  six  daughters, 
namely:  Amelia,  Mary,  Katie,  Emma,  Sophia  and 
Martha. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geiger  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  a  farm,  where  they  resided  for  about  ten 
years.  Our  subject  then  purchased  land  adjoining 
the  old  Geiger  homestead,  and  also  bought  his  fa- 
ther's farm.  In  the  fall  of  1888  he  removed  to 
California,  and  purchasing  a  small  place  in  the 
southern  part  of  that  State,  was  there  engaged  in 
farming  for  two  years,  but  in  September,  1890,  he 
rented  his  Land  in  California  and  returned  to  Kan- 
kakee County'.  A  yjear  later  he  sold  his  farm  in 
the  West  Since  his  return  heh.as  devoted  his  time 
and  attention  entirely  to  the  cultivation  of  the 
farm  on  which  he  now  resides. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Geiger  are  both  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a  Democrat. 
Their  home  is  the  abode  of  hospitality,  and  the 


members  of  the  family  rank  high  in  the  social  cir- 
cles in  which  they  move.  Mr.  Geiger  is  a  repre- 
sentative farmer  of  this  community,  and  an  indus- 
trious and  energetic  man,  and  by  his  straightfor- 
ward business  career  he  has  won  high  regard. 


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AMES  H.  BARTLETT,  residing  on  section 
17,  Yellowhead  Township,  is  one  of  the  rep- 
resentative farmers  and  old  settlers  of  this 
region.  He  was  born  on  the  27th  of  March, 
1833,  in  Smvrna,  N.  Y.,  being  the  eldest  son  of 
Oliver  P.  Bartlett.  The  latter  was  also  a  native 
of  the  Empire  State,  his  birth  occurring  June  6. 
1807.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  Coming 
to  Kankakee  County  in  1854,  he  located  upon  a 
farm  in  Yellowhead  Township,  which  he  engaged 
in  cultivating  until  his  death,  in  1886.  The  mo- 
ther of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Polly 
Henry  and  was  born  and  reared  in  Madison 
County.  N.  Y.  By  her  marriage  she  became  the 
mother  of  five  children,  four  sons  and  a  daughter. 
Mrs.  Bartlett's  death  occurred  in  Kankakee  County 
in    1879. 

The  boyhood  days  of  James  Bartlett  were  spent 
on  the  old  homestead  in  New  York,  where  he  re- 
mained until  coming  of  age.  On  his  removal 
West,  he  settled  in  Yellowhead  Township,  where 
for  a  few  years  he  worked  for  farmers.  With  the 
money  which  he  had  earned  and  so  carefully  saved, 
he  purchased  a  tract  of  wild  prairie  land  and  at 
once  began  the  improvement  of  the  same. 

On  the  29th  of  December,  1868,  Mr.  Bartlett 
and  Miss  Julietta  McDonald  were  married.  She 
was  born  May  19,  1840,  in  the  Green  Mount.ain 
State,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  IMartha 
(Hughes)  McDonald,  who  were  early  pioneers  of 
this  county.  A  son  and  daughter  were  born  to 
our  subject  and  wife.  Cora  Ida,  born  Febru.ary  1, 
1870,  died  at  the  age  of  ten  j'ears;  and  Jerome  M., 
whose  birth  occurred  June  23,  1871,  is  yet  at  home 
with  his  parents. 

The  farm  belonging  to  Mr.  Bartlett  is  valuablej 
and   well  improved.     It  consists  of  one   hundred 


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PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1.03 


and  fifty  acres,  two  and  a-lialf  miles  north  of  Grant 
Park.  For  some  time  p.ast  he  has  given  his  atten- 
tion especially-  to  the  raising  of  a  fine  grade  of 
Knglish  Shire  horses.  For  over  eighteen  years  he 
litis  served  as  School  Director,  and  politically  is  af- 
filiated with  the  Prohibition  party. 


/  A=*H 


PAVID  II.  DENNY,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
(  of  this  county,  and  who  is  now  engaged 
in  farming  on  section  9,  Limestone  Town- 
>hip,  claims  Ohio  as  the  State  of  his  nativity,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Pickaway  County  on 
the  1 2th  of  September,  18(18.  He  is  of  .Scotch  de- 
scent, his  paternal  grandparents  being  both  na- 
tives of  Scotland,  who  in  Colonial  days  emigrated 
to  America,  locating  in  Pennsylvania.  The  fa- 
ther of  our  subject,  William  Denny,  was  born  in 
Chester  County,  Pa.,  in  177G  (the  year  which  wit- 
nessed the  birth  of  the  nation  in  the  writing  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence),  his  father  having 
been  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  War  in  Gen. 
Hull's  arin3'.  Having  attained  to  mature  years,  he 
married  Marjory  Dennj',  and  for  some  years  they 
resided  upon  a  farm  in  Pickaway-  County,  Ohio. 
Later  the}-  became  residents  of  Indiana. 

Our  subject  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth  in  a 
family  of  eight  children,  consisting  of  six  sons 
and  two  daughters.  He  resided  upon  his  father's 
farm  in  the  Buckeye  State  until  sixteen  3-ears  of 
age,  when  he  removed  with  his  [iarents  to  Indiana, 
where  the  succeeding  thirty-five  years  of  his  life 
were  spent.  He  had  no  special  advantages  in  his 
youth,  educational  or  otherwise,  but  attended  the 
old-time  subscription  schools  during  the  winter 
season,  while  in  the  summer  months  he  worked  iu 
the  fields.  His  advantages  in  the  practical  lessons 
of  life  were  not  meagre,  for  he  was  early  inured 
to  the  hard  labors  of  the  farm. 

AVhen    twenty-six    years    of    age,    Mr.    Denny 

was   married,'  and    at    that    time    started    out    in 

life  for  himself.     He  wedded  Miss  Emily  Nichols, 

who  was    born    in    Ross    County,  Ohio,  and  is   a 

21 


daughter  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  (Dawson)  Nichols. 
Her  father  was  of  German  extraction.  In  the 
Nichols  family  were  twelve  children,  of  whom 
Mrs.  Denny  was  the  second  in  order  of  birth.  Our 
subject  and  his  wife  began  their  domestic  life  in 
Indiana,  and  there  resided  until  the  1st  of  April, 
1857,  when  they  started  for  Illinois,  reaching  Kan- 
kakee County  on  the  12th  of  the  same  month. 
Here  Mr.  Denny  purchased  two  hundred  acres  of 
raw  prairie  land  on  the  banks  of  the  Kankakee 
River,  and,  locating  thereon,  has  since  made  it  his 
home.  Not  a  furrow  had  been  turned  or  an  im- 
provement made  upon  the  place,  but  with  char- 
acteristic energy  he  began  its  development,  con- 
tinuing the  work  of  cultivation  until  he  is  now 
the  owner  of  one  of  the  fine  farms  of  the  town- 
ship. His  place  is  well  improved  and  highly  cul- 
tivated, and  the  owner  is  one  of  the  successful 
agriculturists  of  the  community. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Denny  were  born  a  family 
of  six  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Mar^-,  is  now 
the  wife  of  Judson  D.  Nichols,  a  prominent  mer- 
chant of  Ivankakec;  Patience  K.  is  the  wife  of  Al- 
bert Nichols,  a  retired  farmer  residing  in  Kanka- 
kee; Frances  married  Frank  Nichols,  a  prosper- 
ous farmer  of  Limestone  Township;  Freeman,  a 
carpenter  b}'  trade,  is  married  and  resides  in  Kan- 
kakee; Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Albert  Martin,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  real-estate  business  in  tlie  same  city; 
andTownsend  is  a  photographer  of  Kankakee,  and 
is  also  married.  The  family  circle  remains  unbroken 
and  the  children  are  all  occupying  responsible  and 
useful  positions  in  society. 

Mr.  Denny  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss 
of  his  wife  .July  24,  1871,  and  her  remains  are  in- 
terred in  the  Kankakee  Cemetery.  Our  subject  was 
again  married,. September  17, 1888,  this  time  to  Mrs. 
P",leanor  (Rogers)  Dickerson,  a  nati\e  of  Ross 
County,  Ohio,  who  was  born  September  1,  1824. 
She  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  her 
maidenhood  days  were  spent  in  Vigo  Count}-,  Ind. 
She  married  for  her  first  husband  Walter  L.  Dick- 
erson, a  native  of  Ohio,  who  was  born  October  17, 
1817,  and  was  reared  till  the  age  of  seventeen  on 
the  farm,  but  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life  was 
engaged  in  public  works.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dick- 
erson were    born   seven    children,  four   sons   and 


454 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGEAPHICAL  RECORD. 


I 


three  daughteis:  Mary  C,  the  wife  of  Samuel  H. 
Harrison,  of  Terre  Haute,  Ind.;  Rachel  F.,  the 
wife  of  Washington  La  Faj'ette  Jones,  of  Kansas; 
Nancy  E.,  the  wife  of  John  Lucas,  a  resident  of 
Indiana;  Walter  S.,  who  is  married  and  is  a  resi- 
dent of  St.  Paul,  Minn., and  a  bookkeeper;  Samuel 
J.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  j'ears;  John  IL, 
who  is  married  and  a  resident  of  Indiana;  Will- 
iam W.,  a  resident  of  Tcrre  Haute,  Ind.,  and  a 
salesman.  Mr.  Dickerson  dei)arted  tiiis  life  Jan- 
uary 25,  1876,  and  his  remains  arc  interred  in 
Glendale  Cemetery  at  Terre  Haute,  Ind. 

Mr.  Denny  was  a  Whig  in  politics  in  early  life, 
and  by  his  first  Presidential  ballot  supported  Will- 
iam Henry  Harrison.  Since  its  organization  he 
has  afHIiated  with  the  Republican  party.  He  has 
lived  a  quiet,  unassuming  life,  devoting  his  time 
and  attention  chiefly  to  agriculture,  and  his  lion- 
orable,  upright  career  has  won  him  high  respeqt 
and  the  unqualified  esteem  of  all  with  whom  busi- 
ness or  social  relations  have  brought  him  in  con- 
tact. 


ENRY  APPEL  is  a  well-known  farmer  and 
stock-dealer  of  Pilot  Township.  He  resides 
oh  section  18,  where  he  has  a  valuable 
farm.  As  he  is  widely  and  favorablj'  known 
in  this  communit}',  we  feel  assured  that  this  record 
of  his  life  will  prove  of  interest  to  many  of  our 
readers,  and  therefore  gladly  insert  it  in  this  vol- 
ume. Mr.  Appel  was  born  in  Hanover,  German}', 
November  27,  1851.  His  father,  Frederick  Appel, 
was  also  a  native  of  the  same  locality.  About 
1868  he  carne  to  this  country  and  joined  his  son 
in  Chicago,  but  four  days  after  reaching  his  desti- 
nation he  died  from  a  sunstroke.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  for  a  number  of  j'ears,  and  then  she  too 
passed  away. 

Our  subject  is  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  two  sons 
and  four  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  mature 
years  and  are  yet  living  at  this  writing.  He  spent 
the  first  thirteen  years  of  his  life  in  his  native  city, 
and  acquired  a  good  education  iu  the  German 
tongue,     When  a  lad  of  thirteen  he  took   passage 


upon  a  westward-bound  sailing-vessel,  which  at 
length  dropped  anchor  iu  tiie  harbor  of  New  York. 
It  was  in  November,  1861,  that  he  arrived  in  that 
city.  He  had  now  started  out  to  make  his  own 
way  in  tiie  world,  and  whatever  success  he  has 
achieved  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  efforts.  Mak- 
ing his  way  to  Chicago,  he  secured  a  position  ns  a 
farm  hand  in  Cook  County,  receiving  850  a  year 
for  the  first  year,  and  $75  for  the  second  and  third 
yeais.  He  was  thus  employed  for  a  term  of  six 
years  in  Cook  County,  after  which,  at  the  age  of 
nineteen,  he  came  to  Kankakee  County.  This  was  in 
the  autumn  of  1870.  During  the  winter  after  his 
arrival  he  attended  school,  but  he  is  mostly  self- 
educated  in  the  English  language.  In  1871  he 
rented  a  farm,  purchased  a  team,  plow  and  wagon, 
and  embarked  in  business  for  himself.  For  three 
years  he  operated  that  rented  tract.  He  was  suc- 
cessful in  his  undertakings,  crops  were  good,  and 
the  second  3'ear  he  raised  three  thousand  bushelsi 
of  corn.  With  the  money  he  acquired  through  hisj 
industry  and  good  management  he  purchased  land 
in  Norton  Township,  becoming  owner  of  a  tract  of 
eighty  acres,  only  partially'  improved.  Locating 
thereon  he  began  its  development,  and  has  since 
successfully  carried  on  farming. 

A  marriage  ceremony  performed  in  this  county 
on  the  17th  of  October,  1875,  united  the  destinies 
of  j\Ir.  Appel  and  Miss  Mary  Obrecht,  daughter  of 
George  Obrecht,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this 
county.  Tlie  lady  was  born  in  Indiana,  and  when 
a  child  of  three  summers  was  brought  b}'  her  par- 
ents to  Kankakee  County,  where  she  was  reared 
and  educated.  Two  children  grace  the  union  of 
this  worthy  couple,  a  son  and  daughter:  George, 
wlio  is  now  attending  the  home  school,  and  Julia, 
who  is  now  attending  the  home  German-Lutheran 
school  of  this  town. 

Mr.  Appel  continued  to  operate  his  first  farm  for 
a  period  of  eight  years,  when  he  sold  out  and  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  seventy  acres  of  land  on 
section  18,  Pilot  Township,  where  he  now  resides. 
This  was  then  a  well-improved  place,  but  he  has 
carried  the  work  of  improvement  still  further,  un- 
til tiie  Appel  farm  is  now  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
community.  He  has  upon  it  a  windpump  and 
scales,  has  laid  many  rods  of  tiling,  erected   good 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


455 


building's,  and  now  has  all  the  accessories  of  a 
model  f.inii  and  has  exlcnded  its  boundaries.  He 
h.is  purchased  an  additional  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  in  Norton  Township  which  adjoins 
the  home  farm,  and  this  is  also  supplied  with  good 
buildings.  A  farm  of  one  hundred  and  tiiirty- 
two  acres  in  Berry  County,  Mo.,  also  yields  to  him 
a  golden  tribute.  In  connection  with  the  culti- 
vation of  his  land,  Mr.  Appel  has  for  the  past  four 
years  engaged  extensively  in  stock-dealing.  He 
has  built  u[)  a  big  business,  and  is  meeting  with 
success. 

Our  suliject  has  invariably  voted  witli  the 
Democratic  i)arty,  but  has  never  been  an  asi)lrant 
for  public  olHcc.  However,  he  served  for  nine 
years  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board,  and  while 
occupying  that  position  did  effective  work  in  the 
interests  of  education.  Himself  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  are  highly  re- 
spected citizens.  In  all  his  business  dealings  Mr. 
Api)el  has  maintained  a  reputation  for  honor  and 
uprightness  that  has  won  him  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  has  Ijcen  brought  in 
contact.  He  may  truly  be  called  a  self-made  man, 
for  he  came  to  this  country  a  poor  boy,  empty- 
handed,  and  by  his  own  unaided  efforts  has  stead- 
ily worked  his  way  upward.  Overcoming  the  dif- 
ficulties and  obstacles  in  his  path  by  energy,  in- 
dustry and  good  management,  he  has  reached  a 
position  of  affluence,  and  is  classed  among  the  sub- 
stantial citizens  of  his  adopted  county. 


— J- 


.— ^=-® 


M>^^<^ 


-*»- 


e ARSON  C.  PORTER,  who  resides  on  section 
6.  is  a  well-known  farmer  of  Pembroke 
Township.  He  was  born  in  Naples,  N.  Y., 
on  the  5th  of  February',  1852,  and  is  the  son  of 
Edward  A.  and  Sarah  (Miller)  Porter,  whose  rec- 
ord will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Our  subject  passed  his  boyhood  da^ys  in  New 
York  and  there  received  a  good  common-school 
education.  When  about  fourteen  years  of  age  he 
emigrated  Westward  to  Illinois  with  his  parents 
and  since   that  time  he  has  made  his  home  on  the 


farm  where  his  father  then  settled  in  Pembroke 
Township.  Until  twenty-three  years  of  age  he 
remained  under  the  parental  roof,  assisting  in  the 
care  of  the  farm.  At  that  time  he  married  Miss 
Ellen  Hichardson,  of  Momence  Township,  who  be- 
came his  wife  on  the  26th  of  January,  1876.  By 
their  union  were  born  two  children,  Edward  A. 
and  Ellen  R.  Mrs.  Porter  was  called  to  her  final 
rest  on  the  7th  of  February,  1881,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  our  subject  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Sarah  E.  Beedle,  of  Momence  Township. 
Two  children  have  graced  their  union,  Ezra  15.  and 
Clare  C. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Porter  is  a  firm 
adherent  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  has  been 
Assessor  of  his  township  for  eight  years  and  has 
been  School  Trustee  for  the  past  six  years.  He  is 
much  interested  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  good 
and  advancement  of  society  and  the  welfare  of  the 
community  in  which  he  dwells.  He  is  now  the 
owner  of  the  old  homestead  upon  which  his  father 
located  twenty-seven  years  ago  and  which  contains 
one  hundred  and  thirty-one  acres,  all  under  good 
cultivation  and  well  improved. 


ENRY  P.  LOWE,  one  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  Waldrcm,  is  widely  known 
throughout  the  county,  where  since  a  very 
early  day  in  its  history  he  has  made  his 
home.  In  fact,  he  and  his  father's  family  were 
among  its  first  pioneers.  Our  subject  was  born 
near  Covington,  Fountain  County,  Ind.,  on  the 
14th  of  April,  1830,  and  was  the  seventh  in  order 
of  birth  in  a  family  of  nine  children,  whose  par- 
ents were  Peter  and  .Julia  A.  (Taylor)  Lowe.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  New  Jersej',  and  was  of 
German  lineage.  In  an  earh'  da}'  he  emigrated 
westward  to  Indiana,  and  after  some  years'  resi- 
dence in  the  Iloosier  State  came  to  Illinois  in 
183.').  The  trip  was  made  by  ox-teams,  and 
they  located  in  what  was  then  Iroquois  County, 
but  is  now  Aroma  Township,  Kankakee  County. 


456 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


The  father  of  our  subject  entered  a  claim  from 
the  Government,  and  when  it  came  into  market 
purchased  the  land.  The  first  home  of  the  fam- 
il3'  was  a  small  log  cabin,  and  they  lived  in  true 
pioneer  style.  Peter  Lowe  continued  to  engage 
in  agricultural  pursuits  and  stock-raising  on  the 
old  homstead  until  1855,  when  he  removed  to 
Waldron,  where  he  resided  for  three  years.  He 
then  removed  to  Jackson  County,  Mich.  At  the 
time  of  his  removal  he  owned  about  one  thous- 
and acres  of  land  in  this  locality,  which  he  traded 
for  Michigan  property.  He  was  a  man  of  excel- 
lent business  ability,  cnterjn'ising  and  progressive, 
sagacious  and  far-sighted. and  accumulated  a  hand- 
some property.  His  success  was  all  the  more  re- 
markable from  the  fact  that  he  started  out  in 
life  a  poor  boy  with  no  money  or  influential 
friends  to  aid  him.  In  politics  he  was  a  Wliig 
until  the  dissolution  of  that  pnrt}',  when  he  joined 
the  ranks  of  the  new  Republican  party,  lighting 
under  its  banner  until  his  death.  He  passed  away 
at  his  home  in  Jackson  Count}',  Mich.,  on  the 
12th  of  April,  1873.  His  wife  died  in  tills  county, 
March  31,  1853. 

Of  the  Lowe  famil}',  Mary  A.  is  now  the  widow 
of  Samuel  Kxline;  Vincent  T.  died  in  1872;  Mar- 
tha J.  became  the  wife  of  Lorenzo  D.  Legg,  a 
farmer  residing  in  Aroma  Township,  and  died  on 
the  14th  o*  February,  1840;  Harriet  M.  is  the  wife 
of  M.  J.  1).  Hawkins,  who  is  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  in  Limestone  Township;  Peter  V. 
is  a  farmer  of  Kankakee  Township;  David  N.  was 
killed  in  a  railroad  accident  near  Cedar  Lake, 
Ind.,  October  27,  1886,  and  was  burned  in  the 
wreck;  Henry  P.,  of  this  sketch,  is  the  next 
younger;  Sidney  L.  is  now  a  retired  farmer  of 
Cowley  County,  Kan.;  and  Sanford  W.  died  Jan- 
uary 31,  1855. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  a  lad  of  only 
five  summers  when  his  parents  came  with  their 
family  to  this  county.  His  education  was  re- 
ceived at  home,  the  father  hiring  teachers  for  his 
children,  and  school  being  held  in  one  room  of 
their  little  log  cabin.  Although  his  privileges  in 
this  direction  were  limited,  he  possessed  an  ob- 
serving eye  and  retentive  memory,  and  has  made 
himself   a    well-informed    man.     Amid    the    wild 


scenes  of  frontier  life  he  was  reared,  and  shared 
its  experiences  and  hardships.  Until  the  da}-  on 
which  he  attained  his  majority  he  remained  at 
home,  giving  his  father  the  benefit  of  his  services, 
but  when  he  had  reached  man's  estate  he  started 
out  in  life  for  himself.  Ills  possessions  consisted 
of  a  team  of  unbroken  colts  three  years  old.  He 
rented  land  of  his  father  and  lived  at  home  for 
a  period  of  four  years.  He  then  made  his  first 
purchase,  consisting  of  a  tract  of  State  land  of 
three  hundred  acres,  for  which  he  paid  ^S  per 
acre.  Removing  to  that  farm,  he  at  once  turned 
his  attention  to  its  development  and  im[;rovc- 
ment,  and  continued  successfully  to  operate  it 
until  1865,  when  he  sold  out  and  removed  to 
Otto  Township,  where  he  spent  the  succeeding 
summer.  In  the  autumn  of  that  year  he  came  to 
Waldron  and,  purchasing  a  house  and  lot  of  his 
father,  he  has  here  since  made  his  home,  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  the  place.  He  has  always 
been  interested  in  agriculture  and  now  owns  two 
hundred  and  flft\-nine  acres  of  well-improved 
and  valuable  farming  land,  besides  considerable 
town  propert}'. 

On  Christmas  Day  of  1855  Mr.  Lowe  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Adeline  M.  Urown,  daughter  of  John 
and  Sarah  Brown.  Their  union  has  been  bles.sed 
with  a  family  of  seven  children,  but  Florcn,  their 
first-born,  died  on  the  5th  of  December,  185i»; 
George  A.  is  now  a  resident  farmer  of  Aroma 
Township;  Florence  is  the  wife  of  A.  C.  Shreipe, 
who  is  engaged  in  merchandising  In  St.  Anne; 
John  J.  is  acting  as  Police,  Street  Commissioner, 
Town  Constable  and  Deputy  Sheriff,  holding  all 
those  offices  in  the  village  of  Waldron;  Marj-  A. 
is  the  wife  of  Harry  McDaniel,  a  telegragh  oper- 
ator and  station  agent  residing  in  Zionville,  Ind.; 
Llllie  is  the  wife  of  AValter  A.  Guertine,  who  car- 
ries on  a  general  merchandise  establishment  in  St. 
Anne;  and  Walter  completes  the  family. 

Mr.  Lowe  has  always  taken  quite  an  active  in- 
terest in  political  affairs,  and  by  his  ballot  supports 
the  Republican  party.  He  has  been  honored  with 
a  number  of  local  oflfices  of  trust,  iiaving  served 
as  Constable,  School  Director  and  School  Trustee, 
was  Assessor  for  several  terms  and  was  Highway 
Commissioner  for  twenty  j-ears.     He  is  alike  true 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


457 


to  every  public  and  private  trust,  and  tlie  faitli- 
ful  manner  in  which  he  ever  discharges  his  duties 
has  broiiglit  liini  liiirh  commendation  and  won  liim 
warm  regard.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  llie  Ma- 
sonic fraternity.  All  educational,  moral  and  so- 
cial interests  find  in  him  a  friend,  and  he  aids 
every  public  enterprise  calculated  to  promote  tlie 
general  welfare. 

Mr.  Lowe  can  relate  many  interesting  incidents 
concerning  pioneer  life  in  tliis  county,  and  cer- 
tainlj'  no  one  is  more  ca|)abie  of  giving  tlie  his- 
tory of  early  life  in  this  coninumily  than  our 
subject,  whose  residence  here  covers  a  jieriod  of 
fifty-seven  years.  When  his  family  first  located 
in  this  community  almost  their  only  neighbors 
were  the  Indians,  and  wlien  the  red  men  left  for 
the  West  he  followed  about  fourteen  hundred  of 
them  two  miles  on  their  way.  He  has  seen  the 
wild  prairies  transformed  into  beautiful  homes 
and  farms,  has  witnessed  not  only  the  growth  of 
the  villages  of  this  county,  but  has  seen  the  en- 
tire upbuilding  of  Kankakee,  has  seen  the  intro- 
duction of  the  railroad  and  has  watched  the  onward 
march  of  progress  as  it  has  transformed  the  coun- 
try from  a  barren  region  to  a  tract  of  rich  fertility. 
During  his  long  residence  here  Mr.  Lowe  has  be- 
come widely  and  favorably  known,  and  among 
his  stanchest  friends  are  numbered  man}'  of  his 
acquaintances  of  early  years — i  fact  that  indicates 
the  honorable  and  u[)right  life  he  has  lived. 


H,' 


^^11 


3^^^- 


ENRY  AMIDON,  a  retired  farmer,  who  for 
almost  forty  years  has  been  a  resident  of 
Kankakee  County,  now  makes  his  home  in 
the  village  of  Ilerschcr.  lie  is  a  native  of 
New  York,  his  birtli  having  occurred  in  Granville, 
Washington  County,  on  the  3d  of  Novenilier,  1827. 
The  Amidon  family  is  of  English  origin  and  was 
founded  in  America  at  an  early  day  by  ancestors 
who  settled  in  the  colony  of  Connecticut.  Moses 
Amidon,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  that  State  and  together  with  three  brothers  en- 
listed in  the  Revolutionary  War,  serving  through- 


out that  long  and  bloody  struggle,  in  which  two 
of  his  brothers  were  killed.  After  the  colonies  had 
achieved  their  independence,  Closes  Amidon  re- 
moved with  Ills  family  to  New  York,  becoming 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  AVashington  Count}-, 
where  he  spent  the  last  3ears  of  his  life. 

The  father  of  our  subject  grew  to  manhood 
in  that  county  and  after  attaining  to  years  of 
maturit}-  wedded  Miss  Polly  Steadman,  who  was 
born  in  AYashington  County  and  was  a  daughter 
of  Charles  Steadman.  After  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Amidon  located  in  Granville,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  st<ick  and  butchering  business.  He 
reared  his  family  and  spent  his  entire  life  there. 
In  polities  he  was  a  .lacksoni.an  Democrat,  a  stanch 
supporter  of  the  jirinciples  of  tiiat  party.  He  took 
quite  an  active  part  in  local  politics  and  served  in 
several  public  oflices.  His  death  occurred  in 
Granville  in  1880,  at  the  age  of  sevent3'-eight 
years.  His  wife  survived  him  about  eleven  years 
and  departed  this  life  in  18'JL  having  reached  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety  years. 

Henry  Amidon,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
is  tiie  eldest  of  a  family  of  four  cluldieii,  number- 
ing three  sons  and  a  daughter.  Edwin,  the  second 
brother,  was  a  soldier  of  the  late  war  and  died  in 
the  service  of  his  country  in  18G4.  William  was 
also  one  of  the  boys  in  blue  and  served  until  after 
peace  was  declared.  He  first  joined  a  regiment  of 
New  York  Infantry  and  after  two  yenvs  lie  became 
a  member  of  a  regiment  of  cavalry,  with  which  he 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Granville,  N.  Y.  The  sister,  Sarah  A.,  is 
the  wife  of  Judge  O.  F.  Thompson,  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Wasiiington  Count}',  N.  Y.,and  a  former 
■ludge  of  that  county. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  who  spent  his  early  life  in  Granville, 
where  he  liad  the  advantages  of  good  schools. 
When  a  young  man  of  seventeen  years  he  came  to 
the  West,  locating  in  Chicago,  ]11.,  whence  he  soon 
afterward  enlisted  for  the  Mexican  War,  joining 
Company  G,  Sixteenth  United  States  Infantry. 
He  then  went  to  Mexico,  where,  with  his  regiment, 
he  participated  in  a  number  of  engagements.  He 
served  for  about  sixteen  months, or  until  after  the 
close  of   the   war,  when   he  received  his  discharge 


45d 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  was  mustered  out  at  Newport,  Ky.  Mr.  Ami- 
don  then  returned  to  bis  home  in  Granville,  N.  Y., 
and  soon  afterward  went  to  Salem,  that  State, 
where  he  secured  a  position  as  clerk  in  a  hotel. 
While  in  that  place  he  married  on  the  loth  of  July, 
1851,  Miss  Adeline  Stevens,  a  Vermont  lady,  who 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Wells,  in  Rutland  County, 
Vt.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Itharaer  Stevens,  also  a 
native  of  the  Green  Mountain  Stale. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Amidon  was  engaged 
with  his  father  in  the  stock  and  butchering  busi- 
ness for  about  two  years,  but  at  length  he  deter- 
mined to  again  seek  a  home  in  Illinois.  In  1854, 
he  came  to  this  State  and  in  -Jul^'  of  that  year  lo- 
cated in  Rockville,  Kankakee  Count}',  where  he 
rented  a  farm.  This  was  his  first  experience  as  an 
agriculturist.  The  following  year,  he  removed  to 
Du  Page  County,  where  he  carried  on  farming  for 
about  two  years.  In  1857,  he  returned  to  Kanka- 
kee County,  purchased  land  and  located  in  Man- 
teno.  The  wild  and  unimproved  tract  he  trans- 
formed into  rich  and  fertile  fields  and  for  several 
years  he  there  successfully  carried  on  farming.  On 
the  expiration  of  that  period  he  sold  his  laud  and 
removed  to  Rockville,  where  he  rented  a  farm,  to 
the  cultivation  of  whicii  he  devoted  his  energies 
until  1868.  In  that  year  he  purchased  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  29,  Pilot  Township,  a  place 
with  some  improvements,  and  located  thereon. 
Industrious  and  energetic,  he  engaged  in  its  culti- 
vation for  about  fifteen  years  and  was  acknowl- 
edged to  be  one  of  the  successful  and  progressive 
agriculturists  of  the  community.  He  erected  a 
substantial  and  commodious  residence  thereon, 
also  built  a  large  barn  and  otherwise  greatl}'  im- 
proved the  place.  At  length  he  determined  to  Lay 
aside  the  arduous  duties  which  had  hitherto  occu- 
pied his  time  and  in  1883  he  rented  his  land  and 
removed   to  Herscher,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Amidon  have  a  family  of  three 
children,  all  of  whom  are  grown  and  married. 
Edwin,  the  eldest,  is  now  operating  the  old  home- 
stead; James  is  a'successful  farmer  of  Pilot  Town- 
ship; and  Eva  is  the  wife  of  A.  T.  Anderson,  a 
prosjjerous  merchant  of  Herscher,  whose  sketch 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work. 

Ml'.  Amidon    has  followed  in  the  political  foot- 


steps of  his  ancestors  and  supports  the  Democ- 
rac3'.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for  James 
Buchanan  in  1856  and  has  since  voted  for  each 
Presidential  nominee  of  his  party.  He  keeps  well 
informed  on  the  political  issues  of  the  day,  takes 
an  active  part  in  local  politics,  and  has  served  in 
various  official  positions  of  honor  and  trust,  dis- 
charging his  duties  with  credit  to  himself  and  to 
the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  He  received 
the  appointment  of  Postmaster  of  Herscher  during 
President  Cleveland's  administration  and  served 
in  that  position  for  four^-eare.  He  has  many  times 
been  a  delegate  to  the  county  conventions  of  his 
party  and  also  was  a  member  of  the  Democratic 
County  Central  Committee.  His  wife  is  a  faith- 
ful and  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  and  is  a  lady  much  beloved  for  her 
kindness  of  heart  and  her  benevolent  character. 
This  worthy  couple  are  among  the  highly  respected 
citizens  of  the  communit}',  and  their  friends  are 
many.  Mr.  Amidon  during  the  long  years  of  his 
residence  in  Kankakee  Countj'  has  proved  himself 
a  valued  citizen  by  the  prominent  part  lie  has 
taken  in  public  affairs,  especially  those  calculated 
to  prove  of  benefit  to  the  community. 


«#- 


-^?» 


ILTON  B.  HALL,  a  retired  merchant  and 
dealer  in  real  estate,  is  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  this  portion  of  the  count}-,  as  he 
has  resided  here  for  more  than  forty  years. 
His  birth  occurred  in  Washington  County,  N.  Y., 
near  Ft.  Edward,  on  the  23d  of  January,  1833. 
His  paternal  grandfather  died  when  quite  young, 
as  did  also  his  mother's  father,  but  tlie  wife  of  the 
latter  survived  him  for  many  j'ears,  and  at  the 
time  of  her  death,  which  occurred  at  the  home  of 
one  of  her  daughters  in  Ft.  P^dward,  N.  Y.,  she  had 
reached  the  extreme  age  of  ninety-six  years. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  Henry  M.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Wilber)  Hall,  the  former  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island  and  the  latter  of  the  Empire  State.  On  the 
paternal  side  our  subject  is  of  English  extraction, 
while  his  mother  was  a  native  of  New  York   State. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


•159 


The  father  was  a  fanner  in  New  York  ami  died  in 
that  State  in  I8f)7,  at  the  a.ge  of  eiglit\'  ^ears.  His 
wife,  wlio  had  died  the  year  previous,  iiad  attained 
the  age  of  sevent^'-four  years.  Tlioiigh  her  par- 
ents were  of  Quaker  stock,  she  had  been  for  a  great 
man}'  j'ears  a  consistent  member  of  tlie  Metiiodist 
Church.  By  her  marriage  she  became  tiie  mother 
of  seventeen  children,  fifteen  of  whom  lived  to  man- 
hood and  womanliood,  tlie  others  liaving  died  in 
early  childhood.  At  the  present  time  eleven  of 
the  family  are  living,  five  sons  and  six  daughters, 
who  are  married  and  live  in  widel}'  separated 
.States.  They  are  as  follows:  Rebecca,  Adelia,  Al- 
cesta,  Eliza,  Susan,  Maria,  Merchant,  Duane,  Dorr, 
Hilton  and  Ilillman. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
and  his  educational  privileges  in  earlj'  life  were 
those  afforded  b3'  tlie  district  schools  of  the  neigh- 
borhood. He  afterward  attended  the  Argyle  Acad- 
emy, and  when  nineteen  ^ears  of  age  left  his  home 
and  came  West  to  grow  up  with  the  countrv,  be- 
cause he  l)elieved  it  afforded  wider  opportunities 
for  advancement  and  fortune.  He  landed  at  Mo- 
mencc  in  October,  1851,  and  after  a  short  visit 
with  relatives  in  this  citv  went  to  Bourbonnais, 
where  his  brother  Henry  was  just  opening  a  gen- 
eral store.  His  brother  Ilillman  also  accompanied 
him  and  they  entered  the  employ  of  their  elder 
brother.  Ilillman  returned  home  about  a  \'ear 
later,  and  Hilton  B.  remained  with  his  brother  until 
the  latter  sold  out  his  business,  when  for  the  suc- 
ceeding two  years  he  was  employed  b\-  his  successor. 
Henry  went  from  Bourbonnais  to  Kankakee,  where 
he  opened  a  store,  and  thither  our  subject  removed 
after  a  time  and  w.as  in  his  employ  for  two  3-ears. 
From  that  place  Mr.  Hall  came  to  Momeuce,and 
for  eight  j^ears  clerked  for  AV.  II.  Patterson.  At 
the  end  of  that  time  ISIr.  Patterson  died,  and  his 
son,  in  connection  with  our  subject,  took  the  stock 
of  goods  and  carried  on  business  for  a  few  years 
under  the  linn  name  of  Hall  Sr  Patterson,  when 
the  latter  also  died,  and  Mr.  Hall  became  the  owner 
of  his  deceased  partner's  interest,  and  from  that 
time  did  business  in  his  own  name  until  the  ^ear 
188."),  covering  a  period  of  about  twelve  years. 
He  then  sold  out  his  business  and  invested  the 
proceeds  m  real  estate,  to  which  he  has  since  de- 


voted his  time  and  attention.  Mr.  Hall  is  the 
owner  of  considerable  jiroperty  in  Momence  and 
vicinity,  including  a  veiy  fine  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred acres  north  of  town  and  a  beautiful  home  in 
Momence.  Mv.  Hall  has  ac(|uircd  his  property 
through  his  own  industrious  efforts  and  economy, 
and  is  esteemed  in  this  locality  for  his  honorable 
course  of  life. 

Our  subject  vvas  united  in  marriage  with  IMiss 
Mary  E.  Veatch  on  the  24th  of  July,  1877.  Mrs. 
Hall  is  the  daughter  of  George  and  Eliza  (Barrin- 
ger)  A^eatch,  the  lattera  native  of  Pennsylvania, and 
the  former  of  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Veatch  is  still 
living  and  makes  her  home  with  Mrs.  Hall,  and 
though  in  her  eighty-first  year  is  still  hale  and 
he:irly. 

Mr.  Hall  for  many  years  affiliated  with  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  and  helped  to  organize  the  Mo- 
mence Lodge.  He  became  a  Mason  while  residing 
in  Kankakee,  belonging  to  the  Chapter,  but  has 
since  been  demitted.  For  two  years  Mr.  Hall 
served  as  Supervisor  of  Momence  Township,  but 
has  never  been  a  politician  or  an  aspirant  for  pub- 
lic offices.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  Republican 
and  has  always  voted  for  the  nominees  of  that 
party.  When  our  subject  first  came  to  Momence 
there  were  probably  not  more  than  two  hundred 
inhabitants  in  the  town,  and  the  country  around 
was  mostly  wild  prairie,  with  not  a  house  to  be 
seen  between  Momence  and  Kankakee.  He  has 
seen  the  wilderness  change  into  a  prosperous  and 
well-cultivated  section,  which  justly  deserves  its 
rank  among  the  best  counties  of  the  State. 


LOCUM  WILBER,  wholesale  dealer  in 
garden  seeds,  and  a  retired  merchant  of 
Momence,  is  one  of  its  eaily  settlers.  His 
birth  occurred  in  White  Creek,  Washing- 
ton County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  21st  of  December,  1815. 
His  father,  George  Wilber,  was  a  native  of  Dart- 
mouth, 1\.  I.,  and  was  left  fatherless  when  six  years 
of  age.     He  was  a  farmer  and  seed-grower  in  New 


460 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIO(fRAPHlCAL  RECORD. 


York  and  was  a  prominent  man,  holding  at  var- 
ious times  many  responsible  official  positions.  His 
death  occurred  in  tliat  State  on  the  5th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1853,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four  years  and 
seven  months;  tins  was  about  three  weeks  after  his 
return  home  from  a  trip  to  Illinois,  where  he  had 
visited  our  subject.  His  wife,  Triphena  Slocum, 
was  a  native  of  the  EmjHre  State  and  by  her  mar- 
riage had  become  the  mother  of  seven  children, 
four  sons  and  tliree  daughters,  only  Ivvo  of  whom 
are  now  living:  our  subject  and  a  sister,  Mrs. 
Adeline  Webster,  who  resides  in  Momeiice  and 
whose  husband  is  engaged  in  the  grocery  business. 
One  brother  died  in  California,  on  the  14th  of 
November,  1851.  He  had  formerlj'  been  in  busi- 
ness in  a  general  store  in  Momence,  but  sold  his 
stock  to  his  brotiier  Alvin.  A  brother  Hiram, 
who  was  about  t\vo  years  3'ounger  than  our  sub- 
ject, took  part  in  an  Indian  uprising  in  Oregon. 
He  was  a  brave  man  and  helped  to  repel  many  of 
the  attacks  of  the  Indians  in  that  State  and  was 
known  as  Capt.  Hiram  Wilber.  On  numerous  oc- 
casions he  was  tlie  bearer  of  important  messages 
for  the  military  commanders  of  tliat  region.  His 
death  occurred  August  22,  1892,  in  Momence, 
which  he  had  made  iiis  home  for  some  time  and 
where  he  was  held  in  high  esteem  b^'  the  entire 
community.  He  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Portland,  Ore.,  and  was  the  first  Marshal  of  that 
city  after  its  organization. 

Mr.  Willjer,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  has 
resided  in  Momence  since  1850.  He  started  in 
business  with  his  brother  Alvin,  under  the  firm 
name  of  A.  S.  &  S.  Wilber.  Thej-  were  instru- 
mental in  starting  the  town  of  Aroma,  situated 
about  ten  miles  from  Momence,  having  built  tiie 
first  store  and  started  the  first  mill  there.  Our 
subject  continued  in  tlie  mercantile  business  with 
his  brother  for  two  years  and  a-half,  when  they 
dissolved  partnership,  he  then  associating  with 
him  Messrs.  G.  W.  Van  Kirk  and  W.  J.  Stratton, 
under  the  firm  name  of  AVilber,  Van  Kirk  &  Co. 
This  partnership  continued  for  a  number  of  years, 
when  our  subject  and  Mr.  Stratton  purchased  the 
interest  of  tlie  other  partner,  who  retired  on  ac- 
count of  failing  health.  Mr.  Wilber  has  the  rep- 
utation of   being  llic  pioneer  seed-grower  of   Illi- 


nois, as  he  embarked  in  that  line  in  1855,  and  has 
continued   until  the  present  time  in  that  occupa- 
tion.    One  3-ear  he  raised  and  shipped  about  six- 
teen thousand  pounds   of  cucumber   seeds  alone 
When   starting  in   business   he   began    in    a   very 
humble  way  but  succeeded    in   making  it  one  of 
the  largest  seed  industries  in  the  State,  often  em- 
emplo3'ing  large  forces  of  men,  at  one  time  having 
seventy-five    persons    engaged   in   harvesting  cu-j 
cumber  seeds.     His  pay  rolls  were  veiy  large  and! 
he  helped  manj'  poor  people  to  earn    a  good   andl 
honest   living.     He  lias  many  customers  now  that 
he  had  from  the  start,  which  is  an  evidence  of  the 
merit  of  his  goods  and  his  straightforward  manner 
of  business  dealings. 

On  tlie  24th  of  September,  1845,  Mr.  Wilber  wa 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Ann  Lake,  wh( 
was  born  February  13,  1822,  and  was  the  daughted 
of  James  Lake,  of  White  Creek,  N.  Y.  Two  chil^ 
dren  were  born  to  them,  who  died  in  infanc}'.  Ob 
the  9th  of  April,  1891,  Mrs.  AVilber  was  called 
from  this  life,  being  tlien  in  her  seventieth  ycarj 
and  having  been  a  resident  of  Momence  for  about 
forl3'-one  jears.  She  was  a  consistent  member  oB 
the  Methodist  Church,  which  she  joined  when 
young. 

A  brother  of  our   subject,  Alvin   Willier,    nov 
deceased,  was  the   first   Postmaster    of   Momencci 
and  afterward  G.  W.  Van  Kirk   was  appointed  td 
the  position  and  our  subject  acted   as  his  Deputy! 
The  former  died  during  his  term  of  office  and  oufl 
subject  succeeded  to  the  position,  there   remaining 
until  after  Lincoln's  election.     The  postotlice  wad 
originallj^  at  Loraine,  one  mile  east  of   iiere,  bul 
was  afterwards    removed    to    Momence.     In    poll 
itics,  Mr.  Wilber  has  ahva3's  been  a  Democrat  anc 
has  held  various  local   offices   of    trust.     Pearly  iii 
life  he  became  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  td 
which    he    has   always   liberally  contributed.     Ha 
owns  a  good  home,  a  comfortable   and  commodi'j 
ous  brick  house,  which  was  erected  in  1850,  and  ii 
which   he   lias   lived  continuously  for  a  period  ot 
forty-two  years      He    also   owns    two    large   seed 
warehouses,  a  farm  of  thirt3'   acres  one   mile   west 
of  town,  five  acres  in  the  town  plat,  and  an  inter- 
est in  a  number  of  town  lots  of  Aroma  and  other 
propert3'.     He  is  a  man  of  intelligence  and  wide 


I 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

ONIVEP.SITY  Of  ILLIl^UiS 


I 


^^c^c^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


463 


reading,  and  when  a  young  man  taught  for  seven 
winters  in  tlio  East.  He  is  now  past  seventy-seven 
years  of  age  and  is  esteemed  one  of  the  leading 
and  honored  citizens  of  Momence. 


\I7  EMUEL  MILK.  From  the  earliest  history 
ll'  (?§,  of  mankind  tlie  ownership  of  land  has 
j--V  been  an  honorable  distinction,  and  to  be  a 
land-owner  or  free-liolder  often  was,  and  in  some 
States  of  tlie  Union  and  other  countries  is  still,  a 
necessary  qnalitication  for  the  right  of  suffrage. 
There  is  something  grand  and  ennobling  in  feeling 
that  one  has  the  sole  and  exclusive  right  to  a  cer- 
tain tract  or  section  of  (iod's  footstool.  From 
this  standpoint,  tlie  subject  of  this  sketch  during 
his  maturer  years  has  had  good  reason  to  enjoy 
that  peculiar  pleasure  in  no  limited  degree,  be- 
cause he  has  owned  and  controlled  v.ast  tracts  of 
land,  equal  at  one  time  to  upwards  of  a  hundred 
and  fifty  farms,  consisting  of  one  luindred  and  sixt3' 
acres  each.  He  also  was  the  owner  of  large  herds 
of  cattle  and  imported  blooded  horses,  besides 
slieep  and  hogs.  While  he  has  sold  some  thous- 
ands of  acres,  Mr.  Milk  still  possesses  nine  thous- 
and acres  of  good  farming  land,  lying  [)artly  in  Illi- 
nois and  Indiana,  and  eighteen  hundred  .acres  sit- 
uated in  North  Dakota.  Mudi  of  his  property 
consists  of  improved  farms,  well  stocked  and  pro- 
ductive. On  one  of  his  Indiana  farms  he  keeps 
a  large  number  of  imported  Norman  and  English 
Shire  horses  of  thorough  blood  stock.  lie  has 
probabl3'  the  largest  number  of  that  class  of  liorses 
in  the  State  owned  by  one  individual,  and  lias  by 
his  introduction  of  these  iiorses  done  much  to  im- 
prove the  stock  of  Indiana  and  e.astern  Illinois. 
Mr.  Milk  is  also  largely  engaged  in  growing,  feed- 
ing and  fattening  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs,  during 
the  winter  of  1891-92  turning  off  some  seven 
hundred  head  of  fat  cattle  and  a  corresponding 
lot  of  hogs.  In  fact,  it  is  generally  conceded  that 
he  is  one  of  the  largest,  if  not  the  largest,  land- 
owner and  stock-grower  in  the  two  States  of  Illi- 
nois and  Indiana. 


Mr.  Milk  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State  and 
was  born  in  Lcdyard  Townshi(),  Cayuga  County, 
October  18,  182().  His  parents  were  of  New  Eng- 
land birth  and  of  English  descent.  His  father, 
William  Milk,  was  born  in  Westportj  Mass.,  on  the 
18th  of  October,  1783,  and  died  in  the  town  of 
Fleming,  Cayuga  County,  N.  Y.,  August  25,  186G. 
The  mother  of  our  subject,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Mary  Ilalhaw.ay,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Dartmouth,  near  New  Bedford,  Mass.  Her  death 
occurred  in  the  town  of  Fleming,  on  the  1  Itli  of 
August,  1838.  Their  famil>'  consisted  of  six  sons 
and  one  daughter,  of  whom  Lemuel,  the  youngest, 
is  the  only  one  living. 

When  about  two  years  of  age  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  accompanied  his  parents  to  Fleming,  in  the 
county  of  his  l)irth,  where  he  was  reared  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  w.as  early  taught  the  necessity  of 
habits  of  industry  and  frugality'.  His  father  was 
a  bl.acksmith  by  trade,  but  carried  on  a  farm  and 
engaged  in  stock-raising  during  the  boj'hood  of 
our  suliject.  Wlien  about  fourteen  years  of  age, 
young  Lemuel  worked  for  his  brother  a  month  in 
haying  for  a  calf  valued  at  ^3.  To  get  a  mate 
for  him  he  raked  and  bound  wheat  for  a  brother- 
in-law  six  days  at  fifty  cents  per  day.  To  feed  his 
calves  be  mowed  hay  from  fence  corners  and  cut 
corn  tops.  Having  fattened  them  he  sold  them  at 
three  years  of  age  for  -^15  to  William  Dolby,  who 
drove  them  to  New  York  City  market,  a  distance 
of  three  hundred  miles.  Such  cattle  at  this  time 
would  bring  ^50  each.  This  was  Mr.  Milk's  first 
financial  venture.  While  yet  a  youth  he  carried 
on  his  father's  farm  on  shares,  and  on  attaining 
his  majority  purchased  a  farm  adjoining  that  of 
his  father  and  ran  both  of  them.  For  his  own 
farm  he  was  to  {)ay  §2,000,  but  his  entire  cajiital 
consisted  of  but  Si  100,  which  he  had  made  b^'  rein- 
vesting his  "calf  money."  For  the  balance  he 
went  in  debt.  In  four  years  he  paid  for  the  farm. 
Continuing  to  enhance  its  value  by  erecting  good 
buildings  and  putting  up  first-class  fences,  he  sold 
it  ten  3'ears  later  for  |!G,120.  This  was  Mr.  Milk's 
first  real-estate  transaction. 

On  the  1st  of  June,  18.54,  a  marri.age  ceremony 
united  the  destinies  of  .Mr.   Milk  and  Miss  .lane  A. 


464 


POilTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Piatt,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Slorson  and  Minerva 
(Sherwood)  Phitt,  of  Butternuts,  Otsego  County, 
N.  Y.,  where  the  marriage  of  our  subject  was  per- 
formed. Mrs.  Milk  was  born  in  the  same  town  on 
the  20th  of  May,  1831,  and  died  December  7,  1881, 
at  El  Paso,  Tex.,  where  she  had  been  in  attendance 
upon  an  invalid  son.  She  left  two  children:  Jen- 
nie M.,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  George  E.  Conrad, 
of  Newton  County,  Ind.;  and  a  son,  Sherwood 
Piatt,  who  was  born  February  8,  18.")9,  and  died 
on  the  17th  of  June,  1883. 

In  1850,  Mr.  Milk  purchased  a  large  tract  of 
land  in  Iroquois  County  where  now  is  what  is 
known  as  Milk's  Grove,  the  grove  and  township 
both  being  named  in  his  honor.  While  not  at 
that  time  an  actual  resident  of  Illinois,  he  became 
fully  identified  with  the  State  through  his  large 
property  interests  and  his  frequent  visits  to  the 
same  and  the  supervision  and  care  of  his  stock. 
For  about  a  year  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Milk  re- 
sided in  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  and  in  1855  removed 
with  his  family  to  Kankakee,  which  has  since  been 
his  home.  About  1872,  he  engaged  in  merchandis- 
ing in  Chebanse,  Iroquois  County,  and  for  raan3' 
years  carried  one  of  the  largest  stocks  of  genei-al 
merchandise  in  the  two  counties  of  Kankakee  and 
Iroquois,  on  the  dividing  line  of  which  lies  the 
town  of  Chebanse.  Recently  he  sold  out  all  but 
the  hardware  department  of  that  business.  Among 
his  varied  interests,  Mr.  Milk  stores  and  ships  large 
quantities  of  ice  from  Waldron,  Kankakee  County, 
his  annual  trade  in  that  line  frequently  equalling 
four  hundred  carloads.  In  addition  to  his  large 
landed  estate  in  this  vicinity,  Mr.  Milk  owns  prop- 
ert}'  in  Kankakee,  Wilmington.  Manteno  and 
Waldron.  His  farming  operations  are  upon  a 
magnificent  scale  and  he  handles  thousands  of 
head  of  cattle  and  other  live  stock. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Milk  was  a  Democrat  in  early 
life,  but  joined  the  Republican  party  at  its  organ- 
ization. He  has  never  had  time  or  inclination  to 
accept  public  office,  but  was  induced  to  serve  for 
two  years  as  a  Trustee  of  the  Eastern  Illinois  Hos- 
pital for  the  Insane,  located  at  Kankakee.  He  has 
always  been  known  as  a  man  of  indefatigable 
energy  and  enterprise  and  he  has  ever  been  ready 
to  give  a  liberal  support  to  all  worthy  objects  of  a 
practical  nature  of  which  he  approves. 


On  the  30th  of  November,  1886,  Mr.  IMilk  was 
married  in  Sherwood,  Tenn.,  to  Miss  May  E.  Sher- 
wood, a  daughter  of  C.  D.  and  Charlotte  P.  (Fer- 
riss)  Sherwood.  Mrs.  Milk  was  born  in  Rushford, 
Minn.,  and  is  descended  from  an  old  Connecticut 
family.  She  is  a  cousin  of  Mr.  Milk's  first  wife. 
One  child,  a  daughter,  Mary  Sherwood,  graces  the 
union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife.  Mrs.  Milk  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  is  a  con- 
sistent woman,  possessed  of  man}'  excellencies  of 
character.  In  his  views  regarding  religion,  Mr. 
Milk  is  the  reverse  of  ortjiodox,  and  while  he  re- 
Sjiects  the  belief  of  those  who  differ  from  him  and 
contributes  liberallj'  to  the  support  of  churches,  he 
does  not  hold  membership  with  any.  In  1890,  he 
gave  eight  acres  of  land  at  Milk's  Grove,  Iroquois 
County,  111.,  and  the  money  necessarj'  to  erect 
a  Catholic  Church,  dwelling,  and  schoolhouse 
amounting  to  15,000.  He  thinks  that  home  life 
rightly  conceived  and  lived  is  the  nearest  supreme 
happiness  that  man  will  ever  attain,  and  also  be- 
lieves that  one  should  do  right  through  the  love 
of  right  and  justice  rather  than  for  hope  of  reward 
or  fear  of  punishment  in  a  future  state.  He  is  a 
man  of  marked  individuality  and  independence  of 
character,  possessed  of  excellent  executive  ability, 
is  self-reliant  and  sagacious,  and  has  managed  his 
vast  business  enterprises  with  a  forethought  and 
sound  judgment  which  have  wrought  him  an  al- 
most phenomenal  success. 


?  I  '  I  '     I  I    1 


^  Jt.UAAAM  R.  HUNTER,  of  Kankakee,  attor- 
\rJ//  ney  and  counselor  at  law,  is  the  present 
^^^  States  Attorney  of  Kankakee  County,  to 
which  position  he  was  elected  in  1888.  He  is  still 
a  young  man,  having  been  born  in  the  Province 
of  Ontario  on  the  12tii  of  January,  1858.  His  fa- 
ther, Robert  Hunter,  was  a  native  of  the  North  of 
Ireland  and  came  first  to  the  United  States  when 
about  eighteen  years  of  age.  Going  to  Pittsburgh, 
Pa.,  he  remained  in  that  cit^'  for  a  time,  but  his 
health  becoming  impaired  he  returned  to  his  na- 
tive   land.       Later    he  again  set  sail    for    Amer- 


i 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


465 


ica,  and  upon  arriving  in  the  United  States  went 
to  Cincinnati,  making  that  his  home  for  some 
time,  lie  tiien  ronioved  to  Ontario,  Canada,  where 
he  resided  until  claimed  by  death  on  the  24th  of 
September,  1881.  His  wife  survived  for  a  number 
of  ye.irs  and  passed  to  her  final  reward  January  29, 
1891.  In  their  family  were  two  sons  and  five 
daughters,  but  two  of  the  latter  are  now  deceased. 
The  only  brother  of  our  subject,  .lames  M.,  is  a 
farmer  b}'  occupation  and  a  resident  of  Kankakee 
County. 

The  educational  advantages  of  William  R.  Hun- 
ter were  quite  limited  in  bis  early  life.  He  worked 
on  a  farm  until  the  age  of  twenty,  and  though 
deprived  of  good  school  school  privileges,  on  ac- 
count of  an  inherent  desire  for  knowledge  he  im- 
proved his  leisure  time  in  reading  and  study,  and 
consequentl3'  on  arri^■ing  at  his  majority  was  well 
informed  on  the  current  events.  Being  ambitious 
to  attain  a  more  elevated  position  in  life,  and  be- 
lieving that  under  the  free  institutions  of  the  Re- 
public better  opportunities  would  be  .afforded  him, 
he  resolved  to  become  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States.  Therefore,  SeiHember,  1879,  saw  him  dom- 
iciled in  Kankakee,  and  he  at  once  set  about  pre- 
(laring  himself  for  the  active  duties  of  life.  As 
he  was  possessed  of  a  natural  talent  for  music 
and  had  given  considerable  attention  to  that  sub- 
ject, he  gave  private  instruction  in  music  for  a 
time  and  was  otherwise  variously  engaged.  He 
pursued  a  course  of  nearl}'  three  j-ears'  study  of 
the  classics  and  general  literature  under  the  in- 
struction of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Dye,  of  this  cit}",  and 
to  that  gentleman  Mr.  Hunter  feels  greatly  in- 
debted for  a  tiiorough  mental  training  and  for 
manv  acts  of  kindness  and  words  of  encourage- 
ment. During  that  time  he  also  studied  telegra- 
phy and  with  others  erected  a  private  line,  which 
gradually  became  general  throughout  the  cit}-.  In 
addition  to  these  various  pursuits  and  studies,  our 
subject  turned  his  attention  to  stenography,  and 
after  receiving  but  eight  lessons  in  the  principles 
of  that  art  he  pursued  the  study  alone,  improving 
on  the  systems  then  in  use  and  adoi)ting  methods 
of  his  own.  He  soon  became  proficient  in  stenogra- 
phy and  for  four  years  filled  the  position  of  court 
reporter  in  a  most  acceptable  manner.  In  the  mean- 


lime  he  had  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to 
practice  January  1,  1882.  His  examination  was 
conducted  by  the  Judges  of  the  Ajipellate  Court  of 
the  Second  District.  Mr.  Hunter's  average  stand- 
ing was  ninet^'-six,  the  highest  in  the  class  being 
ninety- -seven.  Soon  after  his  admission  to  the  Bar 
he  went  to  Toronto,  where  for  a  short  time  he  oc- 
cupied a  position  as  stenographer  for  a  firm  com- 
posed of  seven  lawyers. 

In  March,  1882,  Mr.  Hunter  was  united  in  mar- 
riage in  Kankakee  to  Miss  Lillian  Morrison.  Mrs. 
Hunter  is  a  daugliter  of  Noah  and  Sarah  Morrison, 
of  this  county.  One  child  graces  the  union  of  our 
subject  and  his  wife,  a  little  daughter,  Estella  B., 
wiio  was  born  July  24,  1885.  They  lost  a  son, 
Julius,  when  about  one  year  old.  On  the  10th  of 
Januar}',  1893,  Mr.  Hunter  was  called  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  at  Colorado  Springs, 
Colo.,  while  there  to  regain  her  health. 

Returning  to  Kankakee  in  the  spring  of  1882, 
Mr.  Hunter  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion. For  a  number  of  years  his  ofHce  was  in  that 
of  the  Judge  of  this  county.  In  the  winter  of 
1885,  oar  subject  was  taken  seriously  ill  with 
bronchitis  and  was  removed  to  soutliern  Kansas 
for  the  beneBt  of  his  health.  He  remained  about 
tiiree  months  in  that  State  and  in  Indian  Territorj^, 
but  returned  in  the  following  July  without  having 
derived  any  appreciable  benefit  from  the  change  of 
climate.  He  then  decided  to  go  to  southern  Cali- 
fornia and  try  the  effect  of  that  well-known  salu- 
brious climate.  Locating  in  Los  Angeles,  Mi-.  Hun- 
ter engaged  in  practice  witli  Judge  Brouseau,  of 
that  city.  In  the  spring  of  1886,  he  returned  fully 
restored  to  health.  He  was  appointed  City  Attor- 
ney in  1887  to  fill  an  unexpired  term,  and  during 
his  position  in  that  office  he  revised  the  ordinances 
of  the  city.  He  was  ajipointed  City  Attorney  again 
the  following  3ear  and  at  the  same  time  received 
the  Republican  nomination  for  the  office  of  State's 
Attorney.  Accepting  the  latter,  he  w.as  elected  by  a 
large  majority,  and  has  discharged  the  duties  per- 
taining to  that  office  in  a  most  satisfactory  man- 
ner. He  was  again  nominated  in  1892  but  declined 
the  honor,  preferring  to  attend  to  the  duties  of  his 
profession.  On  the  1st  of  June  of  that  year,  he 
formed  a  partnership  with   II.  K.  Wheeler.     It   is 


466 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


hardly  necessary  to  state  that  Mr.  Hunter  is  a 
stalwart  Republican  and  takes  a  deep  interest  in 
the  welfare  of  his  paity.  He  may  truthfully  be 
termed  a  self-made  man,  having  by  his  indomita- 
ble energy,  application  and  natural  ability  attained 
to  bis  present  high  rank  in  his  profession. 


@_ 


-^3. 


""^ 


^+^ 


[^ 


\f7  OULS  SCHNEIDER,  Jr.,  is  one  of  the  lead- 
11  (©  ing  j'oung  citizens  of  Kankakee.  He  is  a 
|l|-^  member  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  of  the 
cit}-,  and  is  prominent  in  business  circles,  being 
the  junior  partner  in  the  firm  of  L.  Schneider  &  Son, 
manufacturers  of  and  dealers  in  carriages,  wagons, 
etc.  Louis  Schneider  is  the  father  of  our  subject 
and  the  senior  member  of  the  (irm.  He  was  born 
in  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  on  the  6th  of  Decem- 
ber, 183-i,  and  when  he  had  attained  to  a  suitable 
age,  he  was  sent  to  learn  the  trades  of  wheelwright 
and  blacksmith  in  the  city  of  Ulm.  After  master- 
ijig  the  business  he  decided  to  try  his  fortune  in 
America,  and  bidding  good-bye  to  his  old  home, 
crossed  the  briny  deep  to  the  United  States.  This 
was  in  1854. 

After  coming  to  this  country,  Mr.  Schneider  re- 
sided for  a  time  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and 
then  went  south  to  Louisville,  Ky.  He  became  a 
resident  of  Chicago,  111.,  in  1858,  and  there  re- 
sided until  the  18th  of  October,  1861,  when  he 
again  changed  his  place  of  residence,  locating  in 
Kankakee.  Since  coming  to  this  city  he  has  en- 
gaged in  his  present  line  of  business.  He  first 
formed  a  partnership  with  J.  H.  Lueth,  which  con- 
nection continued  for  a  period  of  about  sixteen 
years,  or  until  the  1st  of  November,  1881,  when 
the  relation  was  discontinued.  Mr.  Schneider  was 
then  alone  in  business  for  some  time,  but  in  Octo- 
ber, 1892,  formed  a  partnership  with  his  son  Louis, 
and  the  present  firm  title  of  L.  .Schneider  &  Sou 
was  assumed. 

Wliile  a  resident  of  Chicago,  Mr.  Schneider,  Sr., 
was  married,  on  the  15th  of  March,  1859,  Miss  Con- 
stantina  Reis  becoming  his  wife.  The  lady  was 
born   in  Eberstein,  Germany.      Their  union    has 


been  blessed  with  a  family  of  five  children,  two 
sons  and  three  daughters:  Matilda,  Wilhelmiua, 
Louis,  Catherine  and  Edward  F.  They  lost  their 
second  oliild,  David,  in  infancy. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  liistory  of  the 
gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  record.  His  boy- 
liood  days  were  passed  in  the  city  of  his  birtli,  and 
his  education  was  acquired  in  the  parochial  and 
public  schools  of  Kankakee.  He  learned  his  trade 
of  wagon  and  carriage  making  in  the  establish- 
ment of  his  father,  and  before  the  present  partner- 
ship was  formed  he  was  in  liis  employ  for  a  time. 
The  firm  of  .Schneider  &  Son  carries  a  large  line  of 
carriages  and  wagons  and  is  doing  a  good  business, 
which  it  well  deserves.  To  the  experience  and 
mature  judgment  of  the  father  was  added  the  en- 
terprising and  progressive  spirit  of  the  son,  and 
the  firm  therefore  lias  those  qualities  which  insure 
success. 

On  the  5th  of  October,  1892,  Mr.  Schneider,  Jr., 
was  married  to  Miss  Maiy  llaj-es,  daughter  of 
James  Hayes,  of  Clifton,  111.  The  young  couple 
are  prominent  people  of  this  city,  who  hold  an  en- 
viable position  in  social  circles.  In  politics,  Mr. 
Schneider  is  a  stalwart  Democrat,  and  he  has  the 
distinction  of  being  the  youngest  Alderman  ever 
elected  to  the  Kankakee  Board.  He  represents  the 
Third  Ward  of  this  city.  He  is  one  of  the  enter- 
prising and  energetic  young  business  men  of  the 
city,  and  his  future  career  will  no  doubt  be  one  of 
success. 


YLVESTER  H  ATTON,  who  makes  his  home 
on  section  35,  Yellowhead  Township,  was 
born  May  27,  1837,  in  Fountain  County 
Ind.,  and  is  a  son  of  Leslie  R.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Stingley)  Ilatton,  a  sketch  of  whom  will  be 
found  in  that  of  W.  L.  Hatton,  on  another  page 
of  this  volume.  With  his  parents  our  subject 
came  to  Yellowhead  Township,  this  country,  in 
1840,  though  it  was  then  Will  County.  His  fa- 
ther died  when  he  was  ten  years  of   age,  and  he 


i 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL   RECORD. 


467 


remained  upon  tlie  homestead,  assisting  liis  mother 
in  carryinii;  on  the  farm,  until  she  too  was  called 
from  this  life,  in  18.52.  Then,  going  to  Indiana, 
he  lived  with  an  uncle,  working  on  his  farm  until 
reaching  his  majority.  His  education  was  largely 
acquired  in  Indiana.  Returning  to  Yellowhead 
Township,  Mr.  Hatton  took  possession  of  eighty 
acres  of  land,  which  he  inherited  from  his  father's 
estate. 

On  the  7th  of  October,  1858,  Mr.  Hatton  and 
Jliss  Martha  A.  Allhands  were  united  in  marriage. 
>Irs.  Hatton  was  born  in  Montgomery'  County, 
Ind.,  on  the  29th  of  November,  1837,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Andrew  and  Margaret  (Swank)  All- 
hands.  By  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife 
have  been  born  ten  children,  eight  of  whom  are 
living.  Raymond,  horn  (October  16,  1860,  died 
August  20,  1872;  Ida  M.,  whose  birth  occurred 
April  24,  1862,  is  the  wife  of  .John  Dowsey,  a 
prosperous  farmer  of  .Tasper  County,  Ind.;  Esther 
J.  was  born  July  16,  1866;  Laura  A.,  October  21, 
1867;  Ernest,  February  16,  1869;  William  M., 
March  21,1872;  Francis  M.,  .July  28, 1873;  George, 
April  29,  1873;  Bertha  K.,  August  23,  1878;  and 
M.nry,  the  first-born,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Prompted  by  patriotic  impulses,  Mr.  Hatton  en- 
listed as  a  private  in  Companj-  II,  Seventy-sixth 
Illinois  Infantr}',  on  the  6th  of  August,  1862.  He 
was  promoted  for  his  braverj'  and  merit  to  the  rank 
of  Sergeant  under  Capt.  .Jacob  Ruger.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  following  engagements  and  skirmishes: 
the  siege  and  surrender  of  Vicksbuig,  Miss.;  that 
of  Jackson,  in  Jul}',  1863;  Champion  Hills,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1864;  Benton,  Miss.,  in  May,  and  the  en- 
gagement at  Jackson  Cross  Roads  in  July,  of  that 
year.  In  18G.5  lie  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Clin- 
ton, La.,  and  in  April  in  tlie  siege  and  assault  on 
Ft.  lUakely.  Mr.  Hatton  was  a  faithful  and  ef- 
ficient soldier,  and  during  the  three  years  of  his 
service  was  fortunate  in  never  being  wounded  or 
captured  by  the  enemj'.  He  received  an  honorable 
discharge  at  Galveston,  Tex.,  on  the  22d  of  July, 
186.5. 

After  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  Mr.  Hatton  re- 
turned to  his  farm  in  Yellowhead  Township, 
which  he  has  since  carried  on  successfully.  His 
property  consists  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres, 


which  is  well  improved  and  yields-  to  him  a  golden 
tribute  in  return  for  his  care  and  cultivation.  He 
has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  educational 
affairs  in  his  district,  which  he  has  served  as 
School  Director  for  over  eighteen  yeai-s.  He  has 
given  his  children  the  best  of  school  advantages, 
thus  making  them  intelligent  and  worthy  citizens. 
In  his  political  affiliations  he  is  a  supporter  of  tlie 
Democratic  part}'. 

On  the  27lh  of  May,  1892,  ]\Ir.  Hatton  cele- 
brated his  flfty-fifth  birlhdav,  at  which  time  sev- 
eral of  his  old  army  comrades  of  the  Seventy- 
sixth  Illinois  congregated  at  his  residence,  taking 
hini  b}'  surprise.  In  the  following  words  his  guests 
presented  him  with  an  elegant  rocking  chair: 

"We,  the  members  of  Company  II,  Sevent}'- 
sixth  Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteers,  desiring  to 
express  our  friendship  and  good  feeling  toward 
our  old  comrade,  Sylvester  Hatton,  in  token  thereof 
present  to  you  this  chair,  hoping  that  in  your  de- 
clining years  j'our  weary  limbs  may  find  rest 
and  the  balance  of  your  life's  burdens  may  rest 
lightly  on  3'ou." 

Catt.  J.  Rri:i;i!,  W.  D.  Lank, 

E.  S.  CooKi:,  H.  HoAG, 

Jf.rojie  Vail,  Saji  Shrontz, 

!•'.  O.  ClAKK,  F.  Sl'KAMLIN, 

F.  Massev. 


-J.5.4..5..5.  j^g 
5.5.  .5.  .{..{.'.^g 


,,..,  BRAM  PLANTE,  of  Kankakee,  the  eflfi- 
•^nJi.  cient  superintendent  of  Mt.  Grove  Ceme- 
tery of  this  city,  is  a  Canadian  by  birth- 
He  was  born  in  St.  Johns,  Canada,  Au- 
gust 15,  1841,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren. The  father,  August  Plante,  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  Canada  and  there  continued  to  reside  until 
called  to  the  home  be^'ond.  He  had  seven  sons 
and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  yet  living 
with  the  exception  of  one  son  and  one  daughter. 
Only  two,  however,  came  to  Illinois,  Abram  and 
his  brother  Solomon.  The  latter  has  since  re- 
moved further  AVest  and  is  now  living  in  the  State 
of  Washington. 

Our  subject  spent  the   days   of   his   early  boy- 
hood and  youth  in  Canada.     He  was  a  young  man 


468 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  seventeen  years,  when,  in  1858,  he  left  his 
liome  and  removed  to  Kankakee  County,  111.  He 
made  his  first  location  in  the  township  of  Aroma 
and  was  engasjed  in  agricultural  pursuits  from 
that  time  until  his  enlistment  for  the  late  war. 
Prompted  by  patriotic  impulses,  he  entered  the 
service  of  liis  adopted  country  on  the  24th  of  Au- 
gust, 1862,  and  joined  tlie  boys  in  blue  of  the. Sev- 
enty-sixth Illinois  Regiment.  He  was  assigned  to 
Company'  D,and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  fought  under  a  number  of  famous  comman- 
ders, including  Gens.  Grant,  Sherman  and  Logan, 
and  participated  in  some  of  the  most  important 
engagements  of  the  war.  He  was  under  Gen. 
Grant  at  the  famous  siege  of  Vicksburg  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  siege  and  capture  of  Ft.  Blakely, 
near  Mobile,  Ala.,  one  of  tlie  last  military  engage- 
ments of  the  war.  Although  in  manj'  battles,  he 
was  fortunate  enough  to  escape  the  bullets  of  tiie 
enemy,  neither  was  he  captured  or  taken  prisoner, 
but  his  health  was  much  broken  down  by  the 
hardships,  privations  and  trials  incident  to  army 
life. 

Mr.  Plante  was  married  in  the  town  of  Aroma 
in  1860,  when  Miss  Odille  Morin  became  his  wife. 
The  lady  was  born  in  Canada  August  16,  1841, 
and  is  just  one  da}^  her  husband's  junior.  She  is 
a  daughter  of  Julius  Jlorin,  who  with  his  family 
removed  from  his  native  land,  Canada,  to  the 
State  of  New  York  in  1851.  He  settled  near  Lake 
Champlain  and  after  residing  there  for  a  time  re- 
moved thence  to  Illinois,  locating  in  the  village  of 
Aroma,  Kankakee  County,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade,  that  of  a  carpenter.  Subsequently  he  went 
to  Iroquois  County  and  took  up  his  residence  on 
a  farm,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
His  death  occurred  in  May,  1872.  The  wife  and 
mother  survives  her  husband  and  is  now  living  in 
the  city  of  Kank.akee.  This  worthy  couple  were 
the  parents  of  four  children,  a  son  and  three 
daughters,  the  eldest  of  wliom  is  Odille,  wife  of 
our  subject;  Josephine  is  now  the  wife  of  August 
Poutre,  who  is  living  in  Kankakee;  and  Adeline  is 
the  wife  of  Onesine  Versailles,  also  of  Kankakee. 
The  only  son,  Julius,  died  at  the  age  of  nine  3-ears. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Plante  has  been  born  a  fam- 
ily of  six  children,  four  sons  and  two  daughters: 


Julius,  their  eldest  child,  was  born  in  Aroma  No- 
vember 12,  1862,  and  is  now  engaged  in  business 
as  a  railroad  engineer.  Bird,  a  clerk  for  John  G. 
Kneclit,  was  born  in  Aroma  Township  July  6, 
1867;  Arthur,  employed  in  Abert  Spencer's  store, 
Chicago,  was  born  on  the  20th  of  January,  1869; 
Edwin,  employed  in  Sprague,  Warner  &  Co.'s 
wholesale  grocerj',  of  Chicago,  was  born  February  8, 
1872;  Luella  was  born  July  23,  1873;  and  Lillian, 
the  j'oungest  of  the  family',  was  born  on  the  27lh 
of  April,  1877.  The  last  four  were  born  in  Papineau, 
Iroquois  County.  The  family  circle  yet  remains 
unbroken. 

Mr.  Plante  returned  to  Kankakee  County  soon 
after  the  close  of  the  war,  but  did  not  long  remain 
here.  He  removed  to  Iroquois  County-,  where  he 
successfully  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  and 
made  his  home  until  1883.  In  that  year  he  re- 
turned to  Kankakee,  where  he  is  now  filling  the 
position  of  superintendent  of  Mt.  Grove  Cemetery. 
He  was  a  gallant  soldier  in  the  war  for  the  Union, 
and  throughout  his  three  years  of  service  was  ever 
found  at  his  post  of  duty,  faithfully  defending  the 
old  flag  which  now  floats  so  proudly  over  the 
united  nation.  In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Re- 
publican, having  long  supported  the  men  and 
measures  of  that  party.  He  and  his  wife  both 
hold  membership  with  the  Baptist  Church.  Mr. 
Plante  is  a  worthy  and  respected  citizen  and  it  is 
with  pleasure  that  we  present  to  our  readers  this 
brief  record  of  his  life. 


_i!^5) 


<-vQJ 


M>^^<m 


1?  CHABOD  STODDARD,  an  extensive  farmer  re- 
I  siding  on  section  23,  Ganier  Township,  is  a 
/li  native  of  Leeds  County,  Canada,  his  birth  oc- 
curring on  the  14th  of  April,  1808.  He  is  a  son  of 
Sheldon  Stoddard,  who  was  of  English  descent,  and 
was  born  in  Woodbury,  Litchfield  County,  Conn. 
His  ancestors  first  came  to  America  in  1639,  and 
settled  in  Boston,  the  earliest  Amerian  representa- 
tive of  the  family  being  Anthony  Stoddard,  a 
Presbyterian  minister.  The  grandfather  of  our 
subject  was  a  soldier  in  the  AVar  of  the  Revolution. 


I^^w 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


469 


heldon  Stoddard,  who  was  a  farnier  by  occupation, 
wedded  Miss  Olivo  Cliipinan.  To  tliem  were  born 
tlio  following  cliildrcu,  our  sulijecl  Iifing  llie  eldest: 
Truman  is  deceased;  I'()ll>'  and  Sarah  have  also 
passed  away;  William  is  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  in  Porter  County,  Ind.;  Charlotte  became 
the  wife  of  Samuel  Burns,  a  farmer  residing  in 
Lawrence  County,  S.  Dak.:  ?' ranees,  widow  of  John 
.1.  Casswell,  resides  in  Imliana;  Olive  and  Martha 
are  deceased;  I>ewis  makes  his  home  in  Indiana; 
and  tliree  children  died  in  infancy.  The  father 
was  called  from  this  life  in  1852.  The  mother 
suivived  her  husband  twenty-four  years,  depart- 
ing til  is  life  in  1870. 

Our  *ubject  was  born  and  reared  on  a  farm,  and 
his  school  privileges  were  quite  limited.  For  some 
years  he  taught  school  in  Canada,  but  early 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  In  18.36  he  came 
to  the  United  States,  locating  in  Toledo,  Ohio, 
wiiere  he  worked  at  his  trade  in  the  winter  of 
1836-37.  In  the  spring  following,  Mr.  Stoddard 
emigrated  to  Illinois,  settling  in  what  was  then 
IiXKjuois,  but  is  now  a  portion  of  Kankakee,  County. 
For  some  years  he  continued  at  his  trade  as  a  car- 
penter, and  then  purchased  the  farm  which  has 
been  his  home  until  the  present  time.  This  pur- 
chase consisted  of  one  hundred  and  fifty-three 
acres  on  section  23,  Ganier  Township,  for  which 
lie  paid  ^i.  50  per  acre.  The  farm  was  raw  prairie 
land,  but  six  acres  having  been  broken.  The  near- 
est market  was  Chicago,  and  to  that  city  Mr.  Stod- 
dard has  many  times  driven  hogs  and  cattle,  going 
all  the  way  on  foot.  The  same  3ear  of  his  arrival, 
the  Indians  were  removed  from  this  portion  of  the 
Slate  to  the  Western  reservations.  Mr.  Stoddard 
and  his  sons  own  a  large  wheat  ranch  of  about  one 
thousand  acres  of  land  in  Dakota. 

In  1840,  Mr.  Stoddard  married  Miss  Eliza  W. 
Perry,  b^-  which  union  one  child  was  born,  Arvin, 
who  is  a  mason  by  trade,  and  resides  in  Red  Oak, 
Iowa.  Our  subject  married  his  present  wife.  Miss 
Ali)ha  L.  Tower,  on  the  8th  of  November,  1853, 
in  A'ermont,  where  she  was  born  October  21,  1816. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  .Toseph  Tower,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Nova  Scotia.  However,  his  progenitor 
came  from  England  in  1637,  settling  at  New  Hiug- 
ham,   Mass.     Joseph  was   married  in  Vermont  to 


Priscilla  Edmunds,  a  native  of  Clarendon,  Rutland 
County,  where  they  passed  their  lives  upon  a 
farm.  Mr.  Tower  died  in  1840,  at  the  age  of 
seventy,  and  his  wife  in  1851,  aged  seventy-four. 
Mrs.  Stoddard  is  the  eleventh  child  of  a  family  of 
twelve  children,  of  whom  but  two  survive,  Mrs. 
Stoddard,  and  Mrs.  Abigail  Perry,  a  resident  of 
Aroma  Township,  Kankakee  Count3'.  Mrs.  Stod- 
dard has  become  the  mother  of  two  children,  Will- 
iam and  George  II.,  who  are  both  in  Dakota  at 
present,  operating  their  extensive  wheat  ranch. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  for  many  years  a 
a  loyal  Whig,  and  since  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  part}-,  has  iieen  one  of  its  stanch  sup- 
porters. He  voted  for  Gen.  AVilliam  Henry  Har- 
rison, and  has  cast  two  votes  for  his  grandson, 
Benjamin  Harrison.  He  has  served  in  various 
positions  of  responsibility  and  trust,  among  which 
we  mention  those  of  Commissioner  of  Highways 
and  School  Trustee. 


SAAC  BIRD  HANNA  is  engaged  in  the  insur- 
ance business  in  Kankakee,  and  is  the  agent 
of  the  Standard  Oil  Company  in  this  county. 
Though  comparatively  a  young  man,  he  is  one  of 
the  representative  business  men  of  this  city.  He 
is  the  only  surviving  son  of  Maj.  Richard  J.  Hanna, 
who  settled  in  Otto  Township,  Kankakee  County, 
in  1855.  There  on  the  30th  of  January,  1857,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  born,  and  he  has  the 
honor  of  being  the  first  white  child  born  in  that 
township.  In  1863,  while  his  father  was  in  the 
army  fighting  the  battles  for  the  Union,  the  mother 
removed  with  her  children  to  Kankakee. 

Our  subject  attended  the  public  schools  of  the 
city,  and  acquired  a  good  education.  He  was  for 
two 3'ears  a  student  of  Asbury  University.  Return- 
ing from  school  in  1874,  he  was  employed  in  his 
father's  store  for  a  period  of  six  years.  When,  in 
1881,  Maj.  Hanna  was  appointed  Postmaster  at 
Kankakee,  Isaac  assisted  him,  and  became  Deputy 
Postmaster,  having  general  charge  of  the  office  un- 


470 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


til  1885.  Then  he  purchased  the  insurance  agency 
of  John  Dale,  siuce  which  time  he  has  conducted 
a  general  insurance  business  with  good  success. 
In  August,  1891,  he  was  appointed  by  the  Stand- 
ard Oil  Company  as  their  representative  in  this 
section.  From  a  business  and  financial  point  of 
view  he  has  prospered,  and  owes  his  success  to  his 
indusUy  and  wise  business  methods. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Ilanna  was  formerly  Miss  Bell 
Hall,  whose  father,  Henry  S.  Hall,  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  this  county.  Mrs.  Hanna  is  a  na- 
tive of  Sangamon  County,  111.  Her  father  was  ac- 
cidentally killed,  having  been  the  victim  of  an  ac- 
cident on  the  Grand  Trunk  Railroad  in  Canada. 
This  was  in  March,  1889,  and  at  that  time  twenty- 
three  persons  lost  their  lives  in  the  terrible  wreck. 
When  but  two  years  of  age  Mrs.  Hanna 's  mother 
died.  Two  sons  have  graced  the  union  of  our 
subject  and  his  wife:  Richard  Henry  and  Thomas 
Williams. 

Mr.  Hanna  has  been  called  upon  by  his  fel- 
low-citizens to  serve  in  various  official  capacities, 
the  duties  of  which  positions  he  has  discharged 
with  ability  and  fldelit3'.  He  was  elected  Town 
Collector  for  the  years  of  1887,  1888  and  1889. 
He  was  elected  Alderman  in  1890,  and  was  made 
Supervisor  two  years  later.  Politically,  he  is  a 
supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  and  socially  is 
a  member  of  various  civic  societies,  including  the 
Odd  Fellows,  Royal  Arcanum,  Modern  Woodmen 
and  Sons  of  Veterans.  He  is  highly  esteemed  in 
this  community,  where  he  numbers  a  large  circle 
of  friends  and  acrjuaintances. 


ARTIN  M.  PORTER  is  a  prosperous  farmer, 
1  who  owns  and  operates  two  hundred  and 
li  twenty  acres,  of  which  one  hundred  and 
sixty  are  on  section  31,  Momence  Town- 
ship, arid  sixty  acres  are  on  section  6,  Pembroke 
Township,  three  and  a-half  miles  southeast  of  Mo- 
mence. His  birth  occurred  in  Ontario  County, 
N.  Y.,  on  the  23d  of  March,  1857.  He  was  the 
second  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  three  chil- 


dren, two  sons  and  a  daughter,  who  were  bom  to 
Edward  A.  and  Sarah  (Miller)  Porter.  The  father 
was  of  Irish  extraction,  born  on  the  6th  of  August, 
1829,  in  the  State  of  New  York.  He  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  in  the  fall  of  1866  emigrated 
to  Kankakee  County.  He  purchased  a  farm,  to  the 
cultivation  of  which  he  devoted  himself  for  nine 
years.  He  departed  this  life  on  the  13th  of  May, 
1875,  when  forty-five  years  of  age.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  was  also  a  native  of  the  Empire 
State,  where  her  birth  occurred  September  27) 
1833.  She  was  of  English  ancestry  and  was  called 
from  this  life  when  she  had  reached  the  age  of 
forty-eight,  her  death  occurring  March  12,  1882. 

Martin  Porter  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  lived 
with  his  parents  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  He  received  a  good  common-school  educa- 
tion, which  he  supplemented  by  well-directed 
reading,  and  is  now  fully  acquainted  with  the  top- 
ics of  the  times.  After  reaching  his  majority,  he 
left  the  parental  roof  and  started  out  to  mike  his 
fortune.  His  first  move  was  to  rent  a  farm,  to 
which  he  brought  his  young  wife,  who  was  for- 
merly Miss  Mary  E.  Dutclier,  and  to  whom  he  was 
married  on  the  23d  of  January,  1879.  She  was 
born  in  AVarren  County,  lud.,  on  the  lltli  of  Jan- 
uary, 1860,  and  is  a  daughter  of  George  and  Han- 
nah (McCord)  Dutcher.  The  former  was  born  in 
Canada,  April  4, 1831, and  w.as  of  German  descent. 
He  came  to  Kankakee  when  but  eight  \earsof  age, 
in  1839,  and  was  consequently  among  the  first  set- 
tlers in  these  parts,  where  he  resided  until  his  death, 
ou  the  6th  of  December,  1875.  Mrs.  Dutcher  was 
of  Irish  extraction,  born  on  the  30th  of  April, 
1839,  in  Indiana,  and  was  called  to  her  final  rest 
in  Kankakee  County  on  the  5th  of  May,  1873. 
Mrs.  Porter  was  only  three  years  of  age  when  with 
her  parents  she  came  to  this  county,  and  here  she 
has  lived  continuous!}'  since.  By  her  marriage 
she  has  become  the  mother  of  five  children: 
George  N.,  who  was  born  July  8,  1880;  Niles  I., 
born  October  6,  1882;  Iva  Bell,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred August  17,  1884;  Alex  S.,  born  September 
8.  1889;  and  Grace  L.,  who  was  born  on  the  7th 
of  August,  1891. 

In    his    political  views,  Mr.  Porter    is  a  stanch 
Democrat  and   supports  the  men  and  measures  of 


J 


4 


UfWEH'-n  V  OF  ILLINOIS 


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LIBRARY. 

OF  THE 

..UMVtRSnV  OF  ILLINOIS 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


475 


the  Democratic  piut^y.  As  an  agriculturist  he  lias 
been  successful,  abuiulant  liarvests  being  the  re- 
ward for  his  care  and  cultivation.  His  property 
shows  on  every  hand  the  attention  which  is  given 
it  by  a  careful  and  cntcr|)rising  owner. 


-^^ 


DAVIN  WOODARD,  a  retired  farmer  of 
Kankakee,  is  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers 
ik^/  of  this  county,  the  date  of  his  arrival  be- 
ing the  15tli  of  April,  l.S.'}8.  He  is  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  his  birth  having  occurred  near 
Worcester  on  the  3d  of  October,  1814.  His  father, 
Henjaniin  Woodard,  was  also  a  native  of  the  Bay 
State,  and  was  of  English  origin,  several  of  iiis 
ancestors  having  been  early  members  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Colony.  He  served  his  countr3'  in  the 
War  of  1812,  and  on  arriving  at  man's  estate  mar- 
ried the  mother  of  our  subject,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Sylvia  Vale.  About  the  year 
1817,  when  Edwin  was  about  three  years  of  age, 
his  parents  removed  to  Vermont.  In  the  win- 
ter of  1834-35,  the  father  was  accidentally  killed, 
leaving  a  wife  and  nine  children  to  mourn  his 
loss. 

Our  subject  was  the  eldest  son  and  second  child, 
and  by  the  death  of  his  father  much  responsibility 
fell  ii|)on  his  shoulders.  It  was  to  prepare  a  home 
for  the  family  thus  left  without  support  that  our 
subject  struck  out  for  the  Far  West  when  he  bad 
just  attained  his  majority'.  A  neighbor,  Revile 
Beel)e,  had  emigrated  from  Vermont  in  1836,  and 
his  father,  Oliver  IJeebe,  soon  followed  him.  Thej^ 
located  in  Kankakee  County  and  were  much 
pleased  with  the  country.  Revilo  Beebe  wrote 
our  subject  a  glowing  account  of  this  section,  and 
it  was  largely  through  his  influence  that  Mr. 
Woodard  emigrated  from  the  Green  Mountain 
State  in  the  spring  of  1838.  lie  located  in  the 
Kankakee  Valley,  in  what  is  now  the  township  of 
Aroma.  On  his  trip  he  was  accompanied  by  two 
men,  Eber  Gleason  and  Lansing  Taylor.  The 
three  purchased  a  claim  of  a  man  who  had  origin- 
ally pre-empted  the  land.  This  tract  the  three 
22 


friends  divided,  each  taking  his  share.  In  June 
of  the  same  year  Mr.  Woodard  returned  to  his 
mother  and  her  family.  Six  of  her  children  came 
at  that  time  to  this  county,  the  others  coming 
later,  with  the  exception  of  the  eldest  sister,  who 
was  married  and  died  many  years  ago  in  New 
York,  leaving  a  family  of  six  children.  Mrs. 
Woodard  was  afterward  married  in  this  county  to 
Oliver  Beebe  and  lived  to  the  ageof  about  seventy 
years.  She  was  born  on  the  20th  of  May,  1792, 
and  her  death  occurred  December  23,  1862. 

Of  the  family',  which  consisted  of  nine  chil- 
dren, four  are  yet  living:  Edwin,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch;  jSIrs.  Catherine  Leonard,  who  was 
born  on  the  23d  of  March,  1817;  lienjaniin,  born 
August  17,  1822,  and  now  living  in  Hazel  (Treen, 
Iowa;  and  Cyrus,  born  ISIay  3,  1831,  and  now  re- 
siding in  Waldron,  this  count}-.  Those  deceased 
are  AmJ^  whose  birth  occurred  May  14,  1813,  and 
who  died  in  1861;  Harriet,  who  was  born  Jlay  11, 
1820,  and  died  JIarch  20,  18!)1;  Sylvia,  who  was 
born  April  21,  182.'),  and  departed  this  life  on  the 
nth  of  April,  1891;  Sallie,  born  April  11,  1828, 
and  who  died  many  years  ago;  Willard,  who  was 
born  on  the  23d  of  August,  1832,  and  was  killed 
at  the  liattle  of  Franklin,  December  16,  1864;  and 
Iliram,  who  was  born  August  31,  1834,  and  died 
December  25,  1837. 

On  the  8th  of  October,! 844,  occurred  the  marriage 
of  F^dwin  Woodard  and  Belinda  J.  Legg,  who 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky.  On  New  Year's  Day, 
1890,  our  subject  was  bereft  of  his  wife  after  thev 
had  traveled  the  journey  of  life  together  for  more 
than  forty-five  years.  They  had  no  children  of 
their  own,  but  reared  Lucy  Perry  from  the  time 
she  was  six  years  of  age.  She  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont, and  was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Abigail 
Perry.  In  1841,  her  family  removed  to  Michigan, 
where  the  father  died  in  the  fall  of  the  same  3'ear. 
In  1845  the  mother  with  her  seven  children  came 
to  this  ct)unty.  She  is  still  living,  having  attained 
the  advanced  age  of  eight3-four  years,  and  makes 
her  home  in  Aroma  Township,  Kankakee  Count}'. 
Four  of  her  children  still  survive.  When  but  six 
years  of  age  Lucy  was  adopted  by  INIr.  and  Mrs. 
Woodard.  On  the  1st  of  December,  1859,  she  be- 
came the  wife  of  Willard   A\'oodard,  who  entered 


476 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  army  in  the  VTnv  of  the  Reliellion  and,  as  al- 
ready stated,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Franklin. 
He  was  a  member  of  a  Minnesota  regiment,  as  at  the 
time  he  enlisted  he  was  living  in  Fillmore  Countj^  of 
that  State.  His  wife  had  but  one  brother,  Alden 
Perry,  who  enlisted  in  the  Seventy-sixth  Illinois  In- 
fantry, and  died  at  Mound  City,  III-,  while  return- 
ing home.  After  the  death  of  her  husband  Luc-y  re- 
turned to  the  home  of  her  foster  parents  and  she 
is  still  living  in  the  pleasant  home  of  our  subject  in 
Kankakee. 

"Mv.  AVoodard  of  this  sketch  was  for  many  years 
one  of  the  well-known  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of 
this  county.  He  continued  to  operate  his  farm 
until  186G,  at  which  time  he  removed  to  Kan- 
kakee; however,  he  still  carried  on  farming  for 
several  3'ears,  though  not  .actively  engaged,  as  an 
agriculturist  for  himself.  He  has  since  sold  his 
farm  propertj!^  and  in  his  declining  years  is  enjoy- 
ing the  reward  of  his  long  years  of  toil.  Among 
the  many  pioneers  and  early  settlers  of  this  county 
none  are  held  in  higher  regard  than  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  and  his  many 
friends  in  this  locality  will  be  pleased  to  read  this 
brief  account  of  so  worthy  a  citizen. 

Politically  he  was  a  Whig  until  the  rise  of  the 
Republican  party,  with  which  he  has  since  been 
identified.  His  first  Presidential  vote  was  cast  for 
William  H.  Harrison  in  1836  and  again  in  1840. 
His  last  Presidential  vote  was  given  for  Benjamin 
Harrison,  whom  he  has  also  supported  twice  for 
that  position. 


'^I^OIIN  JACKSON  owns  a  farm  on  section  19, 
Otto  Township,  and  came  to  this  county  in 
the  spring  of  1857.  He  was  born  in  Cam- 
bridgeshire, England,  on  the  7th  of  April, 
1826,  .and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Rebecca  (Tay- 
lor) Jackson,  both  natives  of  the  same  plaee.  They 
reared  their  family,  spent  their  entire  lives  and 
died  in  England. 

Our  subject  is  the  fifth  child  of   the  family  of 


ten  who  grew  to  maturity.  Two  of  this  number 
died  in  England  and  two  passed  away  in  this 
country.  The  boyhood  and  early  youth  of  our 
subject  were  passed  in  England,  where  his  school 
advantages  were  but  limited.  He  there  learned 
the  routine  duties  of  farm  life  and  was  early 
trained  as  an  agriculturist.  In  18.50,  taking  pas- 
sage in  a  ship  at  Liverpool  which  was  bound  for 
Boston,  he  emigrated  to  the  New  World.  Thirty 
d.ays  were  spent  in  crossing  the  Atlantic,  as  he  was 
on  board  a  sailing-vessel.  Arriving  in  Boston 
in  October  of  1850,  Mr.  J.acksou  immediately 
started  AVestward,  and  spent  about  four  years  in 
Medina  County,  Ohio.  He  afterward  removed  to 
Summit  County,  where  he  lived  for  the  three 
years  succeeding.  The  year  1857  witnessed  his 
arrival  in  Kankakee  County,  111.  He  first  located 
in  the  spring  of  that  year  in  TNIomence  Township, 
where  he  secured  work  of  the  farmers  for  about 
two  3ears.  He  was  frugal  and  industrious,  and 
with  his  carefully  saved  earnings  of  years  he  em- 
barked in  farming  for  himself.  He  first  rented  a 
farm  for  a  few  years,  and  in  Januar}',  1861,  lo- 
cated upon  the  land  wiiere  he  now  resides  and 
of  which  at  that  time  he  became  the  possessor, 
purchasing  in  company  with  his  brother  William 
a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  At  that 
time  Otto  Township  was  almost  a  wilderness,  and  | 
this  property  had  few  improvements  and  only  an  j 
old  house  upon  it.  In  this,  however,  he  and  his  I 
brother  made  their  home  for  a  number  of  3-ears. 
He  commenced  his  life  in  the  New  World  almost 
empty-handed,  and  by  the  labor,  enterprise  and 
well-directed  efforts  of  years,  has  now  a  good 
home  and  a  valuable  farm,  and  is  considered  one 
of  the  thrifty,  enterprising  and  progressive  farm- 
ers of  Otto  Township. 

Mr.  Jackson  was  united  in  marriage  on  the  9th 
of^June,  1852,  to  Miss  Rebecca  Taylor,  of  Medina 
County,  Ohio.  The  lady  is  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
Tajdor,  and  w.as  born  in  Cambridgeshire,  England. 
Our  worthy  subject  and  his  wife  are  the  parents 
of  seven  children.  Emeline  Antoinette  is  the  wife 
of  Hiram  King,  of  Onarga,  111.  William  Henry 
received  a  good  education  and  has  been  a  suc- 
cessful teacher.  lie  is  now  completing  a  course  of 
study  at  Valparaiso  (Ind.)  College.    John  Thomas 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


477 


is  a  farmer  bv  oecniiation,  and  is  now  engaged  in 
carrying  on  llie  home  place.  Tlie  remaining  mem- 
bers of  the  family,  Fraiiiv  Edward,  lihi  llhinelie, 
Amanda  Ethel  and  George  Kaymoud,  are  still  un- 
der the  parental  roof. 

Since  lieconiing  a  voter,  I\Ir.  .lackson  has  used 
his  right  of  franchise  in  favor  of  the  Democratic 
]iarty.  lie  has  never  longed  for  ollicial  recogni- 
tion, lull  has  served  his  fellow-citizens  in  several 
liH-al  iillires.  l'"or  a  number  of  terms  he  has  been 
a  member  of  the  School  Hoard,  and  in  him  the 
cause  of  education  llnds  a  warm  friend  and  stanch 
suppiutcr.  He  is  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this 
cc>unty,  having  made  his  home  here  for  a  period 
of  over  thirt} -live  years.  He  is  a  man  of  unblem- 
ished reputation  and  true  worth,  and  has  the  re- 
sjiect  and  esteem  of  all,  and  is  vvell  worthy  of 
lieing  represented  in  the  volume  which  records 
the  lives  of  man}'  of  the  pioneers  and  early  settlers 
of  Kankakee  County. 


h      ^?=^iEOr{GE  C.  SERGEANT  is  a  progressive  and 
flf  r^::^  practical  farmer    residing    on    section    34, 


G 


Sumner  Township.  He  is  a  native  of  Kala- 
mazoo County,  Mich.,  his  birth  liaving  occur- 
red on  the  3d  of  August,  18  40.  His  father, 
Campbell  Sergeant,  was  of  German  descent  and 
was  born  in  New  Jersey,  in  which  State,  on  arriv- 
ing at  maturity,  he  married  Mahala  Lewis.  He 
was  a  wagonmaker  by  trade  and  soon  after  his 
marriage  removed  to  Kalamazoo  County,  Mich. 
He  arrived  there  in  1836  and  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  what  was  then  a  wilderness.  He  located 
upon  land  within  two  miles  of  Kalamazoo,  which 
was  largel\-  timber.  Until  1850  he  engaged  in  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  and  while  in  Michigan  did  not 
work  at  his  trade.  In  1850,  Mr.  Sergeant  removed 
to  Chicago,  where  for  two  years  he  worked  as  a 
wagon-maker.  From  there  he  came  to  Kankakee 
County,  and  locating  in  Sumner  Township  pur- 
cha.sed  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  Govern- 
ment land  on  section  34,  for  which  he  paid  $1.25 
per  acre.     Through  thi.s  section  of  countr}' it  was 


only  open  and  unimproved  prairie.  As  there  was 
no  house  u|)on  the  farm,  he  erected  a  small  frame 
dwelling  and  here  he  lived  during  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  He  was  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church  and  in  that  faith  he  died  in 
185().  He  lies  buried  in  Mt)nience  Cemetery  and 
by  his  side  reposes  his  comp.inion  through  life, 
who  survived  her  husband  many  years,  her  death 
occurring  in  18!)0. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  a  lamily  of  ten  children, 
as  follows:  David, a  farmer  living  in  Davis  Count}', 
Mo.;  Charlotte,  whose  death  occurred  in  1847: 
George  C;  Eupheraia,  who  died  in  infancy;  Mil- 
ton and  Catherine,  who  were  both  called  to  tlieir 
final  home  in  1854;  Lewis,  who  resides  in  Kalama- 
zoo, Mich.;  Frederick,  who  is  a  farmer  of  Madison 
County,  Neb.;  Campbell,  also  an  agriculturist,  who 
carries  on  farming  in  I'helps  County,  Neb.;  and 
Henrietta,  wife  of  Robert  Gibson,  a  farmer  of  G^- 
nier  Township. 

The  early  years  of  George  Sergeant  were  passed 
in  the  wilderness  of  Kalamazoo  County,  the  place 
of  his  birth.  AVhcn  twelve  years  of  age  he  came 
with  his  parents  to  Kankakee  County,  which  has 
since  been  his  home.  He  was  early  trained  to  the 
life  of  a  farmer  and  has  followed  that  vocation  up 
to  the  present  time.  In  his  joulh  he  received 
such  education  as  was  then  imparted  in  the  dis- 
trict schools.  He  assisted  his  father  in  tlie  care  of 
his  new  farm  in  this  county  until  the  death  of  the 
latter,  after  which  he  took  charge  of  the  old  home- 
stead for  his  mother.  This  propertj'  now  belongs 
to  Mr.  Sergeant  and  on  it  he  erected  a  beauti- 
ful residence.  He  is  the  owner  of  three  hundred 
and  twenty-six  and  a-half  acres  of  desirable  and 
valuable  land,  where  he  is  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  stock-raising. 

October  8,  18G9,  Mr.  Sergeant  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Jennie  Hamilton,  whose  parents 
were  William  and  Elizabeth  (MeAvoy)  Hamilton. 
Mrs.  Sergeant  was  born  in  New  Brunswick,  Mo., 
March  5,  1841,  and  in  girlhood  moved  to  Wiscon- 
sin, later  to  Michigan,  and  thence  to  Kankakee 
County  in  1861.  I'nto  them  were  born  three  cliil- 
dreu,  who  reside  under  the  parental  roof,  Frank, 
Albert  and  Mabel. 

In  various  ollices.  Mr.  Sergeant  has  served  his 


478 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


friends  and  neighbors  to  their  full  satisfaction. 
He  is  alwa\'s  active  in  all  public  enterprises  and  is 
much  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the  Republican 
party,  to  which  he  gives  his  influence  and  for 
whose  nominees  he  casts  his  ballot.  Success  has 
attended  his  efforts  as  a  farmer  and  this  he  well 
deserved,  for  he  has  brought  to  bear  the  sterling 
qualities  of  perseverance,  ceaseless  labor  and  en- 
ergy. He  has  the  respect  of  all  who  know  him 
and  has  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintan- 
ces. 


AMDEL  BEEBE,a  retired  farmer,  is  one  of 
the  verj'  oldest  settlers  of  this  county,  and 
when  he  first  located  here  tliere  were  only 
one  or  two  families  between  Momence  and 
Chicago.  He  came  from  Vermont  with  his  parents 
in  1836  and  landed  in  what  is  now  called  Beebe's 
Grove.  His  birth  occurred  in  AVinhall, Bennington 
County .Vt.,  on  the  13th  of  January,  1824,  he  beinga 
son  of  Oliver  and  Nancy  (Mellen)  Beebe,  wlio  were 
both  natives  of  the  Green  Mountain  State.  Yevy 
little  is  known  of  the  grandparents,  but  it  is  cer- 
tain that  the  Beebes  were  originall}'  from  Wales. 
Both  of  the  grandfathers  attained  to  a  remarkable 
age.  Oliver  Beebe  was  a  hotel-keeper  in  Winliall 
and  also  did  farming  after  the  fashion  of  those 
early  days.  His  family  consisted  of  ten  children, 
three  sons  and  two  daughters  now  surviving,  as 
follows:  Julia,  Jane,  Daniel,  Samuel  and  John,  all 
of  whom  are  married  and  have  families. 

At  the  time  our  subject,  Samuel  Beebe,  came  to 
Illinois,  the  Indians  were  very  numerous,  but  were 
friendly  and  were  about  the  only  companions  of 
the  3'oung  lad.  The  country  was  very  wild,  wolves, 
deer  and  wild  game  of  all  kind  abounding.  Mr. 
Beebe  particularly  remembers  the  large  herd  of  deer 
which  roamed  over  the  prairies  and  he  has  seen  as 
many  as  three  hundred  in  one  herd.  The  family 
did  their  marketing  in  Chicago,  the  trip  requiring 
some  three  or  four  days.  There  were  no  school 
privileges  until  some  3'ears  later,  when  were  intro- 
duced select  and  afterward  district  schools.  The 
fiducational   advantages,  therefore,  of  our  subject 


in  early  life  were  veiy  meagre.     When  about  sev- 
enteen years  of  age  he  was  thrown  upon  his  ownj 
resources  to  make  his  waj'  in  the  world  as  best  h( 
could.     His  mother  also  died  a   few  jears  laterJ 
The  hardships  incident   to  pioneer   life   had  early] 
inured   him  to  an  endurance  and  hardiliood  un- 
known to  the  present  rising  generation,  and  withi 
brave    heart   and    willing    hands    he    worked    for] 
a  while  by  the  month  in  order  to  get  a  start.     He] 
then  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  for  which  hej 
paid  the  munificent  sum  of  ¥.59.     This  he  at  oncei 
began  to  improve,  and  as  time  went  b}^  and  he  waa 
able   to   accumulate   money   he    purchased    mon 
property. 

On   the  27th  of   February,   18,51,  occurred  tli« 
marriage    of    Samuel    Beebe     and     Miss    Laura 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Relief  (Barnes)    ChipmanI 
who  were  residents  of  Kankakee,  then  called  Wilj 
County,  as  early  as  1842,  and  were  also  natives 
Vermont.     Ten  children  graced  the  union  of   oul 
subject  and  his  wife,  seven  sons  and  three  daugW 
ters:  Albert,  Milan  (who  died  at  five  years  of  age) 
Charles,  Oscar,  Florence,    Bertha,  Elnora,  Franl 
(one   of   twins,  the   other  dying  in  Infancy),  an( 
Fred.     Albert  left  home  at  the  breaking  out  of  tl 
war  and  never  has  been  heard  from  since.     Charlt 
married    Miss   Nellie   Hayden,  of    Lake    Countj 
Ind.,  which  is  their  present  home.    They  have  thre 
children.  Flora,  Alice  and  Royal.    Oscar  died  whei 
a  young  man.     Florence  became  the  wife  of  Leon^ 
ard  Bradlej^  a  farmer  of  this  county,  and  to  them 
one  child  was  born,  wliich   is  now  deceased,  as  is 
also  its  mother,  who  died    in    1889.     About   two 
years  later  Bertha  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Bradley, 
who  now  carries  on  the  old  homestead  of  our  sub- 
ject, and  the}'  have  a  child,  Frank  Elwin. 

Mr.  Beebe  continued  farming  until  February, 
1892,  when  he  moved  to  Momence  and  occupies  a 
fine  residence  which  he  built  in  that  citj'.  He 
is  the  owner  of  over  eight  hundred  acres  of  land 
and  a  number  of  houses  in  the  town.  Though 
never  belonging  to  arij'  religious  denomination  or 
secret  society,  Mr.  Beebe  contributes  liberally  to 
the  support  of  churches  and  helped  in  the  build- 
ing of  the  new  Methodist  house  of  worship,  to 
which  his  wife  and  two  of  their  children  belong. 
Two   other   children    hold    membership    with  the 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


479 


Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Beebe  is  a  lo3'al  Republican 
liut  JKis  never  lield  or  aspired  to  official  positions. 
In  personal  appearance  lie  is  of  spare  build  but  of 
stronji'  constitution,  and  is  about  five  feet,  six 
inches  in  height.  Although  sixty-eight  years  of 
age  he  is  active  and  well  preserved  and  looks  many 
years  younger.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  Mo- 
nience  Townsliip  since  before  its  organization,  a 
l)eriod  of  fifty-six  years,  and  is  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  whom  tiie  present  generation  is  justly  proud 
to  have  in  tlieir  midst  as  an  example  of  wiiat  strong 
purpose  and    will    can    accomplish.     His   beloved 

I  companion  in  life  has  ever  been  a  true  helpmate, 
and  justi}-  shares  the  blessings  and  honors  which 

I    belong  to  her  worthy  husband. 


1^+^^ 


JSA.'VC  D.  AYRES,  an  enterprising  farmer  re- 
siding on  section  5,  is  one  of  the  representa- 
tive   citizens    of     Pilot    Township,    who    for 
twent^'-three  years  has  made  his  home  in  this  com- 
munity.    His  life  record  is  as  follows:     He  claims 
New  Jersey  as  the  State  of  his  nativity,  his  birth 
having  occurred   in   the   city  of  Newark,  on  the 
j  2Uth  of  August,   1855.     Tiirough  several  genera- 
I  tions  he  traces  his  ancestry  back  to  one  of  three 
I  brothers  of  English  birtii,  who  in   1630  left  their 
home  across  the  water  and  braved  the  dangers  of 
un  ocean  voyage  at  that  early  da}^  in  order  to  se- 
,  cure   a    home    in    the  New  World.     One  brother 
j  settled  in   New  Jersey,  another   in  Massachusetts, 
I  and  the  third   in    Virginia.     The  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  Daniel  Ayres,  was  born  in  New  Jer- 
sey, and   the  birtii   of    Alexis,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  occurred  in  that  State,  M.aj'  9,  1820.     The 
'former  was  a  carpenter  by   trade,  and  from  New- 
}  ark  he  moved  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  where   he   followed 
I  that  line  of  business  for  a  number  of  years. 
I      Alexis  Ayres  learned  the  printer's  trade,  which 
he  followed  tliroughout  his  entire  life.     In  Troy, 
N.  Y.,  lie  married  Harriet  A.  Risley,  a  native  of 
Augusta,  Oneida   County,  N.  Y.,  born  March   20, 
1823.     About   a   ^-ear   after    tlieir    marriage,  Mr. 
Ayres  removed  with  his  family   to  Newark,  N.  J. 


He  was  employed  as  a  printer  at  that  place  and 
also  in  New  York, and  was  em|)loyed  as  a  compos- 
itor by  Hor.ace  Greeley,  of  the  New  York  Trib- 
une Later  JMr.  Ayres,  in  company  with  a 
brotlier-in-law,  established  The  Mercury,  the  first 
daily  paper  iiublislied  in  Newark.  He  soon  after- 
ward sold  out,  however,  but  continued  to  work  in 
tiiat  line  of  business  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred February  23,  1801.  Jlrs.  Ayres  still  sur- 
vives her  husband,  and  is  vvith  an  aged  aunt  in 
Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  but  her  home  is  with  her 
son,  our  subject. 

Isaac  Ayres  is  the  3'ounger  of  two  sons.  His 
brotlier,  Albert  Alexis,  is  a  substantial  farmer  of 
Pilot  Township,  .and  is  well  known  in  this  county 
and  represented  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Isaac 
resided  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  until  1864,  and  in  his 
youth  obtained  a  good  English  education.  In 
that  3^ear  iiis  mother  removed  to  Lisbon,  Kendall 
County,  111.,  where  she  resided  for  about  five 
years.  With  her  family  she  then  came  to  Kanka- 
kee County,  and  in  18G9  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  in  Pilot  Townsliip,  the  same  on  which  our 
subject  now  resides.  Her  sons  immediately  began 
the  development  and  improvement  of  a  farm,  for 
at  that  time  there  were  only  slight  improvements 
upon  the  place.  As  the  \'ears  passed,  the  unculti- 
vated tract  was  transformed  into  rich  and  fertile 
fields  and  the  Ayres'  farm  is  now  known  as  one  of 
the  best  in  the  community.  It  is  pleasantl3'  lo- 
cated about  two  miles  soutli  of  Herscher,  and  is  a 
valu.able  and  desirable  property  of  eighty  acres. 

On  the  19th  of  September,  1880,  in  the  Ilulibard 
schooUiouse  of  Pilot  Township,  was  celebrated  the 
marri.age  of  Isaac  A3'res  and  Miss  Albertina  Olson. 
The  lady  was  born  in  Chicago,  III.,  November  20, 
1861,  and  the  da3's  of  her  girlhood  were  spent  in 
Pilot  Township.  She  is  a  daugliter  of  Albert  S.  and 
Alice  (Johnson)  Olson,  now  a  resident  of  Onarga, 
111.  Four  children  have  been  born  of  this  union, 
namely:  Alexis  M.,  Alice  L.,  IClmer  G.  and  Wil- 
lie II. 

Mr.  Aj'res  cast  his  first  I'residcntial  vote  for  U. 
B.  Hayes.  He  now  upholds  the  principles  of  the 
Prohibition  part3-,  but  is  not  strictly  partisan, 
holding  himself  free  to  support  the  candidates 
whom  he  thinks   best  qualified  for  the  offices.     He 


480 


POSTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  EECORDc 


bas  been  elected  to  several  local  offices  of  honor 
and  trust,  having  served  for  one  3'ear  as  Township 
Collector,  four  years  as  Township  Clerk,  and  is 
now  efficiently  serving  in  that  capacity.  His 
public  duties  have  ever  been  promptl}'  and  faith- 
fully performed,  and  he  is  recognized  as  a  valued 
citizen.  He  is  public-spirited  and  progressive, 
and  lakes  an  active  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to 
the  welfare  of  the  community.  For  several  years 
he  was  the  local  correspondent  for  the  Kankakee 
papers,  writing  under  the  nom.  lie  plume  of  "Jersey 
Blue."  Tlie  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a 
warm  friend,  and  for  a  number  of  years  lie  served 
as  School  Trustee.  Mr.  Ajues  is  a  good  farmer. 
Ever3thiug  about  his  place  is  neat  and  orderly, 
and  its  thrifty  appearance  indicates  an  important 
characteristic  of  the  owner.  During  the  long 
j-eavs  of  his  residence  in  Kankakee  County,  his 
life  has  been  such  that  he  lias  won  the  esteem  and 
confidence  of  all  with  whom  business  or  social  re- 
lations have  brought  him  in  contact. 

Socially,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ayres  were  members  of 
the  Good  Templar  lodge.  He  was  a  charter 
member  of  "The  Orient,"  the  first  Good  Templar 
lodge  in  Pilot  Township.  Mr.  Ayies  is  a  charter 
member  of  Herscher  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,at  Ilerscher. 
111.,  which  numbers  about  tvventj'-six  initiated 
members,  and  was  organized  in  May,  189.3.  Mrs. 
A3-res  is  a  member  of  the  Woman's  Chiistian  Tem- 
perance Union. 


/^  ♦^•J'SS* 


i"  NTHONY  STYLES  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  in  Ganier  Town- 
li  ship.  He  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State, 
where  his  birth  oecurredin  Ulster  County, 
on  the  13th  of  April,'  1819.  His  father,  Samuel 
Stjies,  was  a  native  of  the  same  place,  and  of 
English  extraction.  When  he  arrived  at  man's 
estate,  he  wedded  Hannah  Houghtling,  and  to 
them  weie  born  ten  children:  Sarah  M.,  Lizzie, 
Anthon}',  Edward,  .Jane,  Alfred,  Benjamin,  Ger- 
trude, Charles,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 


Our  subject  received  good  common-school  ad- 
vantages, and  when  but  sixteen  years  of  age 
served  an  apprenticeship  to  the  harness-maker's 
trade.  This  occupation  he  followed  almost  con- 
tinuously until  1848.  In  the  year  1814,  Mr. 
Styles  went  to  Kalamazoo  Count3',  Mich.,  whcie  he 
remained  for  the  succeeding  nine  3ears.  In  the 
year  1853.  he  first  became  a  resident  of  Kankakee 
County,  where  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  partly 
improved  land  011  section  12,  Ganeer  Township. 
From  time  to  time  as  his  financial  resources  jier- 
mitted,  Mr.  Styles  added  to  his  original  iiurchase, 
until  at  the  present  time  he  owns  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is  in  Ganier 
Township,  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and 
is  valuable  property.  He  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising,  and  his  farm  shows  the  care- 
ful and  constant  supervision  of  the  owner. 

On  the  26th  of  Juh',  1846,  occurred  the  wed- 
ding of  Jlr.  Styles  and  Miss  Janette  Stuart,  and  by 
this  marriage  eleven  children  were  born:  Elizabeth, 
Alfred,  Janette,  Eleanor,  Alice,  Edward,  Charles, 
Hannah,  David,  William  and  George;  of  these 
three  died — Hannah,  Eleanor  and  William.  Eliza- 
beth is  the  wife  of  James  K.  Ralim,  of  Centrulia, 
111.;  Alfred  is  a  farmer  of  Ganier  Township;  Jan- 
ette is  the  wife  of  H.  C.  Paddock,  a  newspaper 
publisher  of  Libertyville,  111.;  Alice  is  at  home; 
Edward  is  a  train  dispatcher  at  Bloomington; 
Charles  is  a  locomotive  engineer  of  Centralia,  111.; 
David  is  a  leading  hardware  merchant  of  Momence; 
and  George  is  at  home. 

Our  subject  has  served  his  count3'  and  town- 
ship in  various  official  capacities  in  a  most  accept, 
able  and  efficient  manner,  having  at  various  times 
been  Poor  Master,  School  Commissioner,  Pathmas- 
ter  and  School  Director.  In  1844  Mr.  Styles 
united  with  the  Presb3terian  Church,  with  which 
he  was  identified  until  1891,  when,  there  being  no 
church  of  his  choice  near  bv,  he  united  with  the 
Methodist  Church,  ever  taking  an  active  part  in 
its  work.  He  uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  favor 
of  the  Republican  part3-,  and  alwa3's  assists  in  all 
worthy  enterprises  tending  to  the  advancement 
and  best  interests  of  his  fellow-citizens.  Mrs. 
St3ies  was  called  to  the  home  beyond  on  the  28th 
of  January,  1892.     She  was  a  consistent  Christianj, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORb. 


481 


being  identified  from  1844  until  her  death  with 
the  same  church  (H-i,'anization  as  was  her  husband. 
Her  remains  are  interred  in  the  Momence  Ceme- 
teiy,  and  many  friends  m<nirn  her  loss. 


'♦•{••{••J-F 


eHAR].ES  S.  M.KICHOLS,  editor  of  the 
Jlomence  Press,  was  born  in  Belmont 
County,  Oliio,  near  Barnesville,  on  the  lath 
of  October.  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Re- 
becca (Kirbj-)  ^McNichols.  The  father  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  origin  and  a  native  of  Virginia,  while  the 
mother  was  of  Englisli  descent  and  born  in  Ohio. 
The  father  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being 
Miss  Martha  Williams,  also  a  native  of  Oliio,  and 
unto  them  were  born  nine  children,  eight  of  whom 
are  still  living:  John,  Thomas,  George,  Cyrus, 
Martha,  Mary,  Ruth  and  Esther.  About  the  j-ear 
18.j0  the  mother  of  these  children  (iied,  and  five 
years  later  Mr.  McN'iehols  married  Miss  Rebecca, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Rebecca  (Bigelow) 
Ivirby,  by  which  uniou  were  born  four  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  and  Elizabeth 
departed  this  life  in  Plaiufield,  Ind.,  when  about 
twenty  years  of  age.  Charles  S.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  the  j'oungest  of  the  family. 

The  father  of  our  suliject  was  an  extensive  and 
successful  farmer.  Wlien  quite  a  young  man  he 
left  the  old  homestead  in  Virginia  and  staited  out 
in  the  world  for  himself.  Traveling  AVestward, 
he  located  in  Belmont  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
purchased  a  farm,  to  which  at  various  times  he 
added  additional  land  until  shortly  before  he  left' 
there,  in  June,  1863,  he  was  the  owner  of  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  fine  farming  land.  He 
w.as  one  of  the  Directors  of  tlic  Ohio  Central  Rail- 
road. In  the  year  mentioned  he  sold  his  property 
in  Ohio,  and,  removing  to  Indiana,  bought  land  in 
three  or  four  different  counties,  but  finally  located 
near  Monrovia,  in  Morgan  County.  lie  lived 
there,  however,  scarcely  two  years,  as  his  death 
occurred  in  18()5,  when  he  liad  attained  nearly  the 
age  of  sixty-five  j-ears.  His  wife  survived  him 
until  1883,  when  slie  was  called  from   this  life  at 


tlie  liome  of  her  son  Charles  at  West  Liberty, 
Iowa.  Her  father  was  descended  from  (Quakers, 
and  her  maternal  grandfather  conducted  the  re- 
treat from  Quebec  at  the  time  Montgomery  was 
wounded  and  defeated.  The  paternal  grandfather 
of  our  subject  was  a  Philadelphia  merchant  and  a 
valiant  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  early  boyhood  days  of  Charles  S.  McNich- 
ols  were  passed  upon  his  father's  farm  in  the  usual 
routine  of  a  farmer  lad's  life.  When  about  ten 
years  of  age  he  went  into  town  and  attended 
school  for  several  years  in  Plainfield,  Ind.,  receiv- 
ing his  education  principally  there.  He  also  had 
the  advantage  of  higher  schooling  in  tiie  Central 
Academy  and  Asbury  University  at  Greencastle, 
Ind.,  which  is  now  well  known  as  De  Pauw  Uni- 
versity. When  in  his  early  teens,  he  decided  to 
adopt  the  printing  business  as  his  sphere  in  life, 
and  when  sixteen  years  of  age  he  became  the 
owner  of  an  interest  in  the  printing-office  in 
IMooresville,  Ind.,  and  commenced  learning  the 
trade.  This  business  he  sold  before  entering  the 
college  at  Greencastle,  but  after  his  studies  at  the 
university  were  completed,  he  worked  at  the  prin- 
ter's trade  in  Brazil  and  Indianapolis,  after  which 
he  established  a  paper  at  Plainfield,  which  he  pub- 
lished for  some  time  successfully.  He  next  taught 
school  for  some  terras,  when,  going  to  Iowa,  he  pub- 
lished a  paper  and  later  was  on  the  editorial  staff 
of  the  Prairie  Fanner,  and  was  also  reporter  for 
the  Herald  and  Lite)-  Ocean  of  Chicago,  and  did 
special  writing  for  the  Tribune  of  that  city. 

On  New  Year's  Day  of  1880,  occurred  the  wed- 
ding of  Mr.  McNichols  and  Miss  Louise,  daugh- 
ter of  Joshua  Chandler,  of  Blooraington,  Ind.  On 
the  7th  of  June,  1881,  our  subject  was  called  upon 
to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  passed  aw.ay  at 
her  home  near  Monrovia,  Ind.  On  the  8th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1892,  Jlr.  McXichols  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Jliss  Emma  Dobbs,  who  is  a  daughter  of  An- 
drew and  Elizabeth  (Longstreth)  Dobbs,  of  Cres- 
ton,Iowa.  Mrs.  McNichols  is  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  February,  1887,  Mr.  McNichols  came  to  Mo- 
mence and  took  charge  of  the  Reporter  office,  re- 
maining here  until  June,  1891,  when  he  purchased 
the  Island   Park  Nevs  and  changed   its  name  to 


482 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  Momence  Press,  wliich  lie  is  still  publishing 
with  good  success,  being  its  editor  and  proprietor. 
This  paper  is  well  conducted,  and  merits  the  pat- 
ronage which  it  has  secured  bj'  its  reliable  news 
and  well-written  editorials.  Mr.  McNichols  was 
the  originator  and  prime  mover  in  the  work  of 
building  the  hay  palace  which  was  exhibited  in 
Momence  in  the  >ears  1890-91,  and  which  was  at- 
tended b}'  at  least  forty  thousand  people  each 
year,  it  being  one  of  tiie  achievements  of  which 
Momence  is  justl3-  proud.  He  was  also  the  organ- 
izer of  the  Momence  Building  and  Loan  Associa- 
tion, and  did  much  to  promote  its  interests.  He 
is  a  stanch  Republican  in  his  political  affiliations, 
and  was  the  tirst  Secretary  of  the  Republican  State 
Press  Association.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias.  Well  fitted  by  educa- 
tional advantages  and  experience  for  journalistic 
work,  genial  and  full  of  enterprise,  Mr.  McNichols 
has  won  a  deserved  popularity  both  as  a  news- 
paper man  and  as  a  citizen. 


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CQv— 


<:«!  felLLIAM  ASTLE,  a  hardware  merchant,  a 
\/\/ll  nicmber  of  the  firm  of  Astle  &  Son,  is  one 
WW  of  the  old  settlers  and  substantial  citizens 
of  Momence,  having  resided  here  for  thirty-two 
years,  during  which  time  he  has  always  taken  a 
livelj'  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  place,  being 
one  of  its  enterprising  and  public-spirited  citizens. 
Mr.  Astle  is  a  native  of  Derby,  England,  where 
he  was  born  November  28,  1823,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Catherine  (Fearn)  Astle,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Nottinghamshire,  England.  The 
paternal  grandfather  was  a  machinist,  who  followed 
blacksmithing  for  many  years,  and  lived  to  an  ad- 
vanced age.  The  mother's  father,  Robert  Fearn, 
was  one  of  the  extensive  hop-growers  in  England, 
which  business  is  one  of  the  largest  industries  of 
that  countr}'.  Seven  children  were  born  to  John 
and  Catherine  Astle,  three  of  whom  are  now  living: 
William,  George  and  Betsy,  the  two  last  named 
being  still  residents  of  Derby,  England,  where  the 
mother  died  in  1860,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years. 


Her  husband  died  in  1883,  being  eighty-two  years 
old  at  the  time  of  his  death.  During  his  life  he 
followed  the  occupation  of  a  machinist,  was  an 
honest  and  industrious  man,  and  by  his  upright 
life  won  the  esteem  of  all. 

The  boyhood  da3's  of  our  subject  were  passed 
in  his  native  land,  where  he   received  fair  educa- 
tional  privileges.     Wben   young   he   learned   the 
coppersmith's  trade,  which  vocation  he  followed 
until   coming    to    America.     The  year    1857   wit-j 
nessed  his  arrival  in  the  New  World,  and  with  hisj 
family  he  located  in  Chicago,  arriving  there  in  Oc-1 
tobcr  of  that  year,  where  they  made  their  home] 
until  1859,  when,  coming  to  Momence,  Mr.  Astle] 
entered  the  employ  of  M.  A.  Atherton,a  hardware] 
merchant,  and  remained  with  him  for  about  four! 
years.     Afterwards  he  worked  for  W.  H.  Patterson,! 
in  the  same  line  of  business,  which  he  managed  fori 
him  until  1870,  when  his  employer  died.     Mr.  As-1 
tie  then  decided  to  embark  in  business  for  himself,! 
and,   forming    a    partnership    with    F.    Scramlin,! 
opened  a  hardware  store  with  an   entirely   newj 
stock  of  goods.     Th'ey  also   purchased   the  stock! 
formerly  owned  by  Mr.  Patterson  on  River  Street,! 
and  opened  their  business  in  the  rooms  now  occu-| 
pied  by  Mr.  Astle.     Mr.  Scramlin  retired  from  the 
firm  in  1880.     In  May,  1891,  our  subject  associatedJ 
with  him  his  grandsort,  Charles  B.,  and  the  firm  is! 
now  known  as  Astle  &  Son.     They  handle  all  kinds 
of  shelf  and   heavy  hardware,  and   also   do  tin- 
smithing. 

On  the  3d  of  May,  1844,  AVilliam  Astle  wasl 
married  to  Miss  Ellen  Heath,  daughter  of  WilliamJ 
and  Anna  Heath,  who  lived  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Chesterfield,  England.  Seven  children  graccdl 
the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Astle,  four  of  whom  were| 
sons  and  are  now  deceased.  Emil^'  and  Kate  were 
born  in  England,  and  F^lla  in  America. 

Mr.  Astle  was  a  member  of  the  Village  Board  olj 
Trustees  before  the  city  organization,  was  its  Presi- 
dent   for  several   terms,  and  has   also  served  asl 
School   Trustee.      He  and  his  estimable  wife  are! 
members  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he  wasl 
Senior  Warden   for  a   number  of  3'ears,   and    was 
also  chairman  of  the  building   committee  at    the 
time  the   new  church   was  erected.     He  uses   his 
right  of  franchise  in  favor  of  the'Republicau  party, 


Y 
^r   [HE 
U.:ivL.'.iiiY  OF  ILLiraiS 


(yt^rlk^'t^2^%-i^ 


J'-^T-T^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


485 


hut  has  no  aspiration  to  political  or  otticial  honors, 
lie  is  a  nicmlicr  of  Monient'e  Lodge  No.  481,  A.  F. 
ii;  A.  M.,  having-  united  with  that  order  in  1867. 
He  is  also  an  Odd  Fellow,  to  wliith  society  he  be- 
longed in  England,  and  is  to-day  the  oldest  living 
member  of  his  home  lodge.  j\Ir.  Astle  has  always 
been  an  industrious  man,  and  has  accumulated  his 
property  by  his  perseverance,  fiugality  and  correct 
business  methods.  In  addition  to  his  store  he 
owns  a  good  Lome  and  a  number  of  lots  in  Mo- 
mencc.  Although  sixty-nine  years  of  age,  he  has 
the  appearance  of  a  much  younger  man,  and  is 
still  actively  engaged  in  business. 


RTIH'R  J.  BYRNS,    .Sheriff  of   Kankakee 
County,  is  a  native  of  this  country  and  was 
born  in  what  is  now  Aroma  Township,  Kan- 
^1  kakee    County,    but     was    then    Iroquois 

Count3-,on  the  .5th  of  August,  1852.  His  parents, 
James  and  Mary  A.  (Dille)  Byrns,  were  early  pio- 
neers of  this  section,  of  whom  see  sketch  elsewhere 
in  this  work.  Our  subject  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  was  reared  upon  a  farm. 

On  the  12th  of  July,  1871,  when  nineteen  years 
of  age,  Mr.  Byrns  enlisted  in  the  United  States 
regular  army  as  a  private  in  Company  D,  Seventh 
United  States  Infantry,  and  w.is  assigned  to  dut3' 
in  the  Department  of  the  West  among  the  Indians. 
Ele  helped  to  survey  the  Beaufort  and  National 
Indian  Reservations  and  was  in  several  skirmishes  I 
with  the  hostiles.  On  one  occasion,  while  on  ve-  | 
dette,  he  was  slightly  wounded  by  a  gunshot 
from  an  Indian.  His  father  was  much  dissatisfied 
with  his  son's  action  in  becoming  a  soldier  in  the 
regular  army  and  through  the  influence  of  Senator 
John  A.  Logan  secured  his  discharge  December  27, 
1872,  by  a  special  order  of  the  War  Department. 

On  his  return  from  the  army,  Mr.  Byrns  taught 
school  in  the  country,  his  experience  as  a  teacher 
covering  four  terms  of  summer  school  and  eighteen 
winter  terras,  he  being  employed  in  but  four  differ- 
ent districts.    He  is  the  owner  of  a  farm  consisting 


of  one  hundred  and  twenty'  acres,  wh.ich  is  a  por- 
tion of  the  old  homestead  in  Aroma  Township 
where  he  was  born. 

Our  subject  is  a  Republican  in  jiolitics  and  has 
lilled  various  oflicial  positions  of  honor  and  trust. 
He  was  elected  Supervisor  of  his  township  and  re- 
elected without  opposition,  representing  the  same 
in  the  County  Board  until  elected  Sheriff  in  the 
fall  of  1890,  when  he  resigned  the  ofHce  of  Super- 
visor and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  present 
oMice  December  1,  1800.  lie  is  now  serving  his 
second  year  .as  Sheriff  and  has  proved  a  very  com- 
petent and  faithful  officer.  Mr.  Byrns'  family 
has  been  pretty  well  represented  in  the  Sheriff's 
office  at  Kankakee  County.  His  ihicle,  George 
Byrns,  was  the  first  Sheriff  of  the  county,  in  1853, 
and  was  succeeded  by  James  Byrns,  the  present 
Sheriff's  father. 

In  Aroma  Township,  on  the  27th  of  December, 
1881,  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Byrns  and  Miss 
Clara  L.  Kent,  who  w.as  born  in  Aroma  Township 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Ilenr^  and  Christina  Kent, 
who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  this  county. 
To  our  worthy  subject  and  his  wife  has  been  born 
one  child,  Roseoe  A.,  whose  birth  occurred  June  7, 
1885. 


-^^.l 


|S> 


'B 


l^M- 


-j^,,  LFRED  FARR  owns  .and  operates  a  farm 
m/JV    on  section  28,  Ganier  Township,  and  has 
been  a  resident   here  for  fort3--one  years. 
_  He  is  of  English  birth,  being  a  native  of 

Worcestershire,  where  he  was  born  on  the  18th  of 
May,  1820.  His  parents,  Thomasand  Ann  ((Jreen) 
Farr,  were  natives  of  the  same  country,  and  the 
father  was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  Their  family  con- 
sisted of  fourteen  children,  of  whom  our  sub- 
ject was  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth.  The  father 
died  in  1870,  and  his  wife  in  1887. 

Our  subject  was  born  and  reared  upon  a  farm 
and  is  mostly  self-educated.  When  a  lad  he  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade  of  his  father,  but  determined 
to  seek  his  fortune  in  America,  believing  that  the 
New  World  afforded  wider  opportunities  than  his 
native  land.     When  eighteen  years  of  age  he  left 


486 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


home  and  started  to  make  liis  way  in  the  world. 
In  the  year  1839  he  embarked  on  the  sailing-vessel 
"Josephine,"  and  for  sis  weeks  was  upon  the  bosom 
of  the  broad  Atlantic.  For  a  short  time  after  his 
arrival  he  remained  in  New  York  City,  but  soon 
went  to  E^ast  Troy,-N.  Y.,  where  he  obtained  work 
on  a  canal.  lie  resided  in  that  State  for  about 
three  3'ears,  at  tlie  expiration  of  which  time  he 
went  to  Elkhart,  Ind.,  where  he  worked  in  a  pot- 
tery for  about  two  3'ears.  For  tlie  succeeding  three 
years  he  carried  on  a  pottery  of  his  own.  Having 
resolved  to  abandon  that  line  of  business,  he  de- 
cided to  become  a  farmer,  and  for  some  lime  rented 
and  operated  a  farm  in  Indiana.  In  1852,  Mr. 
Farr  proceeded  b}^  team  to  what  is  now  Kankakee 
and  became  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
.acres  situated  on  section  28,  Ganier  Township. 
This  farm  was  but  little  improved,  onlj'  ten  acres  of 
it  being  broken.  There  was  a  small  frame  dwelling 
on  the  place,  which  bore  little  resemblance  to  tlie 
well-cultivated  and  thrifty  farm  which  its  owner 
has  developed  from  the  wilderness  of  former  3-ears. 
From  time  to  time  Mr.  Farr  made  additions  to  his 
original  purchase  until  he  now  is  the  possessor  of 
three  hundred  acres,  all  well  improved  and  valuable 
land,  where  he  is  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock-raising. 

Mr.  Farr  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mar- 
gery Rush  on  the  4th  of  June,  1846.  The  lady 
was  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  consist- 
ing of  ten  children,  whose  parents  were  Jesse  and 
Mary  (Sumption)  Rush.  Her  birth  occurred  on 
the  16th  of  May,  1828.  in  Elkhart,  Ind.  Eleven 
children  have  been  born  to  our  subject  and  his 
wife,  of  whom  seven  are  still  living.  Caroline,  wife 
of  Johnson  Brown,  resides  in  Iowa;  Thomas  and 
Mary,  twins,  died  in  infanc3';  Maiy  A.  departed 
this  life  ill  1878;  Ella  is  at  home;  Francis  W.,twin 
brother  of  Ella,  died  aged  eleven  and  a-half  mouths; 
Willis  A.  is  a  farmer  of  Aroma  Township;  Janet 
resides  at  home;  Man  is  G.  is  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation; Strickland  resides  at  home;  and  M3'ra, 
the  youngest  of  the  family,  died  when  seven  3'ears 
and  two  months  old. 

Mrs.  Farr  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Farr  in  politics  is  a 
Republican  and  has  held  various  local  positions  of 


honor  and  trust.  He  has  taken  an  active  part  in 
educational  matters,  being  a  stanch  supporter  of 
our  public  school  system,  and  has  been  both  School 
Director  and  School  Trustee  at  various  times.  He 
has  been  a  witness  of,  and  participated  in,  the  pro- 
gress of  this  section.  At  the  time  of  his  arrival  in 
this  county,  the  Indians  were  frequently  to  be  seen 
and  wild  game  w.as  plentiful.  Their  trading-post 
was  Chicago,  to  which  cit3'  Mr.  Farr  hauled  all  his 
grain  and  pork  as  the  nearest  market  for  his  pro- 
duct. As  a  pioneer  he  has  been  an  important 
factor  in  the  development  of  this  locality,  and  it  is 
with  pleasure  that  we  record  this  brief  history  of 
so  worthv  a  man. 


I 


€^ 


LONZO  CURTIS  is  a  prominent  citizen 
and  the  leading  business  man  of  Grant 
Park,  Kankakee  County.  He  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  place  from  the  time  it  was 
started,  and  it  is  conceded  that  in  its  growth  and 
development  he  has  done  more  than  any  other  one 
man.  He  is  the  owner  of  the  large  tile  factory  an<l 
is  proprietor  of  the  largest  general  store  in  the 
town.  He  also  owns  and  carries  on  the  reliable 
and  well-known  Grant  Park  Bank. 

Mr.  Curtis  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  W.ashington  County  on 
the  19th  of  April,  1831.  He  is  the  sixth  in  order 
of  birth  in  a  family  of  ten  children,  five  sons  and 
five  daughters,  who  were  born  to  Solomon  and 
Pliwbe  (Slocum)  Curtis.  The  father  was  born  in 
Washington  County,  N.  Y.,  November  14,  1796, 
and  by  occupation  was  a  farmer.  Emigrating  to 
Illinois  .about  1854,  he  lived  upon  a  farm  in  Yel- 
lowhead  Township,  this  county.  Some  two  years 
later  he  removed  to  Momence,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred on  the  24th  of  June,  1865. 

After  coming  to  this  State,  Mr.  Curtis  engaged 
in  the  loan  business.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  of 
the  Baptist  faith.  Politically,  he  was  a  Whig  and 
subsequently  a  Republican,  but  had  no  official 
aspirations,  preferring  to  devote  himself  to  personal 
business.    His  great-grandfather,  John  Curtis,  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


•187 


i-randfather,  Comfort  Curtis,  emigrated  to  New 
Vorlc,  later  settling'  in  Ibe  house  where  oursuhjeet 
and  his  father  were  born.  Comfort  Curtis,  who  w.as 
born  in  Feliruarv,  174li,  married  Rachel  Chase, 
whose  birth  oeeurred  ?\!bruar\-  5,  175(5.  The  old 
Curtis  homestead  is  situated  in  the  southern  ))art  of 
Wiishington  County,  at  the  terminus  of  tlie  Adiron- 
il.aek  Mountains,  where  the  battle  of  Hennington 
was  fought.  This  Revolutionary  battle  was  reall}^ 
fought  in  New  York  and  not  in  Vermont,  as  is  us- 
ually stated. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  of  Seoteh  and 
English  extraction,  being  also  a  native  of  W.ash- 
ington  County,  where  she  was  born  May  2,  1801. 
Her  death  occurred  February  20,  1885,  at  her  home 
in  Grant  Park.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Elijah  and 
Hannah  (Preston)  .Slocum,  who  were  natives  re- 
sijectivel}-  of  Dutchess  and  Washington  Counties, 
N.  Y.  Hannah  Preston's  father  with  three  hundred 
soldiers  was  taken  prisoner  near  Albany,  N.  Y., 
during  the  Revolutionary  War  and  imprisoned  in 
a  church,  which  the  British  burned  with  all  the  men. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  Alonzo  Curtis  were 
passed  on  his  father's  farm  in  New  Y'ork,  where  he 
received  a  good  common-school  education.  On 
arriving  at  his  majority  in  1852,  he  determined  to 
seek  his  fortune  in  the  West,  and  .accordingly  came 
to  Illinois.  After  prospecting  considerably  he  de- 
cided to  locate  in  what  is  now  Kankakee  County 
hat  w.as  then  Will  County^ and  purchased  a  farm 
of  wild  prairie  land  in  Y'ellowhead  Township.  To 
its  improvement  he  devoted  himself  with  charac- 
teristic energy  and  remained  upon  it  for  about  ten 
}-cars.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  decided 
to  turn  his  attention  to  mercantile  life,  and  leaving 
the  farm  went  to  Grant  Park,  where  he  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  successfully  conducted  a  large  grain 
business. 

On  the  11th  of  November,  1864,  Mr.  Curtis  and 
Miss  Elizabeth  Campbell  were  united  in  marri.age. 
The  lady  is  a  daughter  of  .James  and  Priscilla 
(.Mick)  Cami)l)ell,  who  were  among  the  honored  lirst 
settlers  of  this  locality.  Four  children,  all  sons, 
have  graced  the  union  of  Mv.  and  Mrs.  Curtis:  hW- 
erel  C.,  the  eldest,  who  was  educated  at  Kvanston 
and  in  De  Pauw  University,  is  cashier  in  his  father's 
bank  at  Grant  I'ark,  and  is  one  of  the  wide-awake 


and  enterprising  young  business  men  of  the  town; 
Ernest  A.,  educated  at  De  Pauw,  is  also  i)rominent 
in  business  circles  and  is  manager  of  his  father's 
general  store;  Willis  C.  is  a  student  in  the  North- 
western University  at  Kvanston,  III.;  and  Vernon 
S.,  who  completes  the  family,  lives  at  home  with 
his  parents. 

In  his  [jolitical  views,  Mr.  Curtis  is  a  stanch  Re- 
publican and  uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  favor  of 
the  nominees  and  principles  of  that  part^'.  He 
holds  membership  with  Grant  Park  Lodge  No. 
740,  A.  F.  &  A  M..  of  Gr.ant  Park.  For  two  terms 
he  has  represented  his  township  as  Supervisor  and 
for  twenty  years  has  made  a  most  eflicient  and 
trustworthy  Justice  of  the  Peace,  being  elected  to 
that  position  term  after  term.  'I'hough  not  a  mem- 
ber of  any  religious  denomination,  Mr.  Curtis  con- 
tributes liberally  of  his  means  to  the  support  of 
the  Methodist  Church,  of  which  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren are  all  members.  Coming  to  this  count}'  a 
poor  boy,  entirely  without  capital,  he  has  made  for 
himself  an  enviable  reputation  and  by  well-directed 
efforts  and  business  abilit}'  has  reached  a  position 
among  the  wealthiest  and  most  influential  men  in 
I  the  county,  having  the  respect  of  all  with  whom 
he  h.as  come  in  contact. 


injY.ARTLEY    Y.  REINS  owns  and  operates  a 

1^^^  farm  of  eighty  acres  situated  on  section  10, 

Ganier  Township,  where  he  has  lived   for 


over  twenty  years.  He  was  born  in  (iray- 
son  County,  Va.,  on  the  15th  of  September,  1820, 
and  is  a  son  of  ,]ohn  M.  Reins,  a  native  of  North 
Carolina  and  of  (Jerinan  descent,  who  married  in 
early  manhood  Lueretia  Ilogan,  a  lad}'  of  .Scotch 
ancestry.  Nine  children  were  born  to  them:  Mary, 
who  died  in  1827;  Annie,  who  died  in  1850; 
William,  now  living  in  Montana;  Powell,  residing 
in  Marion  County,  Iowa,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
carrying  on  a  farm;  F'ranklin,  who  departed  this 
life  in  1863;  ,Iohn,  a  farmer  of  Iowa;  our  subject, 
who  is  next  in  tu-der  of  birth;  Armstead,  who  died 


488 


POxiTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  1856;  and  Tliomas,  who  is  tlie  youngest  of  the 
family.  The  father  of  this  family,  who  was  a 
farmer  ijy  occupation,  was  called  from  liis  labors 
in  this  life  in  1832.  His  wife  survived  him  for 
several  3^ears  and  passed  away  in  1850. 

Bartley  Y.  Reins,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  and  reared  upon  a  farm.  He  attended  the 
subscription  schools  in  the  neighborhood  of  his 
home,  as  at  that  time  and  in  that  locality  the  pub- 
lic school  was  a  tiling  of  the  future.  Until  fifteen 
years  of  age  he  attended  these  schools  a  portion 
of  the  time  only,  and  as  his  father  died  when  he 
was  but  twelve  years  of  age,  he  was  largely  thrown 
upon  his  own  resources  when  quite  a  lad.  He  re- 
mained at  home  with  his  mother  until  sixteen 
j-ears  of  age,  when  he  started  out  in  the  -world  to 
carve  liis  own  way  and  fortune.  He  commenced 
working  on  a  farm  for  16  per  month,  and  worked 
for  farmers  for  the  succeeding  three  years.  The 
largest  wages  that  he  received  at  any  one  time 
during  this  period  were  $10  per  month.  He  then 
concluded  to  become  a  carpenter,  and  worked  at 
that  line  of  occupation  for  another  three  years. 
He  remained  in  Virginia  until  1842,  when  he  emi- 
grated AVestward  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Edgar 
County,  where  for  two  years  he  worked  at  his 
trade  and  also  upon  a  farm.  During  that  time 
Mr.  Reins  was  somewhat  of  a  traveler,  making 
three  trips  to  New  Orleans  by  flatboat,  in  order  to 
see  something  of  the  country  in  which  he  dwelt. 

The  year  1844  witnessed  the  arrival  of  our  sub- 
ject in  what  is  now  Kankakee  County.  He  first 
located  in  YelLowhead  Township,  where  he  rented 
land  for  seven  vears  and  devoted  himself  to  till- 
ing the  soil.  He  then  moved  to  Jasper  County, 
near  Newton,  111.,  where  he  became  the  owner  of  a 
two  hundred  and  forty-five  acre  farm,  which  he 
purchased  of  the  Government.  Upon  that  place 
he  lived  and  engaged  in  its  improvement  until 
1859,  when  he  again  returned  to  Kankakee  County, 
purchasing  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  of  land, 
situated  in  Yellowhead  Township.  This  was  his 
home  until  1866,  when  he  sold  that  farm  and  pur- 
chased a  place  of  eighty  .acres  on  section  10,  Ganier 
Township.  On  this  he  lived  till  early  in  1893, 
when  he  sold  out  to  remove  to  Momence. 

On  the  24th  of  July,  1845,  Mr.  Reins  was  united 


in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Ruth  M.  Bradley,  who  was 
the  widow  of  John  Bradley,  and  is  the  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Ella  (Hopkins)  Patrick.  Four 
children  have  been  born  of  this  union.  Ellen  is 
the  wife  of  Dr.  H.  M.  Keyser,  a  physician  of  Mo- 
mence; Emil}'  liecame  the  wife  of  Somers  Rowell, 
and  is  now  teaching  in  the  missionary  schools  at 
Ft.  Berthold  in  North  Dakota;  Augustus  is  a 
farmer  of  Shelfjy  County,  Iowa;  and  Henry  is  en- 
gaged in  general  merchandising  in  Momence- 
Mrs.  Reins  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  I 

Mr.  Reins  was  a  supporter  of  the  old  Whig 
part}',  and  since  the  formation  of  the  Republican 
party  has  been  one  of  its  stalwart  adherents.  He 
has  always  taken  an  interested  part  in  all  af- 
fairs pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  his  fellow-citi- 
zens, township  and  county,  and  has  held  various 
official  positions,  among  which  we  mention  that  of 
Highway  Commissioner,  Constable  and  School  Di- 
rector. The  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a 
warm  friend  and  ally.  In  a  business  way  his  ef- 
forts for  years  have  been  crowned  with  fair  suc- 
cess, and  in  this  community  .he  bears  an  excellent 
reputation. 


-   <x:>.yc 


i.*'iS-^2ii£22_ 


ICHARD  J.  EYERLEY  is  the  well-known 
editor  of  the  Chebanse  Herald,  and  in  part- 
it  \V  nership  with  Judge  Sawyer,  of  Kankakee, 
^)  is  engaged  in  the  real-estate,  loan  and  in- 
surance business.  He  is  also  Vice-president  of  the 
Kankakee  Investment  and  Loan  Association,  and 
is  Notary  Public  in  Chebanse. 

The  birth  of  Mr.  Eyerley  occurred  in  Punxsu- 
tawney,  Jefferson  CountJ^  Pa.,  on  the  29th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1856,  and  since  he  was  about  two  years  of 
age  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Chebanse.  He  is  a 
son  of  Moses  and  Alary  (Hawk)  Eyerley,  both 
natives  of  the  Keystone  State.  The  father  is 
of  Scotch  and  Dutch  ancestry,  and  the  mother 
is  descended  from  Pennsylvania  Dutch.  There 
were  six  children  born  to  them,  three  sons  and 
three    daughters.    Anna   married    Philip    Spies,  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


180 


farmer  near  C'liebause,  and  by  lier  marriage  lias  be- 
come the  motlier  of  two  children;  Rlizal)L>lh  be- 
came the  wife  of  .1.  P.  Williamson,  of  Waco,  Tex., 
where  they  now  reside;  Prise  11  la  married  Samuel 
Harris,  and  also  lives  in  Waeo;  Moses  D.  died  in 
that  city  in  September,  l.S'.Kl;  and  Philip  II.  is  the 
youngest  of  the  family. 

The  parents  of  these  children  removed  from 
I'cnnsylvania  to  Illinois  in  1858,  and  located  upon 
a  farm  in  Iroquois  County,  one  mile  west  of  Clie- 
banse,  where  they  lived  for  about  three  years.  Af- 
terward they  removed  to  Ohio,  later  to  Hillsdale, 
Mich.,  and  in  1864,  veturniiig  to  Iroquois  County, 
they  purchased  a  farm  of  forty  acres,  two  and  a- 
half  miles  southeast  of  Chebanse,  upon  which  they 
made  their  home  for  the  period  of  a  year.  Mr. 
l",yerley  then  sold  his  farm  and  removed  to  the 
village,  where  he  resided  for  the  following  ten 
years.  In  1875  he  emigrated  to  Texas,  where  he 
and  his  wife  are  still  living. 

Richard  J.  E3'erley  received  a  good  common- 
school  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Chebanse, 
and  in  186!)  commenced  working  in  the  printing 
oflice  of  the  Herald,  in  the  employ  of  Thomas  S. 
Sawyer,  who  was  then  its  editor  and  iiroprietor- 
He  remained  in  this  office  until  1873,  when  he 
again  went  to  school,  and  secured  a  certificate  to 
teach  in  both  Iroquois  and  Kankakee  Counties. 
He  then  re-entered  the  employ  of  Mr.  Saw3er,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  1880,  with  the  exception 
of  two  winters,  that  of  1875-76  and  the  one  fol- 
lowing. In  1880,  Mr.  Eyerie^-  purchased  a  half- 
interest  in  the  paper,  and  continued  the  business 
in  partnership  with  Mr.  Sawyer  for  the  succeeding 
eight  years.  In  the  year  1888  he  purchased  that 
gentleman's  interest,  and  has  owned  and  carried 
on  the  paper  since  that  time.  The  polities  of  the 
Herald  have  always  been  Republican,  and  both  the 
newspaper  and  job  work  have  always  received  the 
hearty  support  and  co-operation  of  the  public  at 
large.  The  Herald  has  a  wide  circulation,  and  is 
well  known  throughout  this  section  of  the  State. 
On  the  28th  of  May,  1879,  Mr.  Eyerley  wedded 
Miss  ^lary  A.  Burrill,  daughter  of  George  and 
Catherine  (McCarthy)  Burrill,  of  Chebanse.  One 
child  has  blessed  this  union,  a  son,  Charles  M., 
who  was  born  on  the  5tli  of  October,  1883. 


The  fellow-citizens  of  Mr.  Kyerley  have  a 
number  of  times  called  upon  him  to  fill  positions 
of  responsibility  and  trust.  He  is  at  present  Vil- 
lage Treasurer,  and  for  several  j-ears  held  the 
office  of  X'illage  Clerk.  He  is  a  member  of  Che- 
banse Lodge  No.  129,  A.  F.  <fe  A.  M.,  and  in  the 
year  1891  was  Master  of  the  lodge.  He  has  ever 
been  devoted  to  the  Republican  party,  and  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  politics.  The  home  of  Mr. 
Eyerley  is  situated  in  the  northwest  portion  of  the 
village,  and  he  therefore  is  a  resident  of  Kankakee 
countr}',  the  dividing  line  between  that  and  Iro- 
quois Counties  running  from  east  to  west  through 
one  of  the  principal  streets  of  the  place.  He  is 
now  erecting  a  comfortable  home  near  his  present 
residence,  and  his  office  is  also  in  Kankakee  County 
within  a  hundred  feet  of  his  home,  and  situated 
exactly  on  the  county  line.  With  the  exception 
of  two  winters  spent  in  Texas,  and  a  short  time 
with  his  parents  in  Ohio  and  IMichigan,  he  lias 
made  his  home  in  Chebanse  for  thirty-four  years 
and  his  acquaintance  extends  to  all  parts  of  both 
counties. 


-i.fc  ^  |j  >  1  p  h  >  >■ 


?   I  I  I  '     I  lii^ 


^^EORGE  M.  WAGNER  is  one  of  the  sub- 
ill  (=^  stantial  and  prominent  agriculturists  of 
^^^i|!  Salina  Township.  He  resides  on  section 
3.3,  where  be  owns  and  operates  a  good  farm  com- 
prising two  hundred  acres  of  land.  His  fields  are 
well  tilled,  and  the  many  improvements  upon  the 
place  give  evidence  of  the  thrift  and  enterprise  of 
the  owner.  He  devotes  his  time  and  attention  to 
general  farming  and  stock-raising,  and  alw!i3'S  has 
on  hand  a  good  grade  of  stock. 

Mr.  Wagner  is  a  native  of  Germany.  He  was 
born  December  20,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Adam 
and  Rosina  (Kohler)  Wagner.  In  1847,  when 
George  was  only  five  years  old,  his  parents  left 
the  Fatherland  and  in  a  sailing-vessel  crossed  the 
broad  Atlantic,  landing  in  New  York  City  after 
a  voyage'  of  tliirtj-three  da^'S.  The  father  at 
once  came  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Woodford  Countj', 
where  he  purchased  land  and  made  his  home  for 


490 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


about  twelve  years.  In  1859  be  became  a  resident  of 
Tazewell  County,  where  he  resided  for  two  years. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  and  his  wife 
came  to  Kankalcee  Countj-,  where  the}'  are  still 
living.  Thej^  had  a  family  of  eight  children: 
Andrew,  George,  Margaret,  Lizzie,  Mary,  Simon, 
Kate  and  Emma. 

As  before  stated,  George  Wagner  spent  tiie 
first  live  ^eais  of  his  life  in  the  land  of  his  birth 
and  tlien  crossed  tlie  briny  deep.  He  accompanied 
his  parents  on  their  various  removals  until  at 
length,  in  18(51,  lie  arrived  in  Kankakee  County, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  aided  his 
father  in  the  labors  of  the  farm  until  the  28th  of 
January',  1864,  when  he  responded  to  the  call  of 
his  adopted  country  for  troops  and  became  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  I,  Seveutj'-sixth  Illinois  Infantr}-. 
He  was  mustered  into  service  at  Springfield.  The 
first  active  engagement  in  wiiich  he  participated 
was  at  Jackson,  Miss.,  after  which  he  took  part  in 
the  battle  of  Clinton,  La.,  and  Ft.  Blakely,  Ala. 
He  was  never  either  wounded  or  taken  prisoner, 
but  was  always  found  at  his  post  of  duty,  faith- 
full3'  defending  the  old  flag  under  which  he  had 
enlisted.  After  the  war  was  over  he  was  mustered 
out,  on  the  19th  of  April,  1866,  and  received  an 
honorable  discharge. 

On  his  return  from  the  South  to  Kankakee 
County,  Mr.  Wagner  took  charge  of  his  father's 
land  in  Salina  Township,  and  there  carried  on 
general  farming  for  two  years,  after  which  he 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  unimproved  land  on 
section  33.  This  was  the  beginning  of  his  pres- 
ent excellent  farm,  the  boundaries  of  which  he 
has  since  extended  by  additional  purchases,  until  it 
now  comprises  two  hundred  acres. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's  journe}^, 
Mr.  Wagner  chose  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  Michael 
and  Magdelena  Obrecht.  By  their  union,  which 
was  celebrated  February  13,  1868,  eleven  chil- 
dren were  born,  namely:  George  F.,  wlio  died  in 
1885;  Emma,  wife  of  Frank  Lelinus,  a  farmer  re- 
siding in  Salina  Township;  William  W.;  Mary  A.; 
Katie  V.,  who  died  in  April,  1892;  Hattie  F.,  Rosa 
A.,  Edwin  M.,  Elsie  E.,  Nettie  B.,  and  Lillie  M. 
who  complete  the  family. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Wagner  is  a   Re- 


publican and  strongly  advocates  the  principles  of 
his  party,  in  whose  success  he  takes  a  deep  inter- 
est. He  has  been  called  upon  to  serve  in  several 
official  jtositions,  having  filled  the  office  of  Town- 
ship Collector  for  one  year.  Justice  of  the  Peace 
for  eight  years,  Road  Commissioner  for  six  years, 
and  School  Trustee  for  sixteen  years.  He  ever 
discharged  his  public  duties  with  promptness  and 
fidelity,  as  is  indicated  by  his  constant  re-elections. 
Sociall.v,  he  is  a  member  of  tiie  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  and  himself  and  wife  are  members  of 
the  German  Evangelical  Church.  Mr.  Wagner  is 
a  friend  to  all  social,  moral  and  educational  in- 
terests, and  does  all  in  his  power  for  the  advance- 
ment of  those  enterprises  calculated  to  benefit  the 
community  or  promote  tlie  general  welfare.  He 
is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  and  influen- 
tial fanners  of  his  township.  During  the  late 
war  he  was  a  faithful  soldier  and  in  his  business 
career  he  has  proved  himself  an  honorable  man, 
so  that  the  high  esteem  in  wliich  he  is  held  is  well 
deserved. 


-^]_ 


'^+^j 


tS" 


UTHER  C.  STREETER,  a  hay  merchant  of 
i  Grant  Park,  is  one  of  the  wide-awake 
young  business  men  of  the  county.  His 
birth  occurred  on  the  5th  of  June,  1860,  in  Sum- 
ner Township,  Kankakee  County.  He  was  the 
second  in  order  of  birth  in  a  famil}-  consisting  of 
three  children,  whose  parents  were  Lorenzo  and 
Hannah  (Osby)  Streeter.  The  father  was  born  in 
Delaware  County',  N.  Y.,  on  the  12th  of  March, 
1834,  and  was  of  English  extraction.  He  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  which  vocation  he  followed 
in  New  York  until  coining  to  Kankakee  Count}',  in 
1855.  This  was  his  home  until  his  death,  wiiich 
occurred  on  the  5th  of  December,  1883.  The  mother 
of  our  subject  was  a  native  of  the  same  count}',  liorn 
on  the  8th  of  May,  1836.  Her  death  occurred  in| 
Grant  Park,  November  2,  1883, 

Luther  Streeter,  as  before  stated,  is  a  native  ol 
this  county  and  has  made  Grant  Park  his  homa 
during  almost  his  entire  life.     His  father  built  anc 


t 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


491 


owned  the  first  dwclling-liousc  in  the  place.  He 
received  a  good  coinuion-scliool  education  and 
when  about  fifteen  years  of  age  learned  telegraphy 
in  a  railroad  office.  Tliis  calling  he  followed  for 
eight  jears,  but  in  1883  engaged  in  the  hay  busi- 
ness. He  has  an  extensive  trade  and  is  enterpris- 
ing and  active. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  1883,  Mr.  Streeter  was 
married  to  Miss  Delia  E.  Campbell,  a  daughter  of 
Clinton  C.  and  Ollie  (Curtis)  Camplu'll.  Mrs. 
Streeter  was  born  in  (!rant  Park  on  the  9th  of 
December,  18(52,  and  is  a  highly  educated  lad}'. 
Her  father  was  in  fact  the  founder  of  the  town 
and  was  a  highly  respected  citizen.  One  child, 
a  daughter,  Gertrude,  was  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Streeter  on  the  30tli  of  January,  1886.  Her 
l]resence  brightened  their  home  but  a  short  time, 
for  on  the  12th  of  March  of  the  same  j'ear  she 
jiassed  away. 

In  his  political  attiliations,  Mr.  Streeter  is  a 
-tanch  supporter  of  the  Republican  party.  Though 
not  a  politician  he  takes  a  lively-  interest  in  all 
public  affairs  and  is  posted  on  all  of  the  leading 
topics  of  the  day. 


_y 


r' 


•{•^*^* 


/"ENO  R.  A.  GOODELL,  a  jeweler,  is  one  of 
the  old  settlers  of  Momence,  and  w-hen  he 
located  here  on  the  1st  of  October,  1851, 
there  were  less  than  one  hundred  inhabitants  in  the 
village.  He  has  many  times  killed  prairie  chickens 
and  ducks  to  his  heart's  content  without  going 
(mtside  of  the  present  limits  of  the  city.  He  has 
seen  it  grow  and  develop  into  a  prosperous  and 
thriving  business  place  of  over  two  thousand 
inhabitants. 

Mr.  Goodell  is  a  native  of  Veiinonl,  having  been 
born  on  the  17lh  of  July,  1823,  in  Westminster, 
Windham  County.  His  parents,  Simon  and  Esther 
F.  (Forbes)  Goodell,  the  former  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, and  the  latter  of  Massachusetts,  lived  for 
many  years  in  St.  Lawrence  County,  M.  V.,  near 
the  town  of  Ilogansburgh.     The  father  engaged  in 


agricultural  pursuits  on  a  farm  which  he,  in  com- 
pany with  his  son  Addison,  [)urchased.  In  his 
early  life  he  had  learned  the  carpenter's  and  join- 
er's trade,  which  vocation  he  followed  more  or  less 
during  life.  His  father  was  a  valiant  soldier  in 
the  War  of  1812,  and  also  participated  in  the  In- 
dian wars.  The  death  of  Simon  Goodell  occurred 
at  the  home  of  his  son  Addison  in  Syracuse.  In 
the  family  were  four  sons  and  two  daughters:  Al- 
bert, Addison  1'.,  Mary  E.,  S.  Justin,  Sarah  Jane  V. 
and  Zeno  It.  A. 

When  our  subject  was  six  years  of  age,  with  his 
parents  he  left  his  native  State,and  for  many  j'ears 
resided  in  St.  Lawrence  Count\%  N.  Y.,  upon  a 
farm.  Believing  that  the  West  afforded  better  op- 
portunities for  progress  and  obtaining  a  fortune, 
on  the  7th  of  April,  1815,  Mr.  Goodell  turned  his 
face  Westward  The  following  ^-ear  he  landed  in 
Illinois,  stopping  in  Chicago  for  about  two  months, 
after  which  he  went  to  Elgin  and  lived  there  foi 
about  four  3'ears,  following  his  trade  of  carpenter- 
ing. The  year  1 85 1 ,  as  previouslj'  stated,  witnessed 
the  arrival  of  Mr.  Goodell  in  Momence,  where  lie 
pursued  his  vocation  of  carpentering  for  three 
years,  when  on  account  of  poor  health  he  was 
obliged  to  abandon  his  trade,  and  enforced  idleness 
for  two  years  ensued.  He  then  decided  to  choose 
another  occupation,  and  turned  his  attention  to 
clock-repairing.  Later  he  oi)ened  a  jewelry  and 
watch-ra.aking  establishment,  which  he  has  carried 
on  to  the  present  time,  occupying  one  business 
stand  since   1855,  a  period  of  thirt3-seven  years. 

In  1847  Mr.  Goodell  was  married  to  Miss  Eunice 
Mitchell,  daughter  of  James  Mitchell,  of  Elgin,  who 
by  her  marriage  became  the  mother  of  two  sons 
and  a  daughter:  Allen  11.,  who  ismarriedand  lives 
in  Florida,  where  he  is  in  the  emploj'  of  a  railroad 
company;  Margaret  E.,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Charles  Jaquish,  who  was  of  Momence,  but  is  now  a 
farmer  residing  near  Neptune,  Richland  Count}', 
Wis.;  and  Charles  J.,  who  married  Miss  Cora  Rice, 
a  daughter  of  James  11.  Rice,  of  Morocco,  Ind.  In 
1863  our  subject  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  James 
Br^'ant,  of  Momence.  There  are  two  children  by 
this  marriage:  Zena  R.  A.  and  Willie. 

Mr.   Goodell,   whose  ancestors  were  AVhigs  and 


492 


POKTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


Federalists,  is  a  straight  Republican,  and  has  been 
a  warm  supporter  of  that  part}'  since  its  organiza- 
tion. He  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  is  an  attendant 
of  and  contributor  to  the  support  of  tlie  Episcopal 
Church,  in  which  his  wife  liolds  membership. 


^l  AMES  J.  KELSEY,  a  retired  farmer  residing 
in  Grant  Park,  is  a  native  of  the  Keystone 
State,  his  birth  occurring  Februarj-  25,  1842, 
in  Tioga  County.  His  parents  were  Jolin  D. 
and  Eunice  (Johnson)  Kelsey.  Tlie  father  was 
born  in  1809,  in  the  Green  Mountain  State,  and 
was  of  Irish  descent.  The  mother  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  was  of  English  extraction.  John 
Kelsey  emigrated  to  Lake  County,  Ind.,  in  1859, 
where  he  followed  farming  for  many  years.  His 
death  occurred  June  14,  1876. 

At  the  time  of  his  mother's  deatli  our  subject 
was  only  three  years  of  age.  He  was  reared  to  farm 
life,  spending  the  greater  part  of  his  early  life  in 
Allegany  County,  N.  Y.  He  received  a  common- 
school  education,  and  on  arriving  at  man's  estate 
left  Pennsylvania  and  came  direct  to  L.ake  County, 
Ind.  He  landed  in  Kankakee  County  in  the  fall 
of  1861,  without  a  dollar  in  his  pocket,  and  went 
to  work  as  a  farm  hand.  lu  August,  18G2,  he  en- 
listed in  Compan;/  K,  One  Hundred  and  Thirteenth 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  in  active  service  about 
six  months.  He  was  taken  sick  with  typhoid 
fever  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  and  was  sent  to  a  hos- 
pital at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  where  he  remained  for  about 
six  weeks.  He  then  received  his  discliarge,  as  he 
was  unable  to  return  to  the  hardships  of  army  life. 
He  came  to  Yellowhead  Township,  where  he  rented 
a  farm,  to  which  he  gave  his  care  for  eight  years. 
On  the  18th  of  September,  1863,  Mr.  Kel- 
sej'  and  Miss  Nanc}'  J.  Kile  were  married.  The 
ladj'  was  born  in  Ycllovvliead  Townsliip  on  the  3d 
of  January,  1842,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Resen  C. 
and  Nancy  J.  (Hayden)  Kile,  who  were  among  the 
first  settlers  of  tlie  county.  To  our  subject  and  his 
wife  have  been  born  two  sons  and  a  daughter: 
Laura  E.,  wife  of  Byron  Chipman,  a  farmer  of  this 


township;  Merritt  W.,  who  is  also  a  prosperous 
agriculturist  of  Yellowhead  Township;  and  Leroy 
E.,  who  lives  with  his  parents  and  is  a  student  in 
the  Grant  Park  Schools. 

In  1869  Mr.  Kelsey  purchased  a  farm  wliieh  is 
situated  six  miles  east  of  Grant  Park,  in  Yellow- 
head  Township,  and  which  now  comprises  two 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  all  under-  cultivation. 
For  over  twenty  years  he  gave  his  entire  energies 
and  care  to  the  development  of  this  tract,  which 
has  well  repaid  him  for  his  efforts.  In  November, 
1892,  he  retired  from  the  activities  incident  to  a 
farmer's  life,  and  has  become  a  resident  of  Grant 
Park.  He  has  acted  as  School  Director  for  about 
twelve  years,  and  is  a  warm  supporter  of  educa- 
tional measures.  For  a  number  of  years  he  made 
an  excellent  Road  Overseer,  and  has  shown  that 
he  is  much  interested  in  the  public  welfare.  Po- 
litically he  is  a  Republican,  having  cast  his  first 
vote  for  Lincoln.  He  belongs  to  Worcester  Post 
No.  627,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Momence. 


-}- 


i>-^<i 


IQ>^ 


EDWARD  DYER,  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  of 
Yellowhead  Township,  owns  a  farm  on 
section  36.  He  was  born  in  Vermont  on 
the  9th  of  July,  1814,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
D^'er,  also  a  native  of  the  Green  Mountain  State. 
The  latter  was  born  April  17,  1785,  followed  the 
calling  of  a  farmer,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  pf  Genesee  County,  N.  Y.  He  made  the 
trip  from  Vermont  in  an  ox-cart  in  1815.  His 
death  occurred  four  3-ears  later.  The  mother  of 
our  subject  before  her  marriage  was  Miss  Chloe 
Haskins,  who  was  born  April  22, 1788,  in  Vermont. 
A  year  after  her  husband's  death  she  was  again 
married. 

Edward  Dyer  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth  in 
his  father's  family,  which  comprised  four  sons  and 
a  daughter.  At  the  time  of  his  father's  death  he 
was  only  five  j'ears  of  age,  and  he  was  sent  to  live 
with  a  farmer  in  the  neighborhood  until  grown. 
At  the  end  of  a  couple  of  years,  however,  he  left 
the  farmer,  as  he  was  badly   treated,  and   went  to 


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PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


497 


Buffalo,  where  he  lived  with  an  old  couple  who  had 
come  from  his  old  neighborhood.  Later  he  worked 
in  a  woolen  factory  for  five  years.  A  few  years 
later  lie  learned  lilacksniitliing,  which  he  followed 
more  or  less  until  1880.  He  never  attended  school 
six  months  in  his  life.  In  18;5t  he  emigrated  to 
.Taspci'  County,  Ind.,  which  was  his  home  for  two 
years. 

In  the  year  1810  j\Ir.  Dyer  married  Miss  iMaria 
L.  Woodard,  of  Jasper  County.  To  tiiem  were  born 
two  sons  and  four  daughters:  Martha,  wife  of 
David  Love,  of  this  county;  Caroline,  who  became 
the  wife  of  George  Hamilton,  a  prosperous  farmer 
of  Yellowuead  Township;  Chloe,  wife  of  Eugene 
Ciiilds,  a  farmer  of  this  county;  Henry,  one  of  the 
prominent  agriculturists  of  Kankakee  County; 
Clara  and  Alonzo,  who  are  now  deceased.  Mrs. 
Dyer  was  called  to  her  final  rest  in  1882. 

In  183G  Mr.  D3er  landed  in  Kankakee  County, 
locating  at  Sherburuville,  where  for  a  number  of 
years  he  pursued  liis  calling  of  blacksmith.  He  is 
now  one  the  oldest  settlers  of  the  countj-  who  still 
survive.  He  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land,  which  Is  well  improved  and  which  he  has 
operated  for  over  a  half-centiiiy.  He  has  never 
been  an  office-seeker,  but  has  instead  given  his  at- 
tention solely  to  his  own  affairs.  Since  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Republican  party  he  has  been  one  of 
its  stanch  adherents. 


JOSEPH  .).  CARROW  is  one  of  tile  promi- 
nent and  well-known  citizens  of  Pilot 
Township,  residing  on  section  L  He  is 
Postmaster  of  the  Carrow  postotHce,  is  a 
ilcalcr  in  grain  at  that  i)lace,  and  is  proprietor  of 
the  Carrow  Limestone  Rock  (Quarry.  As  he  occu- 
pies a  leading  position-  in  both  business  and  social 
circles,  it  gives  us  groat  pleasure  to  present  to  our 
readers  this  record  of  his  life,  knowing  that  it  will 
'.trove  of  interest  to  many. 

Mr.  Carrow  is  a  native  of  Illinois — indeed  he 
claims  the  honor  of  having  Kankakee  County  for 
liis  birthplace.     He  was  born  on  the  16th  of  Feb- 

23 


ruary,  1855,  and  is  a  son  of  .Joseph  Carrow,  who 
was  born  in  Quebec,  Canada,  and  in  1848,  when  a 
\-oung  man  of  nineteen  years,  came  to  Illinois. 
He  located  in  Kankakee  County  and  is  counted 
among  its  honored  pioneers.  The  first  two  years 
after  his  arrival  were  spent  in  Limestone  Town- 
ship, and  he  then  located  on  .section  1,  Pilot 
Township,  where  he  opened  up  a  farm  and  for 
thirty-five  years  successfully  carried  on  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  His  life  lias  been  a  busy  and  use- 
ful one,  but  he  is  now  living  retired,  while  two  of 
his  sons  operate  the  old  homestead.  Mr.  Carrow 
was  married  in  this  couiitv  to  Miss  Susan  Tatro,  a 
native  of  Montreal,  Canada,  and  by  their  union 
were  born  nine  living  cliildrcn,  five  sons  and  four 
daughters,  who  are  all  living.  Our  subject  is  the 
eldest  son  and  the  second  in  order  of  birth. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  .1.  .1.  Carrow 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  joutli.  During 
the  summer  months  he  aided  his  father  in  the  la- 
bors of  the  farm,  and  in  the  winter  season  attended 
the  common  schools  of  tlie  neighborhood.  Under 
tlie  parental  roof  he  remained  until  twent3'-three 
years  of  age,  when  he  purchased  an  eighty-acre 
tract  of  improved  land,  on  which  he  located  in 
1878  and  began  farming  for  himself. 

On  the  4tli  of  February  of  that  year,  Mr.  Carrow 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Malvina  Perry,  a  native 
of  Canada.  When  a  child  of  five  summers  she 
was  brought  to  this  county  by  her  father,  Louis 
Perry,  now  a  farmer  of  Limestone  Township.  By 
the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been 
born  five  children,  four  sons  and  a  daughter:  Ar- 
thur, Louis,  Lola,  Alex  and  Elmer,  the  last-named 
a  boy  of  five  years.  The  others  are  all  attending 
the  home  school. 

Both  Mr.  and  Jlrs.  Carrow  arc  members  of  St. 
James  Catholic  Church.  In  politics  the  former  is 
a  stalwart  Republican,  having  supported  that  party 
since  he  cast  his  first  Presidential  ballot  for  Hon. 
R.  B.  Hayes.  He  was  never  an  aspirant  for  public 
office,  however,  prefening  to  devote  his  entire  time 
and  attention  to  his  business  interests,  yet  he  has 
ever  borne  well  his  part  as  a  citizen.  He  does  all 
in  his  power  for  the  advancement  of  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  community  and  his  support  is  never 
withheld  from  any  worthy  enterprise. 


498 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


On  his  maiTiage,  Mr.  Carrow  located  where  he 
now  resides  and  for  several  years  engaged  exclu- 
sively in  fanning.  In  the  fall  of  1883,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Postmaster  of  Carrow  and  still  holds 
that  position.  The  sf.me  year  he  opened  up  a 
valuable  limestone  quarry  upon  his  i)lace.  At  first, 
however,  he  did  not  operate  it  very  extensively, 
but  from  j-ear  to  year  he  has  increased  the  busi- 
ness, and  now  during  the  season  takes  out  an 
average  of  three  hundred  carloads  of  rock.  This 
is  very  fine  limestone  rock,  in  fact  it  is  said 
to  be  second  to  none  in  the  State.  In  connec- 
tion with  his  other  interests,  Mr.  Carrow  was 
for  four  j'oars  engaged  in  merchandising.  He  has 
also  been  buying  grain  for  other  parties  for  about 
ten  years  and  is  now  performing  that  work  for  a 
Chicago  firm.  He  is  a  man  of  excellent  business 
abilit}',  is  clear  sighted  and  sagacious,  and  possesses 
great  tact;  moreover,  he  has  a  fund  of  energv  and 
enterprise  without  which  no  one  wins  success.  He 
has  become  one  of  the  prosperous  and  substantial 
cilizens  of  this  community  through  his  own  efforts, 
and  his  career  might  well  be  taken  as  an  example 
bv  others. 


•^^1 


mw 


\'^^- 


'ji?  RA  WH.LIAMS,  a  farmer  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion 25,  Salina  Township,  is  one  of  the  worthy 
citizens  that  Pennsylvania  has  furnished  to 
this  county.  He  was  born  in  Kane  Count3^,of  the 
Keystone  State,  December  12, 1840,  and  is  the  third 
in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  six  children.  His 
fatlier,  .Job  Williams,  was  born  in  New  York,  and 
was  of  German  descent,  while  the  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Deborah  Alger,  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  and  was  of  Scotch  lineage.  In  1848, 
the^-  emigrated  "Westward,  making  the  journey  by 
team,  and  at  length  arrived  in  Kankakee  County, 
where  Mr.  Williams  purchased  eighty-  acres  of  Gov- 
ernment land  on  section  25,  Salina  Township. 
There  he  erected  a  log  cabin,  which  was  his  home 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  hauled  his  grain  to 
Chicago,  which  place  .and  Joliet  were  his  nearest 
trading-posts.     The  fanjily  endured   many  hard- 


ships and  dilliculties  of  pioneer  life  in  the  early 
days,  but  as  the  years  passed  the  labors  of  the 
father  placed  them  in  more  comfortable  circum- 
stances. With  the  exception  of  four  years,  he  re- 
sided upon  the  farm  where  he  first  located  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  Februarj'  6,  1892, at  the 
advanced  age  of  eight_y-two  years,  ten  months  and 
thirteen  days.  He  was  buried  in  ShrefHer  Ceme- 
tery. He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
and  was  a  well-known  and  prominent  citizen,  hold- 
ing the  position  of  Road  Commissioner  and  other 
otlices  in  the  township.  His  wife  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Church  and  a  most  estimable 
lady.     She  passed  away  January  30,   1892. 

The  children  of  this  worthy  couple  were  Emily, 
who  died  Februarj'  23,  1838;  George;  Ira,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch;  Oliver,  Hannah  and  Deborah.  , 
This  familj'  had  the  honor  of  being  descended  from  J 
Revolutionary  heroes,  their  great-grandfathers  on 
both  sides  having  been  soldiers  in  the  War  for  In- 
dependence. 

AVhen  eight  years  of  age,  Ira  Williams  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  the  AYest.     He   remained   at 
home  until  twenty  years  of  age,  when    he  started 
out  in  life  to  earn  his  own  livelihood.     For  a  year 
he  engaged  in  farming.     He  then   abandoned  all 
peaceful  pursuits  and,  prompted   bj"^   patriotic  im- 
pulses, responded  to  his  countiy's  call  for  aid.   Id| 
August,  1862,  he  donned  the  blue  and  became  s 
member  of  Company  B,  One   Hundred  and   Tliir-i 
teenth  Illinois  Infantry.     He   was  mustered   intc' 
service  in  Chic^ago  and,  going  to    the  South,  tooli 
part  in  the  battle  of   Arkansas   Post,  the  siege  O  I 
Vicksburg  and  the  battle  of  Jackson,  Miss.     At  thti] 
latter  place  he  was  captured,  on  the  22d    of  July 
was  taken  to  Richmond,  and   from   there  to  Bell' 
Isle,  where  he  was  incarcerated  until  the  28th  o 
December,  following.     On  being  released  from  tli 
Southern  prison,  ho  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  li 
remained  until  May,  1864,  when  he  came  homeo 
a  fifteen  days'  furlough.     While  at   home   he  wa 
taken  with  the  smallpox,  but  as  soon  as  possible  h 
rejoined  his  regiment,  and  from  November,  186'^'j 
was  again  with  his  command  until  honorably  dis 
charged  on  the  29th  of  June,  1865. 

Mr.  Williams  then  returned  to  his  old  home  bi 
soon    afterward    purchased    land    and    embark* 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIUCAL   RECORD. 


499 


in  farming  for  himself.  Since  tli:it  time  lie  lias 
carricfl  on  agricultural  [)ursuits  with  the  exception 
of  four  years, when  in  Chicago  at  work  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade.  In  1884,  he  purchased  the  old  home- 
stead upon  which  his  father  fust  located  and  where 
he  is  now  residing.  The  place  comprises  one  hun- 
dred acres  of  well-iuiprovcd  and  valuable  land, 
and  in  return  for  his  care  and  labor  it  yields  to 
him  a  golden  tribute. 

Mr.  Williams  has  been  twice  married.  In  18CG, 
he  wedded  Miss  Mary  O'Donnell,  who  died  in  1886. 
Eight  children  were  born  of  that  union:  Joel, 
Annie,  Frank,  Deborah,  Alice,  Willie  G.,  Cora  and 
Flora.  Mr.  Williams  was  again  married,  in  1887, 
his  second  union  being  with  Miss  Jlay  Freie. 

Mr.  Williams  is  a  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party,  with  which  he  has  been  identified  since  at- 
taining his  m.ajorit}-.  He  takes  a  deep  interest  in 
its  success  and  keeps  himself  well  informed  on  the 
issues  of  the  da\',  yet  has  never  sought  or  desired 
the  honors  or  emoluments  of  public  office.  Relig- 
iously, he  is  a  member  of  the  Evangelical  Church. 
The  best  interests  of  the  community  find  in  him  a 
friend,  and  by  his  influence  and  support  he  aids  all 
worthy  enterprises  calculated  to  prove  of  public 
benefit  or  to  promote  the  general  welfare.  His  life 
has  been  well  and  worthily  spent  and  has  won  him 
universal  confidence  and  esteem. 


«^> 


^^DWARD  S.  MARTIN,  who  is  engaged  in 
S]  general  farming  on  section  36,  i^imcstone 
liL^/  Township,  is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens 
that  England  has  furnished  to'Kankakee  County. 
He  was  born  on  the  6th  of  February,  1825,  in 
Cornwall,  and  is  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  fonr 
children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  who  were 
born  of  the  union  of  Ilenr}-  and  Mary  (Spargo) 
Martin.  The  father  was  also  a  native  of  the  same 
locality.  The  grandfather  too  was  born  in  that 
neighborlKiOd  and  for  several  generations  his  an- 
cestors had  there  resided.  Henry  Martin  was  ed- 
ucated near  his  home  and  became  manager  of  one 
of  the  richest  copper  mines  in  the  world.     He  died 


in  his  native  county'  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-two  j-ears.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was 
born  in  Cornwall,  where  her  ancestors  had  also 
lived  for  several  generations. 

Edward  Martin,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  his 
native  land,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
of  the  neighborhood  and  resided  upon  a  farm  un- 
til about  eighteen  years  of  age.  About  that  time 
he  began  working  in  the  copper  mines  of  Corn- 
wall, under  his  father,  with  the  expectation  of 
making  that  his  life  work,  and  for  seven  years  he 
was  thus  employed.  It  was  in  1849  that  he  left 
his  native  land  and  went  to  Chile,  under  the  di- 
rection of  a  Spanish  company-,  to  work  in  the  silver 
mines  of  that  country.  He  there  remained  for 
about  five  years,  during  which  period  the  revolu- 
tion in  Chile  occurred.  Returning  to  his  home  he 
spent  the  succeeding  year  in  his  native  land  and 
during  that  time  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Annie  Trelore,  of  Cornwall, 'England.  The  bridal 
trip  of  the  young  couple  consisted  of  a  vovao-e 
across  the  Atlantic,  for,  immediately  after  their 
marriage,  they  bade  adieu  to  p:ngland  and  sailed 
for  Canada,  where  they  remained  for  about  eight 
months.  They  then  came  to  Kankakee  County, 
III.,  where  Mr.  Martin  has  since  made  his  home. 
This  was  in  1857.  His  wife  died  about  a  year  af- 
ter coming  to  America,  leaving  one  child,  a  daugh- 
ter, Lillie,  who  is  still  a  resident  of  Kankakee. 

Two  years  later  Mr.  Martin  was  again  married 
his  second  union  being  with  Miss  Sophia  Gilkes, 
who  was  born  in  England  and  who  was  the  first 
English  girl  to  become  a  resident  of  Kankakee 
County.  Her  death  occurred  in  1877.  Six  chil- 
dren were  born  of  this  union,  as  follows:  Will- 
iam Henry,  the  eldest,  who  was  born  in  1861, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  three  years;  Lucy,  who  was 
born  in  1863,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Orlando 
Hawkins,  a  prosperous  and  well-known  fanner  of 
this  county;  Mary,  born  in  1865;  Edward  .John, 
born  in  1867;  Anna,  who  was  born  in  1869,  and 
died  when  about  eighteen  years  of  age;  and  Charles 
Frederick,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  who  was 
born  in  1872. 

The  lady  who  now  bears  the  name  of  Mrs.  Mar- 
tin was  formerly  Miss  Mary  Alma  Kerns.     She  was 


500 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  resident  of  Rock  Creek,  and  her  parents  ivere 
the  oldest  settlers  in  the  county.  The  marriage  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  was  celebrated  in  1879,  and 
unto  them  has  been  born  a  daughter,  Albertie 
Louise,  born  in  1883. 

For  some  time  after  coming  to  Kankakee 
County,  Mr.  Martin  engaged  in  farming  and  in 
the  butchering  business,  but  he  now  devotes  his 
time  and  attention  solely  to  the  former  pursuit. 
He  owns  a  good  farm  of  eighty  acres,  which  is  un- 
der a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  well  improved. 
In  his  political  views  he  is  a  Democrat  and  takes 
quite  an  interest  in  politics.  The  cause  of  educa- 
tion ever  finds  m  him  a  warm  friend,  and  for  fif- 
teen years  he  did  effective  service  in  its  interests 
while  filling  the  office  of  School  Director.  At 
length  he  resigned  that  position  in  favor  of  a  ladj' 
director.  For  twenty-seven  jears  Mr.  Martin  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  his 
career  has  been  an  honorable,  upright  one,  in  har- 
mony wiih  his  profession.  He  is  a  well-informed 
man  and  has  led  cpiite  an  eventful  life.  He  has 
traveled  considerably  and  is  a  pleasant,  popular 
gentleman,  who  has  the  high  regard  of  all  with 
whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact. 


'E_^ENRY  A.  MAGRIJDER  has  spent  almost 
his  entire  life  in  this  county,  his  birth  hav- 
ing occurred  on  the  28th  of  November, 
18.52,  in  Rockville  Township.  He  is  the 
eldest  son  of  Thomas  H.  and  Mary  E.  (Shadley) 
Magruder.  He  received  a  common-school  educa- 
tion in  the  district  and  public  schools  of  Rock- 
ville and  Kankakee.  In  the  year  1875  he  lo- 
cated on  a  farm  in  A¥hite  County,  Ind.,  of 
which  he  was  the  owner,  and  which  contained 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  For  seven  years 
he  also  managed  seven  hundred  acres  of  land  for 
his  father  and  brothers,  and  helped  to  give 
the  latter  a  good  start  iu  life.  His  brother  Thomas, 
the  next  older  of  those  living,  is  a  traveling  man 
and  also  owns  a  good  farm   in  Indiana;  William, 


who  married  Georgia  Duryea,  is  a  hotel-keeper  of 
Indianapolis  and  a  prosperous  business  man;  Ed- 
ward is  a  carpenter  and  contractor  of  Kankakee; 
and  Myron,  who  married  Ada  Hawkins,  liv-e's 
upon  a  farm  four  and  a-half  miles  northwest  of' 
Kankakee. 

In  1881  Mr.  Magruder  rented  his  farm  in  Indi- 
ana, and  removing  to  this  city  clerked  for  about 
a  year  in  the  clothing  store  of  M.  Rohrheimer. 
On  the  1st  of  March  of  the  following  year  he  en- 
gaged in  the  clothing  business  for  himself  in  part- 
nership with  W.  H.  Dawson,  in  the  building  on 
Court  Street  known  as  the  Rondy  Building.  He 
remained  there  until  December  of  that  year,  when 
he  removed  to  his  present  location.  No.  194  Court 
Street.  At  the  end  of  two  years  he  purchased  his 
partner's  interest  and  has  since  continued  the 
business  alone.  In  1888  he  also  bought  the  build- 
ing in  which  his  store  is  situated.  In  addition  to 
this  he  owns  his  home  residence  at  No.  252Green-J 
wood  Avenue  and  considerable  other  property  in  | 
the  city. 

On   the    18th   of  .Tanuary,   1875,  Mr.  Magrudeii 
was  united  in   marriage   with   Miss  Euphrevnia  S. 
daughter  of  Daniel  and     Hattie  Shreffler.     Thejj 
hold  membership  with  the  Grace  Methodist  Episco 
pal  Church  of  this  city. 

Our  subject  has  been  called  upon  to   fill  varimi 

positions  requiring  ability  and   fidelity.     He  is  a  | 

present  Alderman    for    the    Second  Ward,  whicl 

office  he  has  held  for  four  years.     He  is  one  of  tli 

directors  in  the  Cit}'  National  Bank  and  is  a  stock 

holder  in  the  North  Kankakee  Improvement  Com 

pany,  being  one  of  the   founders  of  the   most  r( 

markable  town  of  North  Kankakee.     Mr.  Jlaijrt 

i 
der  is  what  may  well  be  called   a  self-made  mail 

and  although  comparatively'  young,  is  one  of  tbj 

substantial  citizens  and   business   men   of   Kankf] 

kee.     He  is  progressive  and  wide-awake,  and   hf 

ever  manifested  a  great  interest  in  all  juiblic  mon 

ments  connected  with  the  city's  welfare.     He  hi; 

accumulated  his  property  b}'  good   business   mai' 

agement,  and  early  in  life  manifested  a  taste  an 

natural  abilit3'  for  mercantile  pursuits.     He  is  tlj 

proprietor  of  one  of   the   best   furnished   clolhir' 

stores  in  the  city,  and  113'  his  straightforward  bii^ 

ness  methods,  affable  manner  and  courteous   trci 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


501 


iiient  of  patrons,  has  built  up  a  large  and  lucra- 
tive business.  .Socially,  Mv.  JIagruder  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Grove  City  Council  No.  832.  R.  A.  His 
first  vote  was  cast  for  Samuel  .1.  Tilden,  and 
since  tliat  time  he  has  been  a  stanch  supporter  of 
the  Dcniocracv. 


\li/^__^  ENRY    REl'TER,   a    well-known     business 

I  man  of  Kankakee,  was  born    in   Simniern, 

Canton     Capelen,  (4rand   Duchy   of   Lux- 

^)  embourg,on  the  18tli  of  June,  1856.  He  is 
a  son  of  John  and  IMargueritc  (KUip)  Renter, both 
natives  of  the  same  place.  The  fatiier  was  a 
farnier  by  occupation,  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  be- 
tween ndgiuni  and  Holland,  and  fought  through- 
out that  long  and  blood\-  conflict,  which  lasted  for 
nine  j-ears.  He  died  in  liis  native  land  in  1886, 
and  his  wife  passed  away  some  3'ears  previous, 
dying  in  1874.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  of  whom  eight  are  now  living:  Henr}', 
Barbara,  Jacol),  William,  John,  Nichc)las  and  Fran- 
cisca,  twins,  Henry  and  liarbara. 

lielieving  that  the  New  World  offered  wider  op- 
portunities and  greater  chances  of  success,  Henry 
Renter,  tlie  subject  of  this  sketch,  in  company  with 
his  brother  Nicholas,  bade  adieu   to    the   friends 
and  scenes  of  their  youth  and  crossed  the  briny 
deep,  landing  in  America  on  the  28th  of  August, 
I  1880.     In  September  of  that  year  the}'  located  in 
,  Chicago,  where  lhe\'   lived   for  about  two   years, 
working   at   then-   trade    of    tinsmitliing,  cornice- 
making  and   roofing,   wliicli   they  had   learned  in 
,  the  Fatherland.     In  June,   1882,  our  subject  re- 
1  moved  to  Kankakee,  and  has   here   lived  continu- 
ously, with  the  exception  of  a  3-ear  spent  in  Battle 
'Creek,  Mich.     He  established  the  business  of  man- 
lufacturing  roofing  and  cfirnice  material  in  Kanka- 
■  kee,  beginning  in  a  small  wa\-.     He  li.as  been  pros- 
ipered  and  his  trade  has  grown  to  a  considerable 

extent. 

On  the  14th  of  January,  1882,  occurred  the  mar- 
,riage  of  Henry  Renter  and  Katrina  Glesner,  wiio 
'was  born  in  Foltsliette,  Canton  Rcdingen,    Lux- 


embourg, and  who  is  a  daughter  of  Andrew  and 
Margaret  (Rice)  Glesner.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Renter 
have  been  born  seven  children,  two  sons  and  five 
daughters:  Maggie  Katie;  Henry  William;  Hettie 
Mary,  wiio  died  March  19,  1889;  Frank  Theodore; 
Edna  Anna,  who  died  March  28,  1889;  Mamie 
Barbara,  and  Mabel  Isabel,  who  died  in  infancy. 

In  1890  Mr.  Renter  built  a  beautiful  residence 
on  the  corner  of  Rosewood  Avenue  and  Merchant 
Street,  which  is  one  of  the  handsome  residences 
which  add  so  much  to  the  beauty  and  picture-squc- 
ness  of  Kankakee.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  German  Catholic  Church  and  worship  with 
St.  Mary's  congregation  in  this  citj'.  Mr.  Renter 
is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  is  loyal  in  his  de- 
votion to  liis  adopted  country.  He  has  been  truly 
successful  since  arriving  in  America  and  has  never 
had  occasion  to  regret  coming  to  these  hospitable 
shores. 


^^>o*^*^v*^^^^*'F>^ 


O     \     I     .     I      -« 


>^p*)HOMAS  H.  MAG  RUDER,  a  retired  farmer 
'f>^.\    who  makes  his  home   in    Kankakee,  is  one 


of  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  county,  hav- 
ing resided  here  for  nearly  half  a  century,  in  which 
time  he  has  been  identified  with  its  growth  and 
prosperity.  His  maternal  grandfather,  Joel  Rouse, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and 
served  the  entire  period  without  being  wounded. 
He  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  always  followed  the 
vocation  of  an  agriculturist.  He  lived  to  the  ex- 
treme age  of  ninety-seven  years,  the  last  seven  of 
which  he  was  totally  blind. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Susan 
(Rouse)  M.agruder,  the  former  of  Scotch  descent 
and  a  native  of  Maryland,  .and  the  latter  of  Rock- 
ingham County,  Va.,  and  of  German  extraction. 
Their  marriage  occurred  in  Boone  County,  K^-., 
where  they  lived  for  a  number  of  years,  and  at  an 
eaily  day,  probably  about  1842,  they  removed  to 
Clark  County,  in  Soutlicrn  Illinois.  Thej'  re- 
moved to  Kankakee  County  in  1845, and  located  in 
what  is  now  known  as  Rockville  Townshi|).  This 
was  before  the  organization  of  Kankakee  County, 


502 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


this  whole  district  then  being  comprised  in  Will 
County.  People  were  obliged  to  go  to  Cliiengo  to  do 
tlieir  marketing,  the  journey  being  made  by  team. 
There  was  not  a  fence  to  be  seen  along  the  road 
for  the  entire  distance.  The  country  abounded  in 
wolves,  deer  and  wild  game  of  all  kinds.  There 
were  not  more  than  a  dozen  houses  around  tlie 
Gro^'e  at  that  time.  The  father  was  a  poor  but 
Lard-working  man,  and  settled  upon  about  twenty 
acres  of  land  in  Rockville  Township,  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  death,  in  1873.  His  wife  survived 
him  about  six  j-ears,  and  died  in  the  faith  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church,  of  which  she  was  a  con- 
sistent member,  and  to  which  her  husband,  though 
not  a  member,  contributed.  They  died  after  a  resi- 
dence in  Rockville  Township  of  forty  and  forty- 
five  years  respectively,  and  are  well  worthy  of  a 
place  among  the  honored  pioneers  of  this  vicinity. 

Thomas  H.  Magruder,  Jr.,  was  born  on  the  4th 
of  September,  1826,  near  Florence,  Boone  County, 
Kj'.,  about  twenty  miles  from  Cincinnati.  He  is 
one  of  a  family  of  thirteen  children,  three  of 
whom  are  now  deceased,  tlie  others  all  residing 
near  Kankakee.  About  1844  our  subject  removed 
to  this  county  and  went  to  work  upon  a  farm 
about  a  mile  north  of  the  present  site  of  Kankakee. 
In  1851  he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for 
himself,  which  vocation  he  followed  until  1889. 
In  partnership  with  his  brother  Henry  he  settled 
upon  a  farm  of  niuet}' acres  in  Rockville  Township. 
At  the  end  of  two  years  Mr.  Magruder  purchased 
his  brother's  interest  and  devoted  himself  to  the 
improvement  and  cultivation  of  the  farm  for  the 
succeeding  twelve  years.  He  then  sold  that  prop- 
erty and  bought  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  forty 
acres  in  the  same  township,  which  he  operated  for 
about  twenty-four  years.  At  the  time  he  retired 
from  active  life  he  was  the  owner  of  two  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land,  eighty  acres  of  which 
were  in  Indiana. 

On  the  26th  of  February,  1852,  Mr.  Magruder 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Shadley,  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Mary  (Haymond)  Shadle3'.  Nine  chil- 
dren have  blessed  this  union,  six  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing. Henry  A.,  the  eldest,  married  Miss  Euphrcmia 
S.  Shreffler,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Hattie  Shreffler, 
of  Rockville,  and   the}'  now   make  their  home  in 


Kankakee.  At  present  Hem-};  Magruder  is  one  of  ^ 
the  City  Aldermen  and  one  of  the  Directors  of 
the  City  National  Bank.  He  is  also  a  clothing 
merchant,  doing  business  at  No.  194  Court  Street, 
where  he  has  been  engaged  for  a  number  of  years. 
John  died  when  two  years  of  age.  Thomas  I.  is  a 
traveling  salesman  and  owns  a  farm  in  Indiana. 
Charles  AVilliam  married  Miss  Georgia  Duryca, 
daughter  of  Jarvis  Duryea,  of  White  Count}',  Ind., 
and  lives  in  Indianapolis,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
the  hotel  business.  They  have  three  children: 
Elmer,  Jesse  and  Ray.  Ira  J.  died  when  four 
years  of  age.  Geoi'ge  E.  married  Miss  Louisa, 
daughter  of  Alfred  Gerard,  of  Kankakee,  where 
Mr.  Magruder  is  engaged  in  carpentering  and 
building.  They  have  three  children:  Tessie,  Flos- 
sie and  Lois.  M^yron  married  Miss  Ada,  daughter 
of  Eli  Hawkins,  and  they  reside  upon  a  farm  four 
and  a-ha!f  miles  northwest  of  this  city.  Ella  M.  | 
and  Alta,  twins,  complete  the  family.  The  former  j 
was  married  February  23,  1893,  to  George  P.  Butz,  : 
of  this  count}'.  The  latter  died  when  nine  months 
old. 

In  1889  Mr.  Magruder  removed  to  Kankakee 
and  bought  a  comfortable  home  on  Indiana  Ave- 
nue, where  he  resides.  He  and  his  wife  hold  mem-i 
bership  with  tlie  United  Brethren  Church.  He 
uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  favor  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party.  He  has  been  a  i^rogressive  and  prac- 
tical farmer  during  the  most  of  his  life,  and  has 
done  much  to  advance  the  best  interests  and  wel- 
fare of  this  county.  During  the  many  years  whiclii 
he  has  passed  in  this  vicinity  he  has  made  man} 
friends  who  esteem  him  highly  for  his  qualities  O' 
worth  and  honor. 


-^]. 


^+^ 


.^=«>- 


"S] 


'^1  EFFERSON  VINING  is  a  retired  farmer,  n 
siding  on  section  28,  Otto  Township,  Kankr 
kee  County.  The  history  of  the  jiioiieers  i 
this  county  would  be  incomplete  withoi 
the  sketch  of  the  early  settler  whose  name  heai 
this  brief  sketch.  He  was  born  in  New  York,  i 
Steuben    County,  on  the  21st  of  September,  182 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


503 


and  is  a  son  of  Abi^ah  and  Abbie  (Steele)  Vining, 
also  natives  of  that  State  aucl  county.  The  ^'ining 
family  are  of  English  descent,  and  were  among  tlic 
sturdy  pioneers  of  the  Empire  Stale.  The  father  en- 
listed and  served  in  the  War  of  1H12,  on  the  north- 
ern frontier.  He  was  Orderly-Sergeant,  and  was 
afterwards  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Cai)tain  in  the 
militia.  His  wife  was  tlie  daughter  of  Bethel  Steele, 
of  New  York,  and  in  that  Slate  Mr.  Vining  en- 
gasjed  in  agricultural  pursuits  for  a  numljer  of  vears. 
In  1835,  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Oliio,  and, 
settling  in  Delaware  County,  made  that  his  home 
for  tlie  succeeding  five  years.  The  year  1810  saw 
him  located  at  Plainfield,  AVill  County,  111.,  where 
he  lived  for  about  two  3'ears.  Ho  next  came  to 
Kankakee  County,  and  spent  the  last  jears  of  his 
life  upon  a  farm  in  Limestone  Township.  He  died 
about  the  year  1875,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years. 
After  surviving  her  husliand  two  vears,  Mrs.  Vining 
was  also  called  to  the  better  land,  and  now  husband 
and  wife  lie  buried  side  by  side  in  Limestone  Ceme- 
terj',  where  a  suitable  monument  marks  their  last 
resting-place. 

.lefferson  Mning  is  the  tliird  in  order  of    birth 
of  a  family  of    four  sons  and  six  daughters,  who 
grew  to  maturity.     Until    the    age   of    fifteen    he 
lived    upon    his  father's  farm  in  the  State  of    his 
nativity,  and  with  his  parents  emigrated  to  Ohio 
about  tlie  year  1835.     He  had  fair  school  advanta- 
ges, and  by  wise  reading  and  s-tudy  made  himself 
a  well-informed  man  on  all  of  the  leading    issues 
of  the  day.     Wlien  a  young  man,  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  spent  his  first  year  here  in  the  southern 
part  of  the  State.     Returning  to  Ohio,  he  remained 
there  for  about  one  3'ear,  and  in  the  spring  of  1 842 
I  became  a  resident  of  Plainfield,  Will  Countv,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  for  about  three  j-ears.     In 
the  year  1845,  he  located  in  Limestone  Township, 
■  of   this   county,   and  entered  land,  which  he  pro- 
I  cceded  to  develop   and   improve.     He  was  one  of 
,  the    first   settlers    of    the   county,  and  was  one  of 
the  hardy  pioneers  when  this  country   was  almost 
:i  wilderness.     He  was  obliged  to  drive  to  Chicago 
for  all  supplies,  that  being  the  only  point  at  which 
'  they  were  obtainable.     After  siiending  a  few  years 
'  upon    this    farm,    which    he    placed  under  a  good 
-late  of  cultivation,  he  sold  the  same,  and  became 


the  owner  of  a  tract  of  land  just  north  of  Kanka- 
kee. There  ho  had  a  valuable  farm,  and  built 
ui)on  it  a  substantial  residence,  but  after  a  few 
years  he  sold  that  property  and  bought  a  place 
situated  on  llie  Iro(iuois  River,  wliich  was  im- 
proved, and  where  he  h.as  made  his  home  for  t  tventy- 
eight  years.  He  has  in  this  farm  about  sixt3'  acres, 
with  a  good  substantial  residence,  commodious 
barns  and  other  farm  buildings,  and  his  farm 
bears  evidence  of  the  thrift  and  carefulness  of  its 
owner. 

Mr.  Mning  w-as  married  in  Will  County  to 
Elizabeth  M.  Fiazer,  on  the  13th  of  March,  1849. 
The  lad_v  is  a  native  of  Virginia,  where  she  lived 
until  about  eight  years  of  age,  at  which  time  she 
came  to  Illinois  with  her  father,  John  Frazer,  who 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  on  Forked  Creek,  Will 
County.  By  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his 
wife  were  born  seven  children.  Clara  M.  is  the 
wife  of  Calvin  Drayer,  of  Grant  Park,  III.  Emily 
grew  to  womanhood,  but  is  now  deceased.  E.  P. 
was  married  in  1877  to  M.  Elizabeth  Marstiller, 
who  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  reared  in  Delaware 
County,  that  State,  but  who  is  now  deceased.  He 
was  .again  married,  in  1885,  this  time  to  Sarah  Lou- 
ise Haven,  a  native  of  Otto  Township,  and  has  one 
son  by  each  marriage,  Lee  and  Chauncc3\  He  is  a 
man  of  good  education,  and  has  I)eeu  a  teacher  in 
this  count3',  and  at  present  has  entire  charge  of 
his  father's  farm  and  business.  The  next  younger, 
Alraina  E.,  upon  arriving  at  womanhood  became 
the  wife  of  Warren  Wilmot,  and  is  now  deceased. 
Etlie  C.  married  Rolland  Gruver,  who  is  now  de- 
ceased. Festus  G.  has  received  a  good  school  edu- 
cation and  resides  at  home.  The  3'oungest  of  the 
family  is  William  P.,  who,  after  receiving  good 
educational  advantages,  became  one  of  the  teachers 
of  this  count3'.  He  now  holds  a  responsible  busi- 
ness position  in  Kankakee. 

Mr.  Vining  has  held  several  local  official  positions, 
and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board 
in  this  township  for  over  twenty  3-ears.  He  has 
ever  been  a  friend  to  education,  and  is  devoted  to 
securing  good  schools  and  teachers.  Formerly 
Mr.  Mning  was  a  .lackson  Democrat,  but  upon  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  part3',  joined  its 
r.auks,  and  was  identified  with   it   for  a  number  of 


504 


POETEAIT  AJSTD  BIOGKAPHICAL  EECOED. 


years.  He  has  always  been  a  friend  to  the  tem- 
perance cause,  and  for  the  last  five  years  has  sup- 
ported the  Prohibition  part3^  For  half  a  century 
lie  has  lived  in  Illinois,  and  for  forty-seven  years 
of  this  time  lias  been  identified  witli  this  county, 
which  lie  has  assisted  to  its  presentcoudition  of  pros- 
perity and  fruitfulness.  As  a  man,  Mr.  Vining  is 
marked  by  uprightness  of  character,  and  by  his 
worthy  qualities  has  won  the  esteem  and  confi- 
dnce  of  all  with  wiioin  lie  has  come  in  contact. 


fl_-^  ON.  JAMES  CII.\TFIELD  was  a  promi- 
nent and  well-known  citizen  of  Kankakee 
County  and  a  leading  farmer  of  Momence 
,j  Township.  It  is  but  justice  to  his  family 
and  friends  that  he  be  represented  in  this  volume, 
and  with  pleasure  we  present  this  record  of  his 
life  to  our  readers.  A  native  of  Indiana,  lie  was 
born  in  Parke  County,  on  tlie  24th  of  December, 
1831,  and  was  a  son  of  AViliiam  Arnold  and  Eliza- 
beth (Crane)  ChatHeld.  The  former  was  born  in 
Connecticut,  and  the  latter  was  a  native  of  the 
Empire  State,  both  parents  being  of  English  ex- 
traction. The}-  remained  in  Indiana  until  al)0ut 
1835,  when  thej'  removed  to  C^hicago.  but  after  a 
short  residence  in  that  place,  which  was  then  a 
mere  hamlet,  they  went  to  Joliet,  Hi.,  wliere  they 
remained  until  1840.  In  that  year  William  A. 
Chatfield,  with  his  famil}',  went  to  Wilmington, 
III.,  where  he  spent  the  succeeding  four  years  of 
his  life,  and  then  became  a  resident  of  Kankakee 
County,  making  a  permanent  location  on  the  pres- 
ent site  of  the  city  of  Momence.  In  early  life  he 
had  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner, 
wiiich  he  followed  for  some  years,  but  he  after- 
ward became  a  machinist  and  railiwriglit,  and  on 
locating  in  Momence,  built  and  operated  a  mill  in 
that  place.  He  was  the  second  Representative 
from  Kankakee  County  to  the  Illinois  Legislature, 
serving  as  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly  in 
1856  and  1857.  He  was  quite  prominent  in  pub- 
lic affairs,  and  his  worth  and  ability  made  him  a 


valued  citizen.  He  died  in  March,  1872,  and  his 
loss  w.as  deeply- regretted  by  a  large  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances.  He  had  been  three  times  mar- 
ried. 

As  before  stated,  .James  Chatfield,  whose  name 
heads  tliis  record,  was  about  four  years  of  age 
when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois.  He  ac- 
companied them  on  their  various  removals  in  tliis 
State,  until  they  at  length  settled  in  Kankakee 
Count}',  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
The  public  schools  afforded  him  his  educational  ad- 
vantages, and  he  entered  upon  his  business  career  as 
a  clerk,  which  vocation  he  followed  for  several  3'ears 
during  his  early  manhood.  He  afterward  turned 
his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  became 
the  owner  of  an  excellent  farm,  pleasantly  situated 
about  a  mile  from  Momence.  A  ma,n  of  good 
business  abilit}^  he  attended  careful!}^  to  his  work 
in  all  its  details,  and  as  a  result  won  success.  His 
prosperity  was  certainly  well  deserved.  The  well- 
tilled  fields  and  neat  appearance  of  his  farm  indi- 
cate his  thrift  and  enterprise,  which  were  num- 
bered among  his  chief  characteristics. 

In  August,  1856,  Mr.  Chatfield  was  married  to 
Miss  Sarah  .Jane  Briddell,  of  thiscountj^,  who  died 
about  seven  months  later.  He  was  a  second  time 
married,  on  the  10th  of  January,  1861,  the  lady  of 
his  choice  being  Miss  Sarah  Shockle}',  daughter  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  (Livingston)  Shockley,  who 
are  residents  of  Milan,  Ind.  Her  parents  are  both 
natives  of  Mainland,  and  are  of  Englisli  extraction. 
By  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chatfield  w.as  born 
a  family  of  six  children.  William  E.,  the  eldest,  is 
now  a  liveiyman  of  Momence,  and  one  of  the 
prominent  \'Oung  business  men  of  tliat  citv;  he 
married  Miss  Maiy  Bunker,  of  Martinton,  Iroquoi- 
Count}',  whose  parents  are  old  settlers  and  [iiora- 
inent  people  of  tiiat  county,  and  one  child  has  graced 
their  union,  James  Bunker.  Edwin  K.  is  engaged 
in  business  in  Momence,  carrying  on  a  meat-market. 
George  S.,  a  wide-awake  young  man  and  successful 
farmer,  operates  the  old  homestead.  J.  Webster  is 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in  Iowa.  Maude 
A.  is  one  of  the  popular  and  successful  school 
teachers  of  tliis  county.  Beulali,  who  com- 
pletes the  family,  is  still  at  home  with  her  mother. 
The  children  have  all  received  good  coinmou-scliool 


umm 

OF  THE 
'^NIVERSnvOFlLLiraiS 


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cMjomJ/o.       SW^^ 


OF  THE 
HMlVERSiTY  OF  ILLINOIS 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


507 


t'ducatioiis,  and  have  thus  been  fitted  for  tlie  piao- 
tit-al  and  resiionsible  duties  of  life. 

Mr.  ChatlifcUl   was-a    prominent  member  of  the 
Masonic  fralernity,  and  was  a  man  of  great  popu- 
larity throughout  the  county,  his  friends  being  in- 
deed many,     lie  took  a  very  active  part  in  polities, 
and  was  lionorcd  with  a  number  of    oflicial    posi- 
tions.    The  Hepublican  ijarty  found  in  him  a  standi 
supporter,  who   did  all  iu   his  power  to  aid  in   its 
upbuilding  and  insure  its  success.     He  w.as  elected 
(      on  that   ticket  as  Chairman  of  the  Uoard  of  Super- 
visors of   the  county,  and  in    1880  he  was  elected 
and  represented  his    district  as  a    member    of   the 
;      State  Legislature.  He  ever  worked  for  the  interests 
of  the  people,  and  won  their  hearty  commendation. 
His  public  and  private  life   were  above   reproach, 
and  he  had  the  respect  and  confidence  of   all  with 
whom  business,  political  or  social  relations  brought 
him  in   contact.     He  passed  away    at  his  home  on 
the  24ih  of  .lune,  1889,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years. 
^     His  widow,  an   estimable  lady,  who    is  widely  and 
I     favorably    known  in   the    community    where   she 
<\     makes  her  home,  still   resides  on  tiie  farm  left   her 
'      by  her    husband. 


NDREW  DAYTON,  deceased,  w.os  born  on 
the  11th  of  March,  1835,  and  died  at  his 
i'i  liome  in  Jlomence  Township  .July  26, 
1892.  No  death  in  this  community  has 
been  more  deeply  regretted  than  that  of  the  gen- 
tleman whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  for  he  was 
a  prominent  man,  a  valued  citizen  and  a  leading 
farmer.  He  certainly  deserves  representation  in 
this  work,  and  we  gladly  insert  in  the  record  of 
the  county  tliis  account  of  his  life. 

Mr.  Uayton  was  a  Canadian  by  birth,  and  was  a 
son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Hess)  Dayton,  both 
of  whom  were  also  natives  of  Canada.  On  leav- 
ing that  countiy  and  coming  to  the  United  States, 
they  look  up  their  residence  in  Kankakee  County, 
111.,  settling  on  the  banks  of  the  Kankakee  River. 
That  was  about  the  year  1839,  when  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was    only    four   years    of    age.     To 


farming  William  Dayton  devoted  his  energies 
throughout  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  secured 
a  tract  of  wild  land,  totally  unimproved,  and 
through  his  cultivation  and  labor  transformed 
it  into  a  tiact  of  great  fertility.  Both  he  and  his 
wife   spent    their    remaining   da\'s  in  this  county'. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  Andrew 
DaN'ton,  who  spent  the  first  four  years  of  his  life 
in  the  land  of  his  birth,  and  then,  as  before  stated, 
was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Kankakee  County. 
From  than  lime  he  became  a  lesident  of  this  com- 
munity. The  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  quietly 
passed,  unmarked  by  any  event  of  special  im- 
portance. He  was  entirely  self-educated,  but 
through  business  experience  and  observation,  he 
made  himself  a  well-informed  man.  He  was  quite 
young  when  his  father  died,  and  was  thus  thrown 
upon  his  own  resources  to  make  his  way  in  life  un- 
aided. He  was  familiar  with  no  kind  of  work  ex- 
cept that  of  a  farm,  and  in  consequence  he  began 
working  by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand,  being  thus 
employed  for  a  period  of  several  years.  It  was 
in  this  way  he  got  his  start  in  life.  Industry  and 
enterprise,  qualities  essential  to  success,  were  num- 
bered among  his  chief  characteristics,  and  as  a  re- 
sult brought  him  prosperity. 

On  the  21st  of  November,  1858,  Mr.  Dayton 
was  married,  winning  the  hand  of  Miss  Marilla 
Lamport,  also  a  native  of  Canada.  She  was  born 
on  the  31st  of  March,  1839,  and  was  the  fourth 
child  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  ten  children 
who  graced  the  union  of  Benjamin  and  Mary 
(Force)  Lamport.  Her  parents  came  to  this  county 
when  she  was  quite  a  child,  only  about  six  years 
of  age,  and  took  up  their  residence  upon  a  farm, 
where  Mrs.  Lamport  is  still  living.  The  husband 
and  father  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  upon 
the  land  which  he  first  purchased  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  the  2d  of  April,  1872,  at  the  age 
of  sixtj'-four  years.  His  widow  still  survives  liim, 
and  is  3'et  living  on  the  old  homestead  in  this 
county,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-one  years. 

By  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  was 
born  a  family  of  fivechildren,  numbering  three  sons 
and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  3'et  living. 
William  B.,  the  eldest,  is  now  a  representative  and 
progressive  farmer  of  this  county.     He  w.as  married 


506 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArHICAL  RECORD. 


to  Miss  Belle  Winfrey,  of  Bloomingtoii,  Ind.,  and 
four  children  grace  their  union.  Anna  May  is  now 
the  wife  of  William  Garrett,  a  prosperous  farmer 
residing  in  Momence  Township,  and  by  their  mar- 
riage have  been  born  four  children.  Emor^'  T., 
the  third  of  the  famil}-,  wedded  Miss  Ida  Bales,  a 
resident  of  Kanicakee  County,  and  their  union  has 
been  blessed  by  one  child.  Etta  A.,  tlie  next  youn- 
ger, is  at  home.  Merritt  A.,  who  completes  the 
family,  is  also  at  home.  The  latter  operates  the 
old  homestead  farm,  and  is  a  successful  young  agri- 
culturist. The  children  all  received  good  school 
privileges,  and  were  thus  fitted  for  the  practical 
and  responsible  duties  of  life. 

Mr.  Dayton  was  truly  a  self-made  man,  and  to 
his  own  untiring  efforts  and  well-directed  energies 
was  due  his  success  in  life.  He  began  as  a  farm 
hand,  and  by  his  industry,  hard  labor  and  perse- 
verance, he  accumulated  some  capital.  This  en- 
abled him  to  purchase  a  small  farm.  Buying  a 
tract  of  land,  he  began  its  development  with  char- 
acteristic energy,  and  from  early  morning  until 
darkness  prevented  his  further  work,  he  labored  in 
the  interests  of  himself  and  family.  His  land  soon 
began  to  yield  him  a  ready  return  for  the  care  and 
cultivation  bestowed  upon  it,  and  from  time  to  time 
as  his  financial  resourses  increased,  he  extended  the 
boundaries  of  his  farm,  until  he  became  the  owner 
of  four  hundred  and  fourteen  acres  of  valuable  land 
whicli  he  placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
He  also  made  many  improvements  on  the  place, 
which  stand  .as  monuments  to  his  enterprising  an 
progressive  spirit.  He  was  a  man  of  good  business 
abilit}-,  and  though  he  had  no  advantages  whatso- 
ever, he  made  the  most  of  his  opportunities  and 
steadily  worked  his  way  upward.  Overcoming 
the  obstacles  and  difficulties  in  his  path,  he  acquired 
a  competence. 

Mr.  Dayton  exercised  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  Republican 
party,  being  a  warm  advocate  of  its  principles,  yet 
he  was  never  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  oHice-seek- 
ing,  caring  nothing  for  the  honors  or  emoluments 
of  public  office.  Fair  and  honest  in  his  business 
dealings,  and  straightforward  in  all  tlie  relations 
of  life,  he  won  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all 
with  whom  he  was    brought  in  contact,  and  gained 


the  high  regard  of  many  who  remained  his  warns 
friends  until  his  death.  While  standing  in  the 
door  at  his  son's,  Mr.  Dayton  was  struck  by  light- 
ning and  killed  instantly-,  July  26,  1892,  at  the 
age  of  fifty -seven  years.  His  wife  and  children 
still  reside  upon  the  old  homestead.  Mrs.  Dayton 
is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  He  left  them 
in  comfortable  circumstances,  their  farm  being  con- 
sidered one  of  the  finest  and  best  improved  in  the 
township. 


^=^>^^<i 


(giw_ 


(£!>— 


ylLLIAM  SNOW,  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser 
on  section  36,  Sumner  Township, is  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Kankakee  County, 
having  come  to  Illinois  in  1849.  He  was  born  on 
the  16th  of  December,  1821,  in  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land. His  parents,  Francis  and  Elizabeth  (Morti- 
mer) Snow,  were  natives  of  the  same  country  and 
had  seven  children,  but  three  of  whom  survive. 
John  is  deceased;  Rachel,  William  and  Mary  are 
yet  living,  while  Ellen,  Elizabeth  and  Ann  are  de- 
ceased. In  1826  the  family  crossed  the  briny  deep 
in  a  sailing-vessel  bound  for  the  United  States, 
and  were  four  weeks  and  three  da3's  in  making 
the  voyage.  They  located  in  Franklin  County, 
N.  Y. 

Our  subject  grew  to  manhood  in  New  York  and 
received  the  most  of  his  education  in  a  log  school 
house.  He  has  been  largely  self-educated  since 
arriving  at  mature  years.  When  only  thirteen  years 
of  age,  Mr.  Snow  started  out  in  the  world  to  fight 
the  battle  of  life.  He  commenced  by  working  for 
neighboring  farmers,  receiving  $8  per  month  as  his 
compensation.  In  1849,  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
purchased  a  farm  in  Sumner  Township,  the  very 
property  on  which  he  still  resides.  This  farm  con- 
sists of  one  hundred  acres,  which  at  tho  time  of 
his  purch.ase  were  entirely  unimproved  and  which 
he  received  of  the  Government  on  a  land  war- 
rant. In  those  comparatively  earh'  dajs  of  this 
county's  history  the  countiy  was  wild  and  but  lit- 
tle inhabited,  add  game  of  all  kinds  abounded.  Jlr. 
Snow,  as  there  was  no  house  upon  his  property, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


509 


was  obliged  to  go  to  Chicago  for  lumber  with  an 
ox-tcara.  Upon  his  return  he  construcled  a  small 
frame  house,  whicli  was  his  home  for  many  years. 
The  nearest  market  being  Chicago,  to  that  place  he 
had  to  haul  liis  grain  and  otiier  crops  in  order  to 
dispose  of  tliem.  Tlie  farm  on  wliich  he  has  made 
iiis  iiome  for  so  many  years  he  li.as  placed  under  a 
higli  state  of  cultivation  and  it  little  resembles 
tlie  raw  prairie  of  which  he  became  tlie  possessor 
over  forty  years  ago. 

January  26,  1846,  Jlr.  Snow  was  married  to  Miss 
Olive  Haslett,  a  native  of  Vermont  born  in  1824. 
By  their  union  eigiit  children  were  born:  Francis, 
George,  Elizabeth  (now  deceased),  Lizzie,  "VVilliam, 
Carrie,  Olive  and  Fannie.  The  mother  of  tliese 
children  departed  this  life  Ajiril  5,  1866,  and  lies 
buried  in  Momence  Cemetery.  Mr.  Snow  was 
again  married,  August  3,  1867,  Mrs.  Rachel  A. 
Otis,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Maria  (Grirtin) 
Sipes,  becoming  his  wife.  Mrs.  Snow  was  born  in 
St.  Lawrence  County,  in  the  town  of  Lewisville, 
N.  Y.,  April  16,  1826. 

Mr.  Snow  was  an  old-line  Whig,  then  a  Repub- 
lican until  1880  and  since  a  Democrat.  Mrs. 
Snow  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  It  is  an  act  of  simple  justice  for  the 
present  favored  generation  to  give  due  credit  to 
those  worth3',  patient  and  persevering  pioneers 
who  have  so  nobly  paved  the  way  for  the  success 
and  growing  prosperit3'  of  this  county,  and  among 
these  who  have  taken  an  active  part  we  arc  glad 
to  record  tliis  brief  history  of  the  life  work  of 
William  Snow. 


if%,R.  LEVI  MATIIIEU  has  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  liis  profession  in  St.  Anne 
since  1883.  He  is  a  native  of  Kankakee 
Countj',  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Bourbonnais  Grove,  on  the  oth  of  November, 
1850.  His  parents,  Francis  and  Solemie  (Lang- 
lois)  Matliieu.  were  both  natives  of  Canada  and  of 
French  origin.     The  maternal  grandfather  of  our 


subject  was  a  farmer  in  Canada  and  emigrated  to 
Illinois  in  1848,  locating  upon  a  farm  about  four 
miles  from  Kankakee,  where  he  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  his  death  in  1857,  at  which 
time  he  was  about  fifty-four  years  of  age.  Fran- 
cis Mathieu  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this 
county,  to  which  he  came  in  1848,  and  where  he 
was  soon  after  married.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation in  early  life,  but  afterward  learned  the 
shoemaker's  trade,  which  calling  he  followed  in 
this  county  till  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1877.  His  family  consisted  of  nine  sons 
and  four  daugliters,  ten  of  whom  are  3'et  living. 
They  are  as  follows:  Levi,  George,  Edward,  Will- 
iam, Horace,  Arthur,  Victorine,  Agnes,  Delia  and 
Louisa. 

The  Doctor  was  reared  to  mature  3'ears  in  Bour- 
bonnais Grove,  and  received  his  education  at  St. 
Viateur's  College.  Upon  the  completion  of  his 
studies  in  that  institution,  he  entered  the  employ 
of  AVesle\-  Bonfield  in  his  drug  store  in  Kankakee, 
and  remained  with  him  for  four  years.  He  tiien 
purchased  the  drug  store  of  E.  S.  Cook,  which  he 
carried  on  until  1876.  Selling  out,  he  then  pur- 
chased a  drug  store  at  St.  Mary's,  Iroquois 
County,  where,  however,  he  only  stayed  some  six 
months.  Returning  to  Kankakee,  he  entered  into 
partneisliip  with  Gieorge  Letourneau,  and  was  en- 
gaged in  the  same  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
Letourneau  &  Mathieu.  At  the  expiration  of  a 
year  and  a-half  he  removed  to  St.  Anne  and 
clerked  for  X.  Bastien  for  two  3-ears. 

On  the  7th  of  September,  1873,  Dr.  Mathieu  and 
Miss  Zephyrine  Brouillette  were  united  in  mar- 
riage. The  lady's  parents,  Landre  and  Emile 
(Fortin)  Brouillette,  were  of  French  descent  and 
natives  of  Canada.  Five  children  were  born  to 
our  worthy  subject  and  wife,  a  son  and  four 
daughters:  Nettie,  Wesley,  Belle,  Hattie,  and  one 
who  died  in  infanc3'. 

In  the  fall  of  1881,  Dr.  Mathieu  went  to  Chi- 
cago and  studied  medicine  in  the  College  of  Phy- 
sicians and  Surgeons,  beinggraduated  therefrom  in 
1883.  Returning  to  St.  Anne,  he  commenced  the 
practice  of  his  profession  and  has  succeeded  ad- 
mirably-. He  is  very  popular,  having  always  taken 
an  interest  in  the  public  improvements  and  prog- 


510 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ress  of  the  town.  Mrs.  Matliieu  holds  member- 
ship with  tlie  Presbyterian  Chnrcii,  and  the  Doctor 
is  a  member  of  Maple  Camp  Is'o.  1321,  M.  W.  A. 
He  served  as  Town  Clerk  for  two  years,  proving 
an  acceptable  officer.  Politically  he  is  a  Demo- 
crat. 


Q/ 


3 


3i^^ 


5)ILL1AM  L.  IIATTON,  a  retired  farmer, 
now  makes  his  home  in  Grant  Park.  He 
is  one  of  the  oldest  native-born  citizens 
of  this  county,  where  he  lias  spent  the  greater  por- 
tion of  his  life.  His  birth  occurred  on  the  20th  of 
February,  1845,  in  Yellowhead  Township,  and  of 
a  family  of  three  children  lie  was  the  youngest. 
His  parents  were  Leslie  R.  and  Elizabeth  (Sting- 
ier) Hatton.  The  former  was  a  native  of  Oliio, 
where  ho  lived  on  a  farm  with  liis  parents  until 
arriving  at  man's  estate.  In  an  early  day  he  emi- 
grated to  Fountain  County,  Ind.,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1840,  when  he  came  to  Yellowhead 
Townsliip  and  settled  upon  a  farm  which  he  culti- 
vated until  his  death,  on  the  ;30tli  of  January, 
1847.  He  was  obliged  to  goto  Chicago  to^'niarket, 
and  on  one  of  these  trips  was  nearly  frozen,  this 
being  the  immediate  cause  of  his  death.  He  was 
of  English  descent.  His  wife  was  also  born  in 
Ohio  and  was  of  German  extraction.  She  de- 
parted   this   life    in    Kankakee    County,  May  24, 

1852. 

When  only  about  seven  years  of  age  our  subject 
was  left  an  orphan  and  went  to  live  with  some 
relatives.  On  reaching  his  majority,  he  inherited 
eighty  acres  of  his  father's  farm.  On  the  lOtli  of 
February,  1874,  Mr.  Hatton  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Flora  Kile,  who  was  also  born  in 
Yellowhead  Township,  on  the  25th  of  November. 
1854.  Her  parents.  Reason  C.  and  Jane  (Hayden) 
Kile,  are  old  settlers  of  this  county  and  are  still 
living  in  Yellowhead  Township.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hatton  were  born  two  children,  a  son,  Willie,  who 
died  in  infancy,  and  Alma,  who  was  born  on  the 
9th  of  February,  1877. 

Mr.  Hatton,  responding  to  the  call  of  his  coun- 
try, donned    the    blue   and    became  a  member  of 


Company'  H,  Seven t^'-sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  Au- 
gust 12,  1862,  being  the   date   of   his   enli-itment.] 
He  participated  in  the   following   battles  and   en- 
gagements:   tlie  siege  and  surrender  of  VicksburgJ 
which  occurred  on  the  4tli  of  July,  1863;  the  siegel 
of  Jackson,  Miss.,  in  July  of  the   same  year;    tliej 
skirmish  at    Champion    Mills,  in    I-'ebruary,  1864;l 
Benton,  Miss.,  in    May,  1864;   and  in   the   eng.age-j 
ment  at  .Tackson   Cross  Roads,  July  7,  1861,  he  re- 
ceived a   gunshot  wound  in    the   right   hand  and] 
was  sent  to  the  City  lIos[)ital   at  Yicksbiirg,  where j 
he  remained    for   about  a  month.     He    afterward] 
took  part  in  the  siege  and   assault  of  Ft.  I'lakely,! 
April   9,  1865.     That  evening  after  they  had  cap-j 
tured  the  fort  the  army  received  word   that   Gen. 
Lee  had  surrendeied.     JMr.  Hatton  was  discharged] 
from   the  service  July  22,  1865,  and  arrived  at  his] 
home  on  the  6th  of    August,  having    served    liisj 
country  faithfully  for  nearly  three  j'cars. 

For  twenty-four  years   our  subject  engaged  in 
farming  in  Yellowhead  Township  and  is  still  the ^ 
owner  of  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  of  the| 
county,  consisting  of   three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  six  miles  east  of  Grant  Park,  in  Yellowhead, 
Township.     He  also  0rt"nsa  beautiful  home  in  that] 
place.     For  the   past  three  j'cars  he  has  been  As- 
sessor of  his  township.     In  his  political  views,  Mr. 
Hatton  affiliates  with  the  Democratic  party.     Asj 
one  of  the  early  pioneers  and  representative  citi-| 
zens,  he  has  won  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  and  , 
well  deserves  a  place  in  this  volume. 


4^ 


(i^^HOMAS    STROUD   is  a  well-known  farmer  i 

'ifes.    residing   on    section  24,  Salina  Township., 
'Ii,(gj)i)>  =  .       , 

^^f^f-    Throughout  the  community  he  is  recognized  1 

as  a  leading  and  influential  citizen,  and  as  such  we  ' 
take  pleasure  in  presenting  to  our  readers  this 
record  of  his  life.  He  was  born  in  South  Newing- 
ton,  England,  March  4,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam and  'Ma.vy  (Gunn)  Stroud.  His  father  and 
grandfather  were  both  large  horse  dealers  of  Eng- 
land. The  former,  in  1847,  left  his  native  land, 
and  in  a  sailing-vessel  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


■.1 1 


landing  in  New  York  City  jusl  five  weeks  from  the 
time  he  had  left  England.  Making  his  wa\'  to 
Toronto,  Canada,  he  purchased  a  farm  in  tiiat  lo- 
cality, but  later  removed  to  Black  Rock,  N.  Y., 
where  he  spent  the  succeeding  year.  In  the  spring- 
he  went  to  Cambria  Centre,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm,  and  there  resided  until  1859,  when  he  sold 
out  and  rented  a  large  farm  near  Lockport,  N.  Y. 
After  operating  that  place  for  three  years,  he  made 
his  way  Westward,  and  for  about  ten  years  was 
engaged  in  farming  near  Valparaiso,  Ind.  In 
iy(jy,  he  removed  to  Dallas  Centre,  Iowa,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming  for  about  ten  years,  when  lie 
became  a  resident  of  Scranton,  Greene  County, 
where  he  purchased  a  farm.  Both  are  now  eightj-- 
three  years  of  age,  but  they  are  still  enjoying  good 
health,  and  are  j^et  well  preserved. 

Mr.  and  IMrs.  Stroud  had  a  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren: Catherine,  who  became  the  wife  of  Richard 
Hall,  and  died  in  1851;  Thomas,  of  this  sketch; 
John,  a  farmer  of  South  Dakota;  Lottie,  Mrs. 
Scoll,  of  \'alparaiso,  Ind.;  Alary  Ann,  widow  of 
\Villiara  I).  Guthrie,  and  a  resident  of  Chicago; 
AVilliam,  who  follows  farming  in  Greene  County, 
Iowa;  Jane,  wife  of  Charles  Ellernian,  a  well- 
to-do  faiiner  of  Dallas,  Iowa;  and  Lucy,  wife  of 
Kicliard  (iunn,  of  Peoria,  III. 

Thomas  Stroud,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
was  in  his  eleventh  year  when  his  parents  emi- 
grated to  Canada.  By  his  father  he  was  placed  in 
a  grocery  store  in  Toronto,  where  he  remained  for 
about  three  years.  He  then  went  to  the  Empire 
State,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  came  West 
by  way  of  the  Lakes,  landing  in  Chicago.  This 
was  in  1858.  He  began  working  on  a  farm  at 
*1G  per  month,  being  thus  employed  for  about  half 
a  year,  after  which  he  joined  his  parents  in  In- 
diana. For  two  years  he  remained  in  that  State, 
but  (m  the  7th  of  August,  1802,  he  left  his'  home 
to  enter  the  service  of  his  country. 

Mr.  Stroud  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  1, 
Seventy-third  Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  mustered 
into  service  at  South  Bend.  His  regiment  was 
sent  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  wentSoulh  underGen. 
Rosecrans,  and  was  in  a  number  of  skirmishes. 
The  first  active  engagement  in  which  he  jiarlici- 
pated   was  at  Stone   Uiver.     He  was  disabled    in 


fording  that  river  on  the  1st  of  January."  186.3. 
He  had  to  cross  four  times,  and  as  this  was  in  the 
middle  of  winter,  when  the  river  was  full  of  ice, 
he  caught  a  severe  cold,  and  was  taken  with  rheu- 
matism so  that  he  w.as  unfitted  for  further  field 
duty.  He  was  then  sent  to  Hospital  No.  1,  in 
Murfreesboro,  where  he  remained  for  about  thiee 
months.  Soon  afterward  he  was  transferred  to  the 
Veteran  Reserve  Cori)s  for  garrison  duty,  where 
he  served  until  August,  1865.  During  that  time 
he  was  made  Sergeant.  AVhcn  the  war  was  over, 
and  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  services,  he 
returned  to  his  home. 

While  home  on  a  furlough,  in  December,  1863, 
■our  subject  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jane 
P.,  daughter  of  Abiel  and  Eliza  D.  Garrish.  When 
the  war  was  over  he  went  to  West  Creek,  Ind.,  and 
operated  the  farm  belonging  to  his  fathor-in-law 
for  two  years.  The  year  1868  witnessed  his  ar- 
rival in  Kankakee  Count3-.  Purchasing  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  24,  Salina 
Township,  he  began  the  improvement  of  the  farm 
where  he  has  since  lived.  With  the  exception  of 
the  orchard  he  has  placed  upon  his  farm  most  of  its 
im))rovenients.  The  land  is  now  under  a  hiii;h 
state  of  cultivation,  and  good  buildings  and  all 
the  accessories  of  a  model  farm  indicate  the  prac- 
tical and  progressive  spirit  of  the  owner,  and  stand 
as  monuments  to  his  thrift  and  euter[)risc. 

By  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Airs.  Stroud  have  been 
born  five  children,  as  follows:  Mary  E.,  a  success-  . 
ful  teacher,  now  employed  in  the  public  schools  of 
St.  Anne,  III.;  Frederick  11.,  a  school  teacher  of 
this  county;  Anna  B.,  a  student  in  the  seminary 
of  Onarga,  III.;  lOdwin  G.  and  Esther  O.  The 
Stroud  household  is  the  abode  of  hospitality,  and 
its  members  rank  high  in  social  circles.  .Since  be- 
coming a  voter,  Mr.  Stroud  has  been  identified 
with  the  Republican  i)art3',  and  is  one  of  the 
stanch  and  stalwart  advocates  of  its  principles. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  and  he  also  holds  niembersliip  with 
the  Methodist  Church.  Our  subject  is  a  man  of 
good  business  ability,  sagacious  and  far-sighted, 
and  through  his  own  well-directed  efforts  has  won 
prosperity.  The  obstacles  in  his  path  he  has  over- 
come by  good  management,  and  bj'  his  enterprise 


512 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  has  steadily  worked  his  way  upward.  He  is 
alike  true  to  his  country  in  times  of  peace,  as  well 
as  in  times  of  war,  and  Kankakee  County  numbers 
him  among  its  valued  citizens. 


ENRY  KRAMER,  who  is  engaged  in  general 
^'  merchandising  in  Grant  Park,  is  an  exam- 
ple of  America's  self-made  men.  He  came 
to  this  country  a  poor  bo}',  without  a  dol- 
lar and  with  no  knowledge  of  the  language,  and 
has  steadily  and  persevering!}'  overcome  all  obsta- 
cles in  his  pathway  until  he  has  acquired  a  fortune. 
He  is  the  eldest  child  in  a  family  of  four  children, 
two  sons  and  two  daughters,  and  was  born  on  the 
15th  of  March,  1850.  German}'  is  the  land  of  his 
birth,  and  his  parents,  Hans  Detlef  and  Dorathea 
(Blohm)  Kramer,  still  make  their  home  in  the  Fa- 
therland. 

When  only  ten  jears  of  age  Henr}'  Kramer  em- 
barked on  one  of  his  father's  ships  as  a  sailor  and 
sailed  between  inland  ports  for  nine  years.  At 
that  time,  then  nineteen  years  of  age,  he  emigrated 
to  America  and  landed  in  the  village  of  Sherburn- 
vilte,  Kankakee  County,  on  the  1st  of  May,  1869. 
His  first  emp!03'ment  was  in  a  brickyard,  where  he 
was  a  faithful  worker  for  about  half  a  year.  For 
the  following  five  j'ears  he  engaged  upon' a  farm 
and  during  that  time  obtained  a  fair  knowledge 
of  the  English  language.  He  returned  in  the 
fall  of  the  j-ear  1875  to  his  native  country  on 
a  visit,  but  remained  there  only  a  short  time. 
Returning  to  Illinois,  he  again  worked  by  the 
month  for  two  yeais,  carefully  husbanding  his  in- 
come. On  the  6th  of  April,  1877,  he  built  a  small 
store  in  Sherburnville  Grove,  on  the  Momence 
road,  and  there  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
until  1880.  He  then  sold  out  his  stock  and  again 
visited  his  native  land. 

On  the  11th  of  September,  1880,  Mr.  Kramer 
wedded  Miss  Heilewig  Kruse,  who  was  born  in 
Germany  January  23,  1855.  They  were  married 
in  Chicago  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hartmann.    Three  chil- 


dren were  born  of  their  union:  Hans  Detlef,  C'laus 
J.  and  Frederick  Wilhelm.  The  mother  of  these 
children  departed  this  life  on  the  4th  of  July, 
1888.  Mr.  Kramer  was  again  married,  on  the  27tli 
of  January,  1889,  at  which  time  Miss  Margaretha 
Naeve  became  his  bride.  The  lady  was  born  in 
Germany  on  the  29lh  of  April,  1868,  and  by  her 
marriage  has  become  the  mother  of  two  children, 
a  son  and  daughter,  John  Hinrich  Albert  and 
Anna  Dorathea  Caroline. 

On  his  return  from  German}'  in  1880,  Mr.  Kra- 
mer again  purchased  the  Sherburnville  store,where 
he  engaged  in  business.  For  about  a  year  he  was 
Postmaster  of  the  village.  In  1882,  removing  to 
Grant  Park,  he  purchased  the  store  which  he  now 
occupies  and  where  he  has  since  carried  on  a  suc- 
cessful and  ijicreasing  business.  He  also  still  owns 
and  operates  a  store  at  Sherburnville,  and  is  the 
owner  of  three  hundred  acres  of  land. 

For  four  years,  Mr.  Kramer  has  served  as  Police 
Magistrate  in  Grant  Park,  and  in  regard  to  pol- 
litics  is  a  stalwart  Republican.  He  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church. 
His  educational  privileges  in  his  early  years  were 
those  of  the  common  schools,  but  by  wide  readinir 
he  has  become  very  well  educated  and  is  well  in- 
formed. He  is  a  great  reader  and  owns  one  of  the 
largest  private  libraries  in  the  town. 


REDERICK  HORNBERGER,  who  is  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  on  section  8, 
Pilot  Township,  was  born  in  Dearborn 
County,  Ind.,  November  8,  1847,  and  is  the  sixth 
in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  nine  children.  He 
is  of  German  descent,  his  parents,  John  and  Mary 
E.  (Bonet)  Hornbeiger,  both  being  natives  of  the 
Fatherland.  They  were  married  in  that  country, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1847  sailed  for  the  New 
World.  The  voyage  across  the  briny  deep  con- 
sumed sixty  days,  but  at  length  they  reached  their 
destination  in  safety.  They  made  their  first  loca- 
tion in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  but  after  two  months 
spent   in   that   city  removed  to  Indiana.     The  fa- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


513 


thei-  puiT-hased  land  in  Dearborn  County  and  was 
there  engaged  in  farming  for  eighteen  j^ears.  He 
then  sold  out  and  c.iine  to  Kankakee  County, 
where  he  purchased  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  improved  land,  the  same  upon  vvliich 
our  subject  now  resides.  Prosperity  attended  his  in- 
dustrious and  well-directed  efforts,  and  as  his  finan- 
cial resources  increased  ho  added  to  his  original 
purchase,  extending  the  boundaries  of  his  farm 
until  it  comprised  two  hundred  and  eight}'  acres. 
He  made  many  excellent  improvements  upon  it, 
erected  good  buildings  and,  in  fact,  added  all  the 
accessories  of  a  model  farm  of  the  nineteenth  cen- 
tury. He  died  at  his  home,  in  December,  1872, 
and  in  his  death  the  communit}-  lost  a  good  citizen. 
Ilis  wife  survived  him  a  number  of  3'ears  and 
passcd'away  in  Dwiglit.  III.,  in  August,  1889. 

Of  the  Ilornberger  family',  John,  the  eldest,  is 
now  residing  in  Vermillion,  Edgar  County,  111.; 
Kate  is  the  wife  of  .John  Mabes,  a  resident  of  Knox 
County,  Ind.;  Christian  occupies  a  responsible  po- 
sition in  Indianapolis;  Barbara  became  the  wife  of 
Louis  Bower  and  died  in  Linn  County,  Iowa; 
John  G.  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Grundy  County, 
111.;  JIarv  resides  with  her  sister,  Mrs.  Christina 
Hoffman,  of  Grundy  County;  and  Michael  W.  is  a 
merchant  of  Blue  Hill,  Neb. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  who  remained  in  the  county  of  his  nativ- 
ity until  eighteen  years  of  age.  During  that  time 
he  acquired  a  good  practical  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools.  He  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  to  Kankakee  County,  and  remained  with 
his  father  until  his  death.  On  the  23d  of  August, 
1873,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Miller,  a  native  of 
Niles,  III.,  and  a  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Eliza- 
beth Miller.  Her  father  is  now  deceased,  but  her 
mother  is  living  in  Kankakee  County.  Six  chil- 
dren grace  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife, 
and  the  family  circle  still  remains  unbroken.  In 
order  of  birth  the\- are  as  follows:  John  F.,  George 
AV.,  Ida,  Thomas,  Ella  and  Eva. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Ilornberger  located  upon 
a  part  of  the  home  farm.  Later  he  purchased  his 
mother's  interest  in  the  estate  and  subsequently 
bought  out  the  other  heirs,  so  that  he  is  now  the 
sole  owner  of  the  old  homestead.  He  has  the  greater 


part  of  the  place  well  tilled  and  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation,  so  that  it  is  now  a  valuable  farm. 
It  is  conveniently  located  three  and  .a-half  miles 
north  of  Ilerscher  and  about  midway  between 
Union  Hill  and  Goodrich. 

Mr.  Ilornberger  since  casting  his  first  Presiden- 
tial vote  for  Gen.  Grant  in  1872  has  been  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  jiarty.  As  every  true 
American  citizen  should  do,  he  takes  an  active  in- 
terest in  political  affairs,  but  has  never  been  an 
aspirant  for  office.  In  the  interests  of  the  cause  of 
education  he  has  labored  faithfully.  For  about 
ten  years  he  served  as  a  member  of  the  School 
Board  and  his  influence  was  ever  used  in  securins 
competent  teachers  and  good  schools.  Any  inter- 
est calculated  toimi)roveor  benefit  the  community 
receives  his  hearty  endorsement,  and  wherever  he 
is  known  he  is  recognized  as  a  valuable  citizen. 
Himself  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Evangelical 
Church  and  are  highly  respected  people. 


.-  <-^\^ 


^^EORGE  M.  WALTER,  who  carries  on  a  gen- 
ii '^w?  ^'^^  merchandise  establishment  in  Bonfield, 
^^^  is  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this  county 
and  well  deserves  mention  in  its  history.  His  life 
record  is  as  follows:  He  was  born  in  Baden,  Ger- 
many, December  23,  1839,  and  is  the  eldest  in  a 
family  of  five  children,  four  sons  and  a  daughter, 
whose  iiareuts  were  John  George  and  Catherine 
(Grob)  Walter.  The  father  was  born  in  Baden, 
where  his  ancestors  had  lived  for  several  genera- 
tions. He  took  up  farming  for  his  life  work  and 
carried  on  that  pursuit  in  his  native  land  until 
1853,  when  he  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  the 
United  States.  Making  his  first  location  in  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  he  there  began  work  in  a  soap  factory, 
where  he  was  employed  for  about  five  years. 
On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  removed  to 
Henry  County,  Ind.,  and  entered  a  farm,  upon 
which  he  remained  until  1861.  In  that  year  he 
came  to  Kankakee  County,  III.,  and  took  up  his 
residence  upon  a  farm  in  Salina Township.  There 
the   succeeding   four  years  of  his  life  were  passed, 


514 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


aflei-  which  he  purchased  another  farm  in  the  same 
townsliip.  He  is  still  living,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  four-score  years,  and  now  makes  his  home  in 
Chatsworth.  The  mother  of  our  suliject  was  also 
a  native  of  Baden  and  died  in  that  country. 

George  Walter  of  this  sketch  was  only  about 
thirteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  the  United 
States  with  his  father.  In  the  common  schools  he 
acquired  a  good  education  and  until  he  had 
attained  his  majority  he  remained  under  the 
parental  roof.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one,  however, 
he  left  home  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world. 
He  began  life  as  a  farm  hand,  working  by  the 
month  for  about  four  years.  On  the  4th  of 
November,  1861,  his  plans  of  life  were  changed. 
At  that  date  he  entered  the  service  of  his  adopted 
country  as  a  member  of  Company  G,  Fift}'- 
seventh  Illinois  Infantry,  in  which  lie  served  for 
tiiree  years.  He  then  veteranized  and  remained  in 
the  service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  received 
a  slight  gunshot  wound  in  the  left  leg  at  the  battle 
of  Corinth,  but  otherwise  escaped  uninjured.  He 
proved  himself  a  faithful  soldier,  always  true  to 
the  call  of  duty,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  he 
received  an  honorable  discharge. 

When  his  services  were  no  longer  needed,  Mr. 
Walter  returned  to  this  county,  purchased  a  farm 
in  Salina  Township  and  began  its  improvement. 
Not  long  afterwards  he  was  married,  the  lady  of 
his  choice  being  Miss  ITrsula  Erzinger.  Their 
union  was  celebrated  on  the  14th  of  October, 
1866,  and  has  been  blessed  with  a  family  of  six 
children,  two  sons  and  four  daughters,  as  follows: 
Ida  E.,  Annie  Catherina,  Frederick  G.,  Katie, 
Henry  and  Ellen.  Ida  is  now  the  wife  of  Bert 
Chester,  a  telegraph  operator  in  South  Dakota. 
Annie  C.  is  the  wife  of  Frank  A.  Chester,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  hardware  business  in  Bon  field. 

Mr.  Walter  carried  on  his  farming  operations 
successfully  until  1883,  when  he  determined  to 
give  his  attention  to  some  other  pursuit  and  re- 
moved to  Bon  field.  Here  he  opened  a  general 
store  and  has  since  engaged  in  merchandising. 
He  carries  a  complete  line  of  goods  and  has  a  good 
trade,  which  has  constantly  increased  from  the 
beginning.  In  addition  to  this,  he  aLso  owns 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Salina  Township,  together 


1 


with  his  store  building.  As  his  possessions  have 
been  acquired  entirely'  through  his  own  efforts,  he 
may  truly  be  called  a  self-made  man.  He  has 
labored  earnestly  to  gain  a  competence  and  his 
prosperity  is  certainly  well  deserved.  His  career 
has  been  an  upright  and  honorable  one  and  is  such 
as  to  have  won  him  high  esteem.  His  word  is  as 
good  as  his  bond.  In  his  i)olitical  atfiliations,  Mr. 
Walter  is  a  stanch  Republican.  He  has  filled  the 
office  of  Town  Clerk  for  about  sixteen  years  and 
has  served  as  School  Director  for  about  twenty 
years.  For  six  years  he  held  the  office  of  Post- 
master in  the  Bonfield  Postofflce.  In  the  dis- 
charge of  his  public  duties  he  has  ever  been  prompt 
and  faithful  and  his  public  and  private  life  are 
alike  above  reproach.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 


'JIJONATHAN  TURNER,  deceased,  came  to 
Kankakee  County  in  1857,  and  was  among 
the  early  settlers  of  this  section.  He  owned 
and  operated  a  farm,  which  was  located  in 
Gaiiier  Township.  His  birth  occurred  in  Monroe 
County,  of  the  Empire  State,  on  the  29th  of  May, 
1822.  He  was  a  son  of  John  and  Nancj'  (Fitzger- 
ald) Turner,  and  was  the  second  in  order  of  birth 
in  a  family  of  fifteen  children. 

Our  subject  was  reared  upon  a  farm,  and  early 
determined  to  become  an  agriculturist.  He  re- 
ceived a  common-school  education  in  the  distriit 
schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and  was  largely  self- 
educated  in  after  life.  On  the  4tli  of  July,  1844, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Betsy  Dii- 
nuin,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Cornelius  and  Han- 
nah (Sharks)  Dumun.  The  fall  after  his  marri.age, 
Mr.  Turner  moved  to  Jonesvilie,  Mich.,  niakinu 
the  trip  by  way  of  the  Lakes.  Upon  his  arrival 
in  that  State  he  found  that  his  resources  consisted 
of  115  in  money,  and  in  order  to  gain  a  livelihooil 
he  was  obliged  to  do  whatever  came  to  hand  tc 
win  s.n  honest  dollar.  He  began  by  splitting  rail- 
at  fifty  cents  per  day,  and  his  industry,  persever- 
ance and  frugalit}'  are  shown  by  the  fact  that  in  f 


UBHAHY 

Of  THE 

^^mmy  OF  ,LLi.TOiS 


MARY   AM?.  GREW 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 


rumtnoilY  OF  ILLINOIS 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


519 


short  time  he  was  enabled  to  buy  forty  acres  of 
land,  even  tliougli  at  that  early  daj'  the  price  of 
land  was  only  nominal  on  the  frontier.  With 
characteristic  energy-  he  proceeded  to  clear  and 
improve  his  i)ropert3-,  and  devoted  himself  to  its 
cultivation  until  1857,  which  year  witnessed  his 
arrival  in  Kankakee  County.  He  decided  to  rent 
land  for  a  time  until  he  had  made  up  his  mind 
wliere  to  invest  his  money,  and  accordingly  for 
tiiree  years  he  rented  a  farm,  after  which  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Ganier 
Township.  This  was  unimproved  and  wild  prairie 
land,  and  he  cultivated  and  improved  it  with 
indefatigable  energy  until  called  from  this  life  on 
the  28th  of  August,  1890.  His  remains  are  in- 
terred in  the  Kankakee  Cemetery. 

In  politics  Mr.  Turner  was  a  Republican,  and 
took  an  active  interest  in  educational  matters,  being 
n  School  Director  for  several  terms.  Considering 
the  hardships  of  those  early  days  which  had  to  be 
overcome  by  the  pioneer,  Mr.  Turner  was  quite 
successful  in  a  business  waj',  and  what  property 
he  possessed  was  the  result  of  years  of  hard  labor 
and  well-directed  efforts.  He  was  a  mau  of  integ- 
rity, and  won  the  respect  of  all  by  his  many  excel- 
lent qualities  and  unassuming  worth.  Mrs.  Turner 
Still  resides  in  Ganier  Township,  having  made  this 
county  her  home  for  thirt3--fivc  years. 


'•^^E 


=^ 


WIAMES  McGREW.  The  history  of  Kanka- 
kee County  would  be  incomplete  without 
tlie  life  record  of  our  subject,  who  has  been 
for  nearlj'  forty  years  a  resident  of  this 
county  and  has  been  very  instrumental  in  its 
growth  and  progress.  The  citj'  of  Kankakee  par- 
ticularly owes  to  him  a  debt  of  gratitude,  for  be 
has  been  prominently  connected  with  its  achieve- 
ments for  many  years  and  is  justly-  entitled  to  a 
hirge  share  of  praise  for  its  present  thriving  con- 
dition. 

Mr.  McGrew  is  a   native  of   the  Buckeye  State, 
his  birtii  h.iving  occurred  near  Dayton  on  the  5th 
of  May,  1820.     He  is  a  son  of  .lohn  and  Elizabeth 
24 


(Blackford)  McGrew.  The  father  was  a  native  of 
York  County,  Pa.,  and  was  born  in  1766.  He  was 
of  Scotch-Irish  origin,  some  of  his  ancestors  hav- 
ing resided  in  County  Tyrone,  Ireland.  They 
emigrated  to  Adams  Couiit\',  Pa.,  in  1726.  John 
McGrew  was  married  in  Westmoreland  County, 
that  State,  in  1788,  but  the  same  year  removed  to 
Kentucky.  Two  years  later  he  enlisted  in  Har- 
mer's  campaign  against  the  Indians  of  the  Mau- 
niee  and  was  with  the  army  at  Harmer's  defeat  at 
Ft.  Wayne.  He  then  went  to  Cincinnati,  in  the 
fall  of  1790,  and  was  discharged  from  the  service. 
His  father  was  a  great  horse-dealer  of  that  day 
and  was  engaged  in  the  breeding  of  fine  stock. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  of  Welsh  descent, 
with  perhaps  a  mixture  of  Scotch.  Her  ancestors 
emigrated  in  1717  to  America  and  settled  in  New 
Jersey.  Her  father  and  the  father  of  Chief  Justice 
John  McLean  were  first  cousins  and  the  two  fami- 
lies emigrated  from  New  Jersey  to  Kentucky  in 
1790.  Later  both  families  removed  to  Warren 
County,  Ohio,  and  settled  upon  farms  near  Ridge- 
ville,  four  or  five  miles  to  the  north  of  Lebanon, 

John  McGrew  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife 
being  Miss  Mary  Thompson,  by  whom  he  had 
seven  sons  and  three  daughters:  William,  Samuel 
T.,  Archibald,  Milton,  John,  James,  Bracken, 
Mary,  INIargaret  and  Rebecca.  His  second  wife, 
who  was  the  mother  of  our  subject,  was  the  widow 
of  Elijah  Stebbins,  by  whom  she  had  five  children: 
Mary,  Phoebe,  Jeremiah,  Levi  and  Elijah.  Three 
children  were  born  of  the  second  union:  Eliza- 
beth, James  and  Esther.  Two  sons  of  Mr.  Mc- 
Grew by  his  first  wife  married  two  daughters  of 
his  second  wife  by  her  former  marriage.  Of  Mr. 
McGrew's  children  only  two  are  now  living,  James 
and  Esther.  The  father  lived  for  many  years  in 
Montgomery  County,  Ohio,  five  miles  south  of 
Dayton,  and  there  his  death  occurred  in  1848. 
The.  mother  of  our  subject  survived  her  husband 
for  several  years  and  departed  tiiis  life  in  Kanka- 
kee, III.,  in  1859. 

The  boyhood  daj-s  of  James  McGrew  were 
passed  in  the  count3'  of  his  bath  upon  his  father's 
farm.  He  received  a  district-school  education  and 
upon  arriving  at  his  majority  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Maiy  A.  Biukley,  the  ceremony  being 


520 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRArHICAL  RECORD. 


performed  on  the  31st  of  August,  1841.  Iler  pa- 
rents, Samuel  and  Catherine  (Boehm)  Binkley, 
were  natives  of  Lancaster  County,  Pa.  Ten 
children  blessed  the  union  of  our  subject  and 
his  estimable  wife,  seven  of  whom  are  still  living, 
the  others  having  died  in  infancy.  Harriet  M. 
became  the  wife  of  Samuel  C.  Kenaga  and  they 
now  make  their  home  in  Chicago,  where  Mr.  Ken- 
.aga  is  engaged  .as  foreman  in  one  of  the  jMcCor- 
mick  reaper  shops.  They  have  had  eight  children, 
five  of  whom  are  living:  George,  Herman,  Benja- 
min, Samuel  and  Harriet.  Catherine  E.  married 
Ni  S.  Hathaw.ay,  a  commercial  traveler.  They 
h.ave  one  child,  William,  and  they  also  make  their 
home  in  Chicago.  "William  H.,  a  draftsman  and 
architect,  makes  his  home  in  Missouri.  .James  B. 
married  Miss  Ada  Stewart,  and  to  them  have  been 
born  two  children,  Ethel  .and  William.  They  re- 
side in  Kankakee.  Charles  E.  is  married  and  lives 
at  Farmer  City,  111.  He  has  two  children,  Arthur 
and  Pearl.  .John  F.  married  Miss  Emma  Eislerand 
is  a  flour,  feed  and  coal  merchant  of  Kankakee. 
Samuel  H.  resides  in  Kankakee,  is  married  and 
has  a  daughter,  Lois.  .James  and  Samuel  are  in 
the  flouring-mill  business. 

From  the  time  of  his  marriage  until  1856,  Mr. 
McGrew  lived  upon  a  farm  near  Da3-ton,  Ohio,  and 
followed  .agricultural  pursuits  exclusively.  While 
thus  emplo3'ed  he  received  a  medal  from  the  State 
of  Ohio  for  having  grown  the  best  osage  orange 
hedge.  The  spring  of  1856  witnessed  his  arrival 
in  Kankakee,  which  has  since  been  his  home  con- 
tinuously. He  first  engaged  in  growing,  selling 
and  planting  osage  orange  trees  for  hedge  pur- 
poses after  his  arrival,  but  followed  that  occupa- 
tion for  only  a  short  time.  He  then  turned  his 
attention  to  the  raising  of  broom-corn,  which  vo- 
cation he  followed  for  about  twelve  j^ears,  some 
seasons  having  as  high  as  three  hundred  acres 
planted  with  that 'crop.  In  1865,  he  purchased  a 
half-interest  in  the  water  power  of  the  mill  prop- 
erty in  Kankakee  and  subsequently  became  the 
sole  proprietor.  This  right  he  still  owns  but  has 
rented  his  mill  to  his  sons,  James  and  Samuel,who 
do  business  under  the  firm  name  of  McGrew  Bros. 
The  mill  has  a  cap.acily  of  one  hundred  barrels  of 
flour  per  day,     Our  subject  also  owns  the  milldam 


and  furnishes  both  power  and  ground  for  the  pa- 
per mill,  two  foundries,  a  machine  shop,  bl.ack- 
smith  shop  and  wire  works,  as  well  as  power  for 
the  oil  mill.  In  1808  lie  was  elected  President  of 
the  Kankakee  and  Illinois  River  Railroad  Com- 
pany, afterward  named  the  Plymouth,  Kankakee  & 
Pacific.  For  this  railroad,  which  is  now  called  the 
Indiana,  Illinois  &  Iowa,  Mr.  McGrew  raised  be- 
tween ^700,000  and  $800,000  of  local  voted  aid, 
witli  which  he  had  surveys  made,  right  of  way  ob- 
tained, and  much  of  the  grading  done.  Wlien 
the  panic  of  1873  came  on  the  work  was  aban- 
doned, but  about  ten  or  fifteen  years  later  the 
work  of  continuing  the  line  w.as  resumed  and 
since  that  time  the  railroad  has  become  an  import- 
ant .and  well-paying  one. 

Since  coming  to  this  county  Mr.  McGrew  has 
been  actively  engaged  in  the  advancement  of  its 
interests,  and  that  his  fellow-citizens  have  recog- 
nized the  fact  has  been  shown  many  times  by  the 
part  the}'  have  taken  in  electing  him  to  office. 
About  the  year  1870  he  was  Mayor  of  Kankakee, 
and  w.as  Chairman  of  the  building  committee 
which  carried  forward  the  work  of  erecting  the 
Central  Public  School  building.  He  was  also 
elected  County  Treasurer  and  served  for  four 
years  during  the  war,  when  it  was  a  dillicult  mat- 
ter to  keep  posted  .as  to  the  value  of  wildcat 
money.  For  a  number  of  years  he  was  .active  in 
the  promotion  of  the  Kankakee  County  Agricul- 
tural Society. 

For  over  fifty  years  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McGrew  have 
held  membership  with  the  IMethodist  Episcopal 
Church,  of  which  our  subject  for  j^ears  was  a 
Steward,  and  in  which  he  is  at  present  serving  as 
a  Trustee.  He  was  on  the  building  committee 
which  had  in  ch.arge  the  erection  of  a  large  stone 
building  known  as  the  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  his  family'  have  alw.ays  been  active 
workers  in  church- circles.  Mr.  McGrew  is  a  Ma- 
son in  good  standing,  being  a  charter  member  of 
Kankakee  Chapter  No.  78,  R.  A.  M.  He  h.as  voted 
the  Prohibition  ticket  since  1882,  but  for  twenty- 
six  years  was  afHliated  with  the  Republican  party. 
Previous  to  its  organization  he  w.as  a  Whig,  like 
his  father  before  him,  who  voted  for  .lames  (i. 
Birney  and  was  greatly  opposed  to  slavery.     Mr. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


521 


McGrew  owns  a  beautiful  home  on   the  corner  of 

Couil  Street  :in(l  Chicago  Avenue,  lie  is  also 
tlic  owner  of  a  few  residence  lots  in  the  city.  Al- 
Ihougli  seventy-two  years  of  age  lie  is  well  pre- 
served and  bids  fair  to  live  for  many  years.  Ilis 
height  is  six  feet,  his  step  is  elastic  for  one  of  his 
years,  and  Ins  mind  is  clear  and  active.  We  feel 
assured  that  his  many  friends  in  this  h)cality  will 
read  with  mucli  interest  tliis  tril)ute  to  one  wiio 
lias  borne  so  iiiniortant  a  part  in  the  liistory  of  the 
county. 


-f- 


-^^ 


-?- 


W^ILLIAM  JERP:MIAH  DIXON,  who  runs  a 
bakery,  restaurant  and  grocery  in  Momence, 
is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State,  having 
been  born  in  Cleveland  on  the  Tlli  of  November, 
1849.  His  father,  Jeremiah  Dixon,  was  a  native 
of  England  and  of  English  ijarentage.  He  has 
been  a  ship  carpenter  by  trade  during  almost  his 
entire  life.  In  1882  lie  removed  to  Braidwood, 
111.,  where  lie  lias  lived  until  the  present  time.  In 
1862  he  went  from  Erie  County,  Pa.,  to  Wilming- 
ton, 111.,  which  was  his  home  for  the  succeeding 
tweiit\-  years.  He  is  now  sevent3--six  years  of  age, 
and  has  retired  from  the  active  cares  of  life. 
When  a  young  man  he  married  Jane  Miles,  a  lady 
of  Pennsylvania  birth  and  of  Scotch-Irish  parent- 
age. Her  father  was  an  agriculturist  and  a  val- 
iant soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  While  taking 
part  in  a  battle  on  Lake  Erie,  under  Commodore 
Perry,  he  lost  an  arm,  which  injury  resulted  in  his 
death,  at  which  time  he  was  about  sixty-five  years 
of  age.  Mis.  Dixon,  now  about  seventy  years  of 
age,  resides  in  Braidwood,  and  both  she  and  her 
husband  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
Their  family  consisted  of  three  sons  and  nine 
daughters,  six  of  whom  are  now  living:  Mary  A., 
Jeremiah,  Maggie,  Carrie,  John  and  Jennie. 

The  bo3hood  and  youth  of  our  subject  were 
principally  spent  in  town,  but  for  some  years  he 
lived  upon  a  farm  in  Pennsylvania.  He  received 
a  good  education  in  the  comnum  schools  of  Wil- 
mington, 111.,  and  afterward  learned  llie  trade  of 
baker,  following  that   vocation   for  twenty-three 


years.     In  1880  Mr.  Dixon  came  to  Momence,  and 

for  nearly  a  year  was  in  the  (employ  of  William 
Mur|)liy,  baker,  after  whicli  our  suliject  opened  a 
bakery  of  his  own,  which  business  lie  lias  con- 
tinued ever  since.  He  began  in  a  very  humble 
way,  but  by  industry  and  economy  has  accumu- 
lated a  nice  property,  iiis  present  location  being  in 
a  fine  brick  business  block,  which  he  erected  in 
1886.  In  connection  with  his  bakery  he  also  car- 
ries confectionery,  and  rims  a  restaurant  and  ice 
cream  parlors. 

On  the  6tli  of  April,  1881,  Mr.  Dixon  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Jane  L.  Stevenson,  a  daugh- 
ter of  George  and  Rebecca  (Law)  Stevenson,  of 
Chicago,  who  were  natives  of  Fishkill,  N.  Y.  Mr. 
Dixon  is  interested  in  secret  societies,  holding 
membership  with  Momence  Lodge  No.  771,  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  and  also  being  a  meml)er  of  Momence  Cam]) 
No.  1.539,  M.  W.  A.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republi- 
can, and  casts  his  ballot  in  favor  of  the  principles 
and  nominees  of  that  party.  Mr.  Dixon  is  truly 
a  self-made  man,  having  had  to  make  his  own  for- 
tune in  life,  and  as  he  has  met  with  a  good  meas- 
ure of  success  in  his  undertakings,  he  may  well 
feel  proud  of  his  achievements. 


y 


^.^^l^f. 


^  j^ILLIAM  BRACKEN  was  born  on  the  1st 
of  October,  1823,  and  died  at  Iiis  home  in 
this  county  on  the  22d  of  June,  1882. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  was  a  prominent  and 
well-known  farmer  of  Limestone  Township.  A 
native  of  Delaware,  he  was  born  in  AVilmington. 
The  Bracken  family  is  of  English  origin,  but  we 
have  no  authentic  history  in  regard  to  its  estab- 
ment  in  this  country'. 

Our  subject  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  in  the  neighborhood  of  his  birth,  no  event 
of  special  importance  occurring  to  vary  the  rou- 
tine of  farm  life.  During  his  sta^-  in  his  native 
State  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  but  at 
length  he  determined  to  seek  a  fortune  and  home 
in  the  West,  where  lands  were  cheaper  and  where 
better  advantages  seemed  to  be   afforded    young 


522 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


men  than  in  the  older  and  more  thickly  settled 
States  of  the  East.  In  consequence  he  started  to- 
ward the  setting  sun. 

On  the  Isl  of  October,  1856,  Mr.  Bracken  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Harrietta  Rietz. 
The  lady  is  a  native  of  Germany,  and  was  born 
November  12,  18.S3.  The  first  fourteen  years  of 
her  life  were  spent  in  the  Fatherland,  after  which 
her  parents  determined  to  emigrate  to  America, 
and  with  them  she  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to 
the  United  States.  They  made  their  first  location 
in  Milwaukee,  where  they  spent  a  period  of  eigiit 
years,  and  then  removed  to  this  State,  taking  up 
their  residence  in  Chicago,  where  the  union  of 
our  subject  and  his  wife  was  celebrated. 

On  his  removal  to  the  West,  Mr.  Bracken  took 
up  his  residence  in  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  and  he  found 
that  the  hope  of  achieving  a  fortune  was  not  in 
vain,  for  it  was  not  long  before  he  became  quite 
prosperous.  He  was  a  butcher  bj'  trade,  and  at 
one  time  he  operated  one  of  the  largest  meat  mar- 
kets in  Watertown.  In  that  line  of  business  he 
met  success  and  accumulated  quite  a  fortune,  but 
riches  take  to  themselves  wings,  and  through 
the  failure  of  the  banks  at  that  place  he  lost  much 
that  he  had  made.  The  j'ear  1864  witnessed 
the  arrival  of  our  subject  in  Kankakee  County, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  for  three  years  in 
Kankakee  Cit^'. 

Mr.  Bracken  was  a  consistent  Christian  gentle- 
man, and  his  honorable,  upright  life  is  well  worthy 
of  emulation.  His  many  excellencies  of  character 
won  him  high  regard,  and  his  sterling  worth  gained 
for  him  the  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in 
contact.  In  his  political  views,  he  was  a  Republican. 
After  eighteen  years  spent  as  a  farmer  in  this 
county,  he  departed  this  life  on  the  2.3d  of  June, 
1882. 

The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bracken  numbered 
eight  children,  five  sons  and  three  daughters,  of 
whom  six  are  yet  living.  Julia,  the  second  child, 
was  born  October  8,  1859,  and  died  in  infancy; 
Amelia,  the  next  younger,  was  born  August  4, 
1861,  and  also  died  in  infancy.  Those  who  still 
survive  are:  Charles,  the  eldest,  who  was  born 
July  20, 1857,  is  married  and  formerly  resided  near 
Worthington,  Minn.,  where  Ue  carried  on  agricul- 


tural pursuits,  but  is  now  of  Warren  County,  Minn.; 
Frank,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Limestone  Town- 
ship, born  on  the  8th  of  August,  1863;  Edward, 
September  22,  1865;  George,  October  20,  1867; 
Alex,  September  19,  1869;  and  Ida,  who  completes 
tiie  family,  and  was  born  on  the  13th  of  December, 
1871.  All  of  the  living  children  are  .still  single 
except  Charles,  and  reside  with  their  mother  on 
the  old  home  farm,  which  is  ably  operated  and  man- 
aged by  Frank  and  his  brothers,  Edward,  George 
and  Alex,  wide-awake  and  enterprising  young 
business  men.  The  family  now  owns  a  ver^'  pleas- 
ant countr}'  home,  about  five  miles  from  the  cit}^ 
of  Kankakee.  The  Bracken  household  is  the  abode 
of  hospitality,  and  its  members  rank  high  in  social 
circles,  where  true  worth  and  intelligence  are  re- 
ceived as  the  passports  into  good  society. 


RA  Z.  CONGDON,  who  owns  a  grocery  and 
runs  a  boarding-house  in  Momence,  is  a  native 

\  of  Connecticut.  He  was  born  in  Waterford, 
New  London  County,  on  September  16,  1829, 
and  is  the  only  son  of  Amasa  and  Cynthia  (Chap- 
man) Congdon,  botli  also  natives  of  the  Nutmeg 
State.  The  daughter,  Ann,  died  when  three  years 
of  age.  Amasa  Congdon  was  a  sailor  upon  the 
high  seas  for  forty-two  years.  About  the  yeav 
1870  he  came  to  Illinois  to  live  with  his  son  at 
Onarga.  His  death  occurred  two  years  later,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-five.  He  was  twice  married.  Our 
subject's  mother  died  when  twenty-five  years  of 
age.  After  living  a  single  life  for  twent\'-seven 
years,  Mr.  Congdon  married  again  in  New  Lon- 
don Count}',  his  second  wife  being  Mrs.  Bedine,  a 
widow. 

Ira  Congdon  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and  received 
his  education  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native 
county.  Wlien  a  3'oung  man  he  engaged  in  fann- 
ing. In  1856,  coming  to  Illinois,  he  located  in 
Ford  County,  in  the  portion  then  known  as  the 
Panhandle,  now  a  part  of  Vermilion  County,  and 
there  lived  for  five  years.     He  afterwards  removed 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


623 


to  Onarga,  wlicrc  he  made  his  home  for  the  follow- 
ing sixteen  years.  In  1877  he  took  charge  of 
five  thousand  acres  of  land  belonging  to  George 
Dnnforth,  and  which  is  located  in  St.  Anne  Town- 
ship, Kankakee  County,  and  tliat  property  he  op- 
erated for  eleven  years.  He  afterwards  lived  in 
Blue  Island  for  a  year,  and  in  1889  came  to  ilo- 
mence,  where  he  opened  a  grocery  and  boarding- 
house. 

On  the  l.')tli  of  February,  1852,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Congdon  and  Miss  Matilda 
Emerson,  of  Lyme,  New  London  County,  Conn.,  of 
wliich  State  both  she  and  her  parents,  Elisha  and 
Mary  (Chandler)  Emerson,  were  natives.  Seven 
children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Congdon, 
three  sons  and  four  daugiitcrs:  William  A. .who  died 
when  young;  Ladara,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seven 
years;  Lillie,  who  died  at  age  of  five  years;  Charles 
A.;  Eugenia,  wife  of  George  Singer,  of  Austin,  111., 
where  tiie^-  carry  on  a  large  boarding-house;  Mary;, 
and  Iru  15.,  who  married  Miss  Amelia  Homan, 
daughter  of  Ilenr}-  Ilonian,  of  Sollilt,  this  county. 

Mr.  Congdon  is  a  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
part_v,  and  cast  his  first  Presidential  ballot  in  favor 
of  Franklin  Pierce.  He  has  been  a  resident  of 
this  State  for  nearly  forty  years,  and  is  well  known 
in  this  and  neighboring  counties. 


\f  ONATHAN  P.  STRATTON,  who  makes  his 
home  on  section  4,  is  one  of  the  leading  far- 
mers and  stock-raisers  of  this  portion  of  tiie 
country.  His  property  comprises  about  elev- 
en luindred  acres  of  valuable  land  in  this  and 
adjoining  counties.  He  was  born  on  tlie  24th  of 
October,  1824,  in  Paris,  Edgar  County,  III.,  and 
is  the  sixth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family'  of  ten 
cliildren,  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  born  to 
.John  and  Dicea  {Mayo)  Stratton.  The  father 
was  born  in  Virginia,  and  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation. He  removed  to  Kentucky  with  his  par- 
I  ents  when  ipiite young,  and  there  lived  until  1816. 
For  two  years  succeeding,  he  w.as  stationed  at 
Ft.    Harrison,   Ind.,  at    tiiat    time    in    charge    of 


William  Henry  Harrison,  who  was  the  comman- 
der. The  Indians  were  tiien  on  the  war  path, 
and  the  settlers  needed  the  fcrt  as  a  refuge 
and  the  soldiers  as  a  |)rotection.  Mr.  Stratton  was 
of  English  descent,  as  was  also  his  wife,  tiie  mother 
of  our  subject.  With  her  parents,  she  removed 
from  Virginia,  where  she  was  born,  to  Kentucky, 
wlien  about  ten  years  of  age. 

Jonathan  P.  Stratton  remained  under  the  paren- 
tal roof  until  arriving  at  man's  estate.  He  re- 
ceived but  a  limited  common-school  education,  as 
there  were  very  few  schools  in  this  section  of  the 
State  during  those  early  d.iys.  His  fatiier  was  the 
first  white  settler  in  Edg.ar  County,  III.,  to  which 
he  came  in  1818.  When  a  boy,  in  1833,  our  sub- 
ject drove  cattle  from  Shawneetown,  III.,  to  De- 
troit, Mich.,  a  distance  of  about  five  hundred  miles. 
From  Bunkum,  in  Iroquois  County,  to  Chicago, 
there  was  not  a  white  settler,  and  the  latter  town 
was  but  a  village.  In  181(i,  leaving  the  parental 
roof,  Mr.  Stratton  came  to  Yellowhead  Township, 
and  here  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  from  the  Yellowhead  Indian  reservation, since 
which  time  this  county  has  alwa3's  been  his  home. 

On  the  29th  of  October,  1844,  Mr.  Stratton  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Memory'  Seager,  a 
resident  of  Kankakee  County.  By  their  union  three 
children  were  born:  Mary  E.,  who  died  in  infancy; 
and  Achsah  D.,  who  lives  with  her  sister  Emma,  wife 
of  Frank  Freeman,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Mo- 
mence  Township.  Mrs.  Stratton  was  called  to  her 
final  rest  in  1870,  and  on  Christmas  Day  of  1877 
our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Daniels. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  Tliophifele  and  Adeline 
(Breso)  Daniels,  who  were  honored  early  settlers 
of  this  county.  Two  sons  and  a  daughter  have 
been  born  to  our  subject  and  his  worthy  wife,  as 
follows:  Ida  B.,  Jonathan  P.  and  Johnnie. 

For  several  years  Mr.  Stratton  was  Postmaster 
of  Yellowhead  Postolfice  in  thiscount3-,  the  duties 
of  which  position  he  discharged  satisfactorily. 
Politically,  he  is  a  Republican,  and  interested  in 
the  welfare  of  his  county  and  State.  He  is  truly 
a  self-made  man,  as  he  came  to  this  locality  when 
a  boy  empty-handed,  and  it  is  owing  entirely  to 
his  qualities  of  industry  and  economy  that  he  li.ns 
accumulated    his    present  fortune.     As  previously 


524 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


stated,  he  is  an  extensive  land-owner,  having  in 
his  possession  nearly  eleven  hundred  acres  of  land. 
He  is  also  an  extensive  stock-breeder,  making  a 
specialty  of  fine  Hereford  cattle.  Though  now 
sixty-nine  years  of  age,  Mr.  Stratton  is  hale  and 
hearty,  and  still  keeps  a  wise  supervision  over  his 
many  farms  and  large  business  interests. 


^  OSEPH  CHEFFRE,  a  retired  farmer  who 
makes  his  home  in  St.  Anne,  has  been  a  resi- 
^-.  dent  of  Kankakee  County  for  forty-one 
^^fJ  years  and  has  been  a  witness  of  its  great 
improvement  and  progress,  particularly  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  St.  Anne,  which  has  grown  from  the  four 
or  five  log  houses  of  that  day  to  the  present  beau- 
tiful little  village  of  over  one  thousand  inhabitants. 

Mr.  Cheffre  was  born  in  Montreal,  Canada,  on 
the  4th  of  July,  1824,  and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and 
Argette  (La  Vine)  Cheffre.  In  1851  he  came  to 
Illinois  in  company  with  his  brother  Antoine.  In 
his  native  country  he  received  a  good  common- 
school  education  and  resided  under  the  parental 
roof  until  arriving  at  man's  estate.  In  1841  he 
went  to  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  with  his  father,  and  lived 
in  that  city  and  at  Niagara  B'alls  for  seven  3'ears. 
The  family  then  returned  to  Canada,  but  in  1851 
emigrated  to  Illinois  witii  a  large  French  colony, 
consisting  of  about  five  thousand  persons  under 
the  guidance  and  supervision  of  Father  Chiniquj', 
and  which  located  at  St.  Anne. 

Mr.  Cheffre  has  been  married  three  times.  His 
first  wife  was  Miss  vSarah  Morris,  daughter  of 
Francis  Morris,  and  b.y  this  union  one  child  was 
born,  Joseph,  who  married  Miss  Nelda  Dube. 
They  live  one  mile  southeast  of  St.  Anne.  His 
first  wife  having  died,  on  the  2()th  of  May,  1863, 
our  subject  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Mil- 
lie (Schose)  Chefi're,  widow  of  Charles  Cheffre,  by 
whom  she  had  four  children:  Charles,  Emily, 
Moses  and  Zulinda.  Charles  married  Miss  Mina 
Spinard,  a  native  of  Kankakee  County,  in  Janu- 
ary, 1882,  and  four  children,  thiee  sous  and  one 
daughter,  were  born  to  them;   they  are  residents 


of  Kankakee  County.  Zulinda  married  Stephen 
Lanctot,  a  native  of  Canada,  in  June,  1889,  and 
they  are  residents  of  Chicago.  Moses  married  Miss 
Mary  Regnier,  a  native  of  Illinois,  in  Decemlier, 
1887,  and  they  reside  in  Iroquois  Count3',  111.  By 
her  second  marriage  Mrs.  Cheffre  was  the  mother  of 
four  children,  a  son  and  three  daughters.  Frank 
married  Miss  Rose  Regnier,  and  has  a  daughter. 
Ruby;  their  home  is  one  mile  from  St.  Anne.  Jo- 
sephine became  the  wife  of  Antoine  (ioyette,  and 
has  two  children,  Eddie  and  Artie;  they  live  near 
Trimello,  Iowa.  Mina  is  the  third  in  order  of 
birth.  Zoe  is  the  fourth  child.  Emily  was  first 
married  to  Joseph  Brouillette,  and  to  them  were 
born  three  children:  Jessie,  George  and  Arthur. 
She  is  now  the  wife  of  Julian  Charboneau,  and  re- 
sides in  Chicago.  Mrs.  Cheffre  was  called  from 
this  life  September  21,  1886.  Li  1887,  our  sub- 
ject married  Mrs.  Fornier,  who  had  also  been  twice 
.married  before. 

In  addition  to  his  good  residence  property  in 
St.  Anne,  Mr.  Cheffre  owns  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  well-improved  farm  land  in  Kan- 
kakee and  Iroquois  Counties.  He  has  always  been 
an  industrious  and  iiard-working  man,  and  it  is  to 
his  own  economy  and  toil  that  he  owes  his  success 
in  life.  He  and  his  wife  hold  membership  with 
the  French-Presbyterian  Church.  He  affiliates 
with  the  Republican  party,  and  takes  a  lively  in- 
terest in  the  public  welfare.  Personally,  he  is 
popular,  being  of  a  genial,  though  quiet  and  j 
thoughtful,  disposition. 


^ 


:^^- 


eHARLES  H.  BELLINGER  is  one  of  the  ex- 
tensive land-owners  and  leading  stock-rais- 
ers of  Kankakee  County,  his  home  being  lo- 
cated on  section  5,  Momence  Township.  He  is  a 
native  of  tlie  Empire  State,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  Herkimer,  N.  Y.,  on  the  26th  of  October, 
1848,  and  he  comes  of  old  New  England  families. 
His  parents  were  James  H.  and  Caroline  (Cln-istie) 
Bellinger.  His  father  was  also  born  in  New  York, 
and  his  ancestors  were  among  the  Dutch  families 


i 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


525 


that  settled  in  llie  Mohawk  Valley  of  that  State 
Hy  occupation  he  was  a  farmer,  and  followed  that 
business  throiin^hout  his  entire  life.  After  arriv- 
ing at  jears  of  maturity  he  married  Miss  Christie, 
who  was  born  at  East  Creek,  X.  Y.,  and  whose  pa- 
rents were  natives  of  New  England.  Three  chil- 
dren graced  the  union  of  this  worthy  couple,  two 
sons  and  a  daughter,  the  eldest  of  whom  is  Charles, 
whose  name  heads  this  sketch. 

Our  subject  well  deserves  mention  in  the  record 
of  his  adopted  county,  as  he  is  numbered  among 
its  prominent  agriculturists.  He  was  reared  to 
manhood  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  the 
days  of  his  bo\"hood  being  quietly  passed  under 
the  parental  roof.  He  acquired  a  good  common- 
SL-hool  education  in  the  public  schools,  and  this 
rourse  was  supplemented  by  study  in  the  Fairfield 
Seminary  of  New  York,  where  his  education  was 
completed. 

Ere  leaving  the  East,  Mr.  Bellinger  was  married, 
the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Angeline  Parish, 
who  was  born  in  Ganier  Township,  Kankakee 
County,  on  the  6th  of  October,  1848,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  William  W.,Sr.,  and  Sallie  ( Woodard) 
Parish,  a  sketch  of  whom  will  be  found  on  an- 
other page  of  this  volume.  The  marriage  ceremony 
(Tf  our  subject  and  his  wife  was  celebrated  on  the 
1st  of  September,  1869,  in  Kankakee.  Their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  a  faraiU'  of  two  children,  a 
son  and  daughter.  William,  the  elder,  who  was 
born  October  2,  1870,  is  an  intelligent  and  highly 
educated  young  man,  who  expects  to  make  the 
practice  of  medicine  his  life  work,  and  to  that  end 
IS  now  attending  a  course  of  lectures  in  the  Rush 
Medical  College  of  Chicago.  Alice  was  born  Jan- 
uary 19,  1876,  and  is  now  attending  the  Young 
Ladies'  Seminarv  situated  in  Ft.  Wa3-ne,Ind.  The 
family  is  one  of  prominence  in  this  communitj-; 
the  Bellinger  household  is  the  abode  of  hospitality' 
and  good  cheer,  and  its  members  rank  high  in  so- 
cial circles. 

Mr.  Bellinger  dates  his  residence  in  this  county 
from  1877;  prior  to  that  time  he  had  farmed  in 
New  York  State.  Since  that  time  he  h:is  carried 
on  farming  and  stock-raising,  and,  as  before  stated, 
he  is  now  one  of  the  extensive  land-ownei-s  of  the 
county,  his  possessions  aggregating  eight  hundred 


and  forty  acres,  which  constitute  a  large  ranch, 
three  miles  northeast  of  Moraence.  It  is  one  of 
the  best  improved  farms  of  the  lowjship,  supplied 
with  good  barns  and  other  necessary  outbuildings 
for  the  care  of  grain  and  stock,  together  with  the 
latest  ra.achinery  and  farm  appliances.  Jlr.  Bel- 
linger devotes  the  greater  part  of  his  time  and  at- 
tention to  the  raising  of  fine  stock,  making  a  spec- 
ialty of  Durham  cattle  and  French  coach  horses, 
m.inj-  fine  specimens  of  which  can  be  found  in  his 
fields  and  stables.  He  is  a  man  of  excellent  busi- 
ness ability,  sagacious  and  far-sighted,  industrious 
and  enterprising,  and  upright  in  all  his  dealings. 
He  is  now  one  of  the  wealthy  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity, and  is  enjoying  a  well-deserved  prosperity. 
Socially,  Mr.  Bellinger  is  a  Knight  Templar,  hold- 
ing menibei-ship  with  Ivanhoe  Commaudery  No. 
33,  of  Kankakee.  In  politics  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican, and  has  served  as  Commissioner  of  Iligh- 
wa^-s  in  his  township  for  ten  years,  discharging  his 
duties  with  a  promptness  and  fidelitj-  that  have  won 
him  the  commendation  of  all  concerned.  As  a 
citizen  he  is  public-spirited  and  progressive,  and 
manifests  a  commendable  interest  in  all  that  jjer- 
tains  to  the  welfare  of  the  community,  its  upbuild- 
ing and  progress. 


-^ 


ON.  MAITHEW  F.  CA^IPBELL,  a  retired 
|:  farmer,  was  elected  to  represent  this  county 
'/^  in  1884,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Lower 
vvjv;  House  during  the  long- contest  for  the  elec- 
tion  of  United  Stales  Senator,  in  which  .John  A. 
Logan  was  victorious.  Mr.  Campbell  was  born  on 
the  29th  of  .lanuary,  1816,  in  Huntingdon  Countj', 
Pa.  His  father,  Matthew  Campbell,  though  born 
in  Ireland,  was  of  Scotch  parentage,  and  emigrated 
to  the  New  World  in  1794,  when  but  ten  years  of 
age,  with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Huntingdon 
County,  Pa.,  where  they  were  numbered  among 
the  early  pioneers.  On  arriving  at  man's  estate, 
Mr.  Campbell  married  Hannah  Postlewait,  a  native 
of  the  Keystone  State.  Her  father.  Col.  William 
Postlewait,  was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  of  the 


526 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


same  State,  and  was  a  solclier  in  the  Indian  Wars, 
serving  as  Colonel  of  a  regiment,  llis  ancestors 
were  of  German  extraction;  they  settled  in  Eng- 
land, and  afterward  went  to  Pennsylvania.  Until 
his  death,  Mr.  Campbell  carried  on  a  farm  in  Penn- 
sylvania, departing  this  life  in  April,  1829,  being 
then  forty-nine  years  of  age.  After  surviving 
her  husband  over  half  a  century,  Mrs.  Campbell 
died  in  Illinois  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-five 
years,  in  1871. 

Our  subject  is  one  of  a  famil}'  consisting  of  six 
sons  and  three  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  ma- 
ture years.  John  A.  came  to  Illinois  in  1868,  set- 
tling in  Warren  County,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  his  deatli.  William  located  on  a  farm  in 
Ohio  in  1846,  and  from  there  was  called  to  his  last 
reward.  Thomas  P.  emigrated  Westward  in  1866, 
and  settled  in  Davenport,  Iowa.  He  was  a  lawyer 
by  profession,  and  lived  a  retired  life  after  remov- 
ing to  Iowa.  Matthew  is  next  in  order  of  birth. 
James  I.  was  a  printer  by  trade,  and  died  when  a 
young  man  in  1838,  at  Pittsburg.  Hannah  E.  be- 
came the  wife  of  Samuel  R.  Boggs,  now  deceased, 
who  removed  to  Illinois  in  1848,  settling  in  War- 
ren County.  Robert  located  in  Mercer  County  on 
a  farm  in  1848.  Martha  wedded  Alexander  Porter, 
who  for  many  years  farmed  in  Mercer  County,  111., 
and  both  are  now  deceased.  Rebecca  E.  married 
Rankin  H.  Gilliland,and  resides  in  Warren  County, 
III. 

The  early  life  of  Mr.  Campbell,  whose  name 
heads  tliis  sketcli,  w.as  spent  on  a  farm,  and  his 
scliool  privileges  were  very  limited.  He  is  almost 
entirely  self-educated,  but  by  judicious  reading 
and  careful  observation,  ranks  well  in  any  com- 
pany of  intelligent  and  well-educated  people.  He 
remained  on  the  old  liomestead  until  seventeen 
j'ears  of  age,  at  which  time  he  went  to  Pittsburg, 
where  he  secured  employment  as  a  clerk.  He  also 
learned  the  trade  of  a  tailor  while  in  that  city,  and 
there  was  in  business  until  1839.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Huntingdon  County,  where  he  turned 
his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits  for  a  time. 
He  was  then  elected  Register  of  Wills  and  Recorder 
of  Deeds  for  three  terms,  serving  in  tliat  capacity 
for  nine  consecutive  years. 

On  the  28Lli  of  March,  1838,  Mr.  Campbell  and 


Miss  Margaret  A.  Daniels  were  united  in  marriage. 
The  lady  is  a  native  of  Wales,  where  she  was 
reared  to  womanhood,  and  is  a  daugiiter  of  the 
Rev.  Tiiomas  Daniels,  a  minister  of  the  Baptist 
Church.  Their  union  h.as  been  blessed  with  seven 
children,  who  are  living.  James  D.  is  a  lawyer  b}- 
profession,  and  the  principal  attorney  of  the  Phila- 
delphia &  Reading  Railroad.  He  was  a  soldier  in 
the  war,  as  a  Lieutenant  first,  then  later  as  Captain 
in  the  Forty-ninth  Penns3'lvania  Volunteers,  under 
Gen.  Hancock.  .John  P.,  who  is  now  deceased,  was 
a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  and  served  three  years  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Tliirteenth  Illinois  Wilun- 
teers.  Lizzie  C.  is  tlie  wife  of  L.  M.  Kellogg,  of 
Buckingham.  Winfield  Scott  was  a  soldier  in  tiie 
late  war,  and  died  while  in  the  service  of  his  coun- 
try, in  1862.  M.aggie,  whose  husband,  R.  W. 
Beardsley,  died  in  .January,  1893,  lives  in  Norton 
Township,  Kankakee  County.  William  H.  is  a 
business  man  of  Buckingham.  Robert  F.  is  the 
railroad  agent  at  Ludlow  Falls,  Miami  County, 
Ohio.  Rebecca  is  the  wife  of  Arthur  Monteith,  of 
Buckingham.  Charles  C.  is  attending  a  seiiool 
of  pharmacy  in  Chicago. 

In  1859,  Mr.  Campbell  removed  to  Illinois  and 
opened  up  a  farm  in  Norton  Township,  Kankakee 
Count}'.  He  improved  a  tract  of  one  hiiudre(l 
and  seventy  acres,  which  he  carried  on  for  over 
thirty  years.  In  1891  lie  retired  from  active  life, 
rented  his  farm  and  moved  to  Buckingliam,  where 
be  bought  a  nice  residence  property,  in  wliicli  he 
now  resides.  In  politics,  Mr.  Campbell  was  an  old- 
line  Whig,  and  liecame  identified  with  the  Kepub- 
lican  party  on  its  organization.  He  cast  his  (irst 
ballot  for  William  Henry  Harrison,  of  "Tippe- 
canoe and  Tyler  too"  fame,  in  1840,  and  in  tlie 
last  Presidential  election  voted  for  Benjamin  Har- 
rison. He  has  held  several  local  positions  of  trust 
and  honor,  and  for  eighteen  years  acted  .as  Super- 
visor of  Norton  Township.  In  every  official  posi- 
tion, Mr.  Camiibell  li.as  shown  his  ability  and  zeal  i 
in  carrying  on  the  duties  incident  to  the  position,  i 
Mr.  anfl  Mrs.  Campbell  are  Baptists  in  religious  be-  -i 
lief,  but  are  now  attending  the  Buckingham  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Cburch.  Having  resided  in  this 
county  for  over  a  third  of  a  century,  Mr.  Camp- 
bell  has  witnessed   vast  ciianges,  and  has  assisted  i\ 


i 


OF  THE 
^'•^IVERSnyOFILLIfVOIS 


f\. 


^' 


'% 


'J2^  Ciyi/t/i-y . 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


r.'io 


materially  in  its  progress  and  prosperity.  He  has 
ever  liail  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all,  and  his 
many  friends  will  be  pleased  to  read  this  brief 
tribute  to  his  worth. 


^i^iEORGE  AVERY,  one  of  the  extensive  land- 
owners of  Kankakee  County,  and  one  of  its 
JAj  most  prominent  and  inlliiential  farmers,  re- 
sides on  section  21,  Pilot  Township,  lie  is  so 
widel\'  known  that  he  needs  no  special  introduc- 
tion to  the  readers  of  this  volume,  but  we  feel  as- 
sured that  this  record  of  his  life  will  prove  of  in- 
terest to  manj-  of  our  subscribers.  A  native  of 
Ohio,  he  was  born  in  ('u3'ahot>a  County,  near  the 
city  of  Cleveland,  August  18,  1832.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  George  Avery,  was  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont. He  was  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary AVar,  and  while  aiding  the  Colonies  in  their 
struggles  for  independence  was  made  a  prisoner 
by  the  ISritish  at  Koj'.ilton.  The  Avery  family  is 
of  English  origin  and  at  an  early  da}'  in  the  history' 
of  the  Colonies  was  established  in  the  Green 
Mountain  State.  Thatcher  Avery,  father  of  our 
subject,  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire.  With 
two  companions  he  went  to  Ohio  when  a  3'onng 
man,  the}-  making  the  journey  with  an  ox-team. 
The}-  continued  their  travels  until  they  had 
reached  the  Western  Reserve,  where  they  arrived 
six  weeks  after  leaving  home.  Cleveland  at  that 
time  was  a  mere  village  and  the  country  round 
about  was  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness.  The 
county  was  not  tiien  surveyed  and  Mr.  Avery 
made  a  claim  in  what  has  since  become  the  town 
of  Strongsville.  In  company  with  Wheeler  Cole 
he  cleared  the  land  and  developed  a  good  farm. 
For  some  years  they  kept  bachelors'  hall,  but 
after  a  time  Thatcher  Avery  was  married  to 
Miss  .lulia  Ann  Lyman,  who  was  born  near  Hrat- 
tleboro,  Vt.  They  reared  their  family  upon  the 
old  homestead  in  Cuyahoga  County,  where  the 
father  spent  his  entire  life.  The  mother  survived 
her  husband  for  several  years,  being  called  to  the 
home  beyond  in  1890.     Both  parents  lie  buried  in 


I   Strongsville  Cemetery,  where  a  beautiful   mi.uii. 
ment  marks  their  last  resting-place. 

George  Avery  is  one  of  a  family  numbering 
seven  children,  of  whom  three  grew  to  maturity, 
two  .'sons  and  a  daughter,  and  of  these  our  subject 
is  the  eldest.  The  sister,  however,  is  now  deceased. 
The  brother,  Hollis  Avery,  is  now  a  prominent 
businessman  in  Iladley,  Pa.  George  spent  the  days 
of  his  boyhood  and  youth  under  the  parental  roof 
and  was  early  inured  to  the  labors  of  farm  life. 
He  received  good  educational  privileges,  for  after 
attending  the  common  schools  he  became  a  student 
in  Bcrea  (University.  Subsecpiently  he  learned  the 
carpenter's  trade  and  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building  for  a  period  of  ten  years.  Thinking  the 
West  furnished  better  opportunities  for  young 
men,  he  came  to  Illinois  in  1854,  and  in  Kankakee 
County  purch.ased  a  tract  of  wild  land  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres,  the  same  on  which  he 
now  resides.  He  did  not  then  make  a  permanent 
location,  however,  but  returned  to  Cleveland.  In 
18.56  he  .igain  came  to  the  West,  and  from  then 
until  1861  spent  his  time  working  at  the  car- 
penter's trade  in  Chicago  and  in  Kankakee. 

Mr.  Avery  has  been  twice  married.  In  .Seville, 
Ohio,  on  the  5th  of  March,  1861,  he  wedded  Miss 
Elicia  Fleming,  who  was  born  in  Hardin  County, 
Ohio.  She  died  on  the  28th  of  February,  1880. 
Three  children  were  born  of  that  union.  H.  F.  is  a 
prosperous  farmer  who  owns  and  operates  a  valu- 
able tract  of  land  adjoining  his  father's  farm.  H. 
B.  acquired  a  superior  education,  began  as  an 
engineer  and  electrician  and  held  a  responsible  posi- 
tion in  Chicago;  he  died  in  that  city  December  30, 
1891.  The  daughter,  P^lla  L,  is  the  wife  of  Charles 
Slater,  a  substantial  farmer  of  Iroquois  County. 
Mr.  Avery  was  again  married,  January  30,  1883, 
in  Chicago,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss 
Frances  Goodrich,  a  native  of  Hranch  County, 
Mich. 

In  186 1,  Mr.  Avery  located  upon  liis  land  in 
Kankakee  County  and  began  the  development  of 
a  farm.  As  the  years  passed,  acre  after  acre  was 
placed  under  the  plow,  until  now  almost  the  entire 
amount  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  The 
owner  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  enterprising 
and  successful  farniei-s  of  the  county.     Prosperity 


530 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


has  attended  his  effoits,  and  as  his  financial  re- 
sources have  increased  he  lias  extended  the  bound- 
aries of  his  farm  from  time  to  time  until  it  now 
comprises  six  hundred  and  forty  acres.  It  is  well 
improved  with  substantial  buildings,  in  fact  none 
of  the  accessories  of  a  model  farm  are  lacking.  The 
homestead  has  a  comfortable  and  pleasant  residence, 
and  a  large  barn,  good  outbuildings  and  wind 
pumps.  Water  is  carried  through  underground 
pipes,  to  keep  it  from  freezing,  into  his  barns  and 
feed  lots,  so  that  his  stock  is  alwaj-s  supplied.  Mr. 
Avery  is  a  man  of  good  business  ability,  and  his 
success  is  the  result  of  his  industiT,  well-directed 
efforts  and  enterprise. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Aveiy  proudl\-  cast  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  John  C.  Fremont,  and  he  still  votes 
with  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a  warm  supporter 
of  Republican  principles,  j^et  has  never  sought  or 
desired  official  distinction  for  himself,  preferring  to 
give  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  his  business 
interests,  in  which  he  has  met  with  signal  suc- 
cess. Mr.  Avery  and  his  wife  are  both  members  of 
the  Herscher  Presbyterian  Church.  In  social 
circles  this  worthj'  couple  rank  high  and  their 
household  is  the  abode  of  hospitality.  Mr.  Avery 
has  for  thirty-two  long  3'ears  resided  in  this  county 
and  has  therefore  witnessed  much  of  its  growth 
and  upbuilding.  He  has  also  aided  in  its  develop- 
ment and  has  ever  borne  his  share  in  the  advance- 
ment of  its  best  interests.  Tbat  his  career  has 
been  an  honorable  one  is  indicated  by  the  high  re- 
gard in  which  he  is  held  throughout  the  com- 
munity. 


\f|  OHN  DEERSON,  a  furniture  dealer,  is  one 
I  of  the  substantial  and  respected  citizens  of 
Momence,  which  has  been  his  home  for 
_  many  years.  His  birth  occurred  in  Hen- 
stcdt,  Norther  Ditmarschen,  Holsteiu,  Germany,  a 
place  about  fifty  miles  from  Hamburg,  the  date 
of  that  event  being  March  31,  18.30.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Hans  Deerson,  was  a  cooper  by  trade, 
which    occupation    he    followed    throughout    life. 


His  death  occurred  when  cightj'  3'ears  of  age.  The 
maternal  grandfather,  Hinrich  MoUer,  was  a 
farmer  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  seventy- 
five  jears  of  age.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  our 
subject  is  from  a  long-lived  family. 

John  is  a  son  of  Peter  N.  and  Helen  D.  (Moller) 
Deerson,  both  natives  of  the  same  town  and  State 
as  our  subject.  The  father  was  a  cooper  bj'  trade 
and  while  a  resident  of  tiie  Fatherland  followed 
that  occupation  for  a  livelihood.  When  about 
forty-eight  years  of  age  he  bade  adieu  to  his  na- 
tive land  and, crossing  the  broad  Atlantic,  landed  in 
America  in  1852.  A  year  later  he  settled  upon  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Yellow- 
head  Township,  Kankakee  County,  which  he 
made  his  home  until  death  called  him  hence  in 
1871.  He  was  a  thrifty  farmer  and  in  good  cir- 
cumstances. His  wife  survived  him  for  eight 
years,  d3ing  in  1879,  at  which  time  she  was  sev- 
enty-four years  of  age.  In  their  family  were 
seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  five 
of  whom  survive:  John,  Margaret  E.,  Peter  N. 
Christian  and  Helen,  all  of  whom  are  now  citizens 
of  America,  are  married  and  have  families. 

Until  twenty-one  3'ears  of  age  the  life  of  our 
subject  was  passed  in  the  land  of  his  birth,  where 
he  received  a  good  education.  In  1850,  when 
Schleswig-Holstein  tried  to  free  herself  from  Den- 
mark, he  took  up  arms  in  the  defense  of  his  coun- 
try and  served  for  nine  mouths,  or  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  in  the  German  army.  In  June,  1851, 
he  crossed  the  briny  deep  and  lived  for  one  year 
in  Kew  York  City,  but  when  his  parents  came  to 
this  country,  accompanied  them  to  Joliet,  111.  In 
1854,  Mr.  Deerson  located  in  Momence,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  furniture  and  undertaking  busi- 
ness, which  he  has  followed  continuously  since. 
From  1860  to  1873,  he  also  manufactured  furni- 
ture, hauling  his  product  to  Kankakee,  the  nearest 
railroad  station.  At  that  time  this  place  was  a 
village  of  probabl}-  not  more  than  three  hundred 
inhabitants. 

On  the  6th  of  February,  1854,  Mr.  Deerson  and 
Miss  Lena  Koch  were  united  in  marriage.  Mrs. 
Deerson  is  a  daughter  of  Ludwig  and  Anna 
(Frahm)  Koch,  of  Joliet,  111.,  who  were  both  na- 
tives of  German^-.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deerson  became 


'i\ 


PORTRAIT  AXD  BlOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


531 


the  parents  of  seven  cliildren.  Helena  grew  to 
womanliood  and  became  tlie  wife  of  A.  A.  Axline, 
a  lawyer  of  Cliicago;  she  departed  this  life  at  llie 
age  of  twent_v-eight  years,  leaving  one  son,  John. 
Mary  Ann  died  when  two  and  a-half  years  of  age, 
on  the  27th  of  October,  1857.  Henrietta  married 
George  Culver,  then  of  Canandaigua,  X.  Y.,  liiit 
now  a  merchant  of  Rritton,  8.  Dak.,  and  to  tlieni 
have  been  born  two  daughters,  Cora  and  Marga- 
retta.  Mary  Augusta  married  A.  A.  Axline,  who 
was  formerly  the  husband  of  her  eldest  sister; 
they  reside  at  Rogers  Park,  but  Mr.  Axline  prac- 
tices law  in  Chicago;  they  have  a  .son,  Harry. 
Charles  Ulysses  died  at  the  age  of  five  years. 
Clara  Mabel  lives  at  home  witii  her  parents.  One 
child  died  in  infancy. 

IMr.  and  Mrs.  Deerson  iield  membership  with  the 
Oernian  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  to  which 
they  belonged  in  early  life,  but  now  the  wife  and 
her  children  are  identified  with  the  Episcopal 
Church.  Our  subject  contributes  to  the  support 
of  all  the  ciiurches  in  the  communit}',  being  of  a 
liberal  turn  of  mind  and  public  spirited.  He  is  a 
Republican  in  politics  and  has  voted  that  ticket 
since  the  organization  of  the  party.  He  is  of  a 
modest  and  retiring  disposition,  not  given  to 
boasting  of  his  .'ichievements,  but  he  is  known 
throughout  this  section  as  one  who  has  materially' 
aided  in  its  advancement  and  development. 


^\  ICHAEL  BUTZ,  a  prominent  farmer,  a 
highly  respected  citizen,  and  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Kankakee  County,  resides 
on  section  .36,  Kankakee  Township.  He  is 
also  one  of  the  extensive  land-owners,  having  six 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  rich  and  valuable  farm- 
ing land.  As  he  is  widely  and  favoraljly  known,  we 
feel  assured  that  this  record  of  his  life  will  prove 
of  interest  to  many  of  our  readers  and  gladly  in- 
sert it  in  this  volume. 

Mr.  Butz  is  a  native  of  Baden,  Germany.  He 
was  born  on  the  1.3th  of  Ajjril,  1837,  and  liis  par- 
ents, Michael   and    Elizabeth   (Ilich)    Butz,    were 


also  natives  of  the  same  country.  The  father  was 
born  in  Baden  in  1801,  and  his  four  children,  two 
sons  and  two  daughters,  opened  their  eyes  to  the 
light  of  day  in  the  same  house  in  which  his  liirtli 
occurred.  He  w.is  a  well-educated  man  and  very 
prominent,  and  for  twenty  years  he  served  as 
Mayor  of  his  town.  A  farmer  by  occupation,  he 
followed  that  Inisiness  in  pursuit  of  fortune 
through  much  of  his  life  and  owned  some  valuable 
land  in  Germany.  In  1848,  he  was  one  of  the 
leaders  in  the  South  German  Revolution  and  on 
account  of  the  part  he  took  in  that  uprising  his 
property  was  confiscated.  For  about  eight  years 
his  case  was  held  in  court,  but  finally,  through  the 
influence  of  some  men  of  prominence,  he  was  ac- 
quitted. Immediately  afterwards  he  left  his  na- 
tive Land  and  sailed  for  America.  He  was  then 
fifty-five  years  of  age.  He  at  once  came  to  Kan- 
kakee County,  111.,  where  his  son  Michael  had 
located  five  years  previous.  His  wife,  a  lady  of 
culture  and  refinement,  was  born  in  Kork,  Ger- 
man^',  in  1808,  and  acquired  a  good  education. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  land  and 
remained  with  his  parents  in  Germany  untd  about 
fifteen  years  of  age,  when,  in  1852,  he  crossed  the 
broad  Atlantic  to  America  for  the  purpose  of 
looking  up  a  location  for  the  family.  He  visited 
many  places  but  found  none  that  he  liked  better 
than  Kankakee  County,  and  having  decided  to 
here  make  a  permanent  location,  he  purchased  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  for  the  family — 
an  improved  farm — for  which  they  paid  $36  per 
acre.  At  that  time  there  was  much  land  in  the 
county  that  could  be  bought  for  from  i!5  to  $10 
per  acre,  but  he  determined  to  get  the  best. 

On  the  9th  of  December,  1861,  Mr.  Butz  married 
Miss  Philipena  Ader,  who  was  born  in  Germany 
on  the  3d  of  June,  1844.  Slie  was  the  eighth  in  a 
family  of  ten  children.  The  first  sixteen  years  of 
her  life  were  spent  in  the  land  of  her  birth  and 
then  she  accompanied  her  parents  to  the  United 
States,  a  location  being  made  in  Kankakee  County. 
Her  father  died  in  this  county-  November  18,  1886, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years.  The  mother  had 
passed  awa}'  onl^'  a  short  time  previous,  being  called 
to  her  final  rest  on  the  2Gth  of  July,  1886,  at  the 


532 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


age  of  four-score  j-ears.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Butz 
have  been  born  five  children,  two  sons  and  three 
daughters:  Emma,  at  home;  Michael  W.,  a  pros- 
perous farmer,  who  is  married  and  resides  in  this 
county;  Minnie  E.,  now  the  wife  of  M.  L.  Potter, 
a  commission  merchant  of  Chicago;  Lina,  who 
was  born  Maj'  27,  1866,  and  died  September  25, 
1869;  and  George  P.,  who  was  born  October  J 7, 
1871,  and  completes  the  family.  The  children  have 
been  provided  with  excellent  educational  advan- 
tages and  are  thus  fitted  for  any  position  in  life 
which  tliey  may  be  called  upon  to  fill.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  common-school  course,  they  received 
other  advantages  and  all  are  graduates  of  col- 
leges. 

During  the  late  war,  Mr.  Butz  manifested  his 
loyalty  to  his  adopted  country  by  enlisting  in  the 
Twentieth  Illinois  Infantry  for  three  months,  and 
at  the  expiration  of  his  terra  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged and  returned  to  his  home.  In  political 
sentiment  he  is  a  Democrat,  and  for  nine  years 
has  faithfully  served  as  Highway  Commissioner. 
Himself  and  family  are  members  of  the  German 
Lutheran  Ciunch.  The  Butz  household  is  the 
abode  of  hospitality  and  its  members  rank  high  in 
social  circles  where  true  worth  and  intelligence 
are  received  as  the  passports  into  good  society. 
Mr.  Butz  is  one  of  the  leading  and  most  progress- 
ive farmers  of  the  county  and  his  extensive  pos- 
sessions have  come  to  him  tiirough  his  own  in- 
dustry, enterprise,  perseverance  and  well-directed 
efforts. 


ENNIS  O'NEIL,  who  is  engaged  in  general 
farming  on  section  3,  Pilot  Townsliip,  has 
for  twenty-seven  years  been  numbered 
among  the  citizens  of  Kankakee  County. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  his  birth  oc- 
curring in  County  Kerry,  Ireland,  on  the  10th  of 
March,  1844.  His  parents,  George  and  Ilonora 
(Leahy)  O'Xeil,  were  both  natives  of  the  same 
country.  In  1855  they  bade  good-bye  to  their  old 
home,  and  with  their  family  crossed  the  broad  At- 


lantic to  America.  Landing  in  New  York,  they 
spent  one  year  in  the  Empire  State,  and  then  came 
West  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Dixon.  Mr.  O'Neil 
engaged  in  merchandising  at  that  place  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  and  then  removed  to  Chicago,  wliere 
he  spent  a  few  years.  Later  he  became  a  resident 
of  Blooraington,  111.  From  McLean  County  they 
went  to  La  Salle  Count}^,  and  remained  there  one 
and  a-half  years,  and  thence  to  Beloit,  Wis.,  re- 
maining there  about  one  3'ear,  and  later  to  Free- 
port,  111.,  but  the  last  j'ears  of  his  life  were  passed 
in  Kankakee  County,  where  he  died  on  the  10th 
of  May,  1889,  when  about  eighty  }'ears  of  age. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  our 
subject,  Dennis  O'Neil,  who  is  known  throughout 
the  communitj'  as  one  of  its  leading  farmers.  He 
grew  to  manliood  in  Freeport,  111.,  receiving  good 
school  privileges,  and  when  a  young  man  lie  came 
with  his  father  to  this  county,  locating  in  Pilot 
Township,  about  one  mile  east  of  Pilot  Grove. 
There  he  opened  up  a  farm  and  engaged  in  its  cul- 
tivation for  a  number  of  years,  when  he  sold  out 
and  bought  the  land  on  which  he  now  resides.  He 
now  owns  and  operates  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  arable  land,  and  the  well-tilled  fields  and 
neat  appearance  of  the  place  indicate  the  thrift 
and  enterprise  of  the  owner.  His  farm  is  im- 
proved with  a  neat  and  substantial  residence, good 
outbuildings  and  all  the  accessories  of  a  model 
farm  of  the  nineteenth  century. 

In  the  city  of  Kankakee,  on  the  20th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1865,  Mr.  O'Neil  wedded  Miss  Mary  J.  Mur- 
phy, who  was  born  and  reared  in  the  county 
which  is  still  her  home.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Den- 
nis Murpliy,  one  of  the  honored  i)ioneers  of  this 
county,  now  deceased.  The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
O'Neil  has  been  blessed  with  a  family  of  eight 
children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Ilonora,  is  a  success- 
ful teacher  of  this  community.  The  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family  are  Margaret,  Mary,  Ella,  John 
E.,  AVilliam,  Eliza,  Catherine  W.  and  Lucy. 

The  parents  and  their  children  are  all  members 
of  the  Catholic  Churcii.  In  his  political  views, 
Mr.  O'Neil  is  a  Democrat.  He  cast  his  Presidential 
vote  for  Gen.  Hancock,  and  since  that  time  has 
been  connected  with  the  Democracy,  supporting 
all  of    its   Presidential  nominees.     He  has  never 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


533 


been  an  aspirant  for  public  office,  but  keeps  him- 
self well  informed  on  the  issues  of  liie  day.  lie 
takes  a  commendable  interest  in  all  that  pertains 
to  the  welfare  of  the  communitj',  does  all  in  his 
power  for  the  advancement  of  the  educational  in- 
terests, and  ever  uses  liis  influence  toward  secur- 
ing good  schools  and  good  teachers.  Mr.  O'Neil 
h.as  spent  nearly  his  entire  life  in  Illinois,  and  for 
twenty-seven  long  3ears  has  been  a  resident  of 
Kankakee  County.  Therefore  he  has  witnessed 
much  of  its  growth  and  development,  and  in  every 
possible  w.iy  he  has  aided  in  its  upbuilding. 


^ 


E^ 


^1^  IRAM  M.  COOK  is  proprietor  of  the  Cook 
Elevator  and  dealer  iu  grain,  coal  and  tile 
in  Buckingham,  111.  It  is  said  that  Mr. 
\^)  Cook  has  done  more  to  improve  and  build 
up  this  place  than  anj'  other  man,  and  he  is  con- 
sidered one  of  its  most  valued  citizens.  He  was 
boin  in  .Jefferson  County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  26th  of 
December,  1823,  and  is  a  son  of  M.  V.  D.  Cook, 
who  was  of  Ceiman  parentage  and  was  also  born  in 
the  Empire  State.  On  arriving  at  his  majority'  he 
married,  near  Pittstown,  Elizabeth  Avery,  also  a 
native  of  New  York.  Mr.  Cook  was  a  miller  by 
trade,  and  followed  that  vocation  for  several  j-ears, 
after  which  he  settled  upon  a  farm  in  Otsego 
County,  whence,  after  farming  for  several  3'ears,  he 
removed  to  Jefferson  County.  He  settled  in  the 
midst  of  the  wilderness  and  was  among  the  pio- 
neers of  the  county.  He  reared  his  family  and 
spent  his  remaining  days  there,  dying  about  1.84  t. 
His  wife  died  several  years  later  and  lies  buried 
by  her  husband  in  Theresa  Cemetery. 

Of  their  famil_y  of  ten  children,  the  eldest,  Rich- 
ard, was  born  in  1800;  he  removed  to  Illinois  in  an 
early  day  and  died  near  Aurora.  Rensselaer  died  in 
early  life.  Alanson  is  a  farmer  of  .Jefferson  County, 
N.  Y.  Jlilton  embarked  on  a  propeller  bound  for 
Chicago,  and  on  the  voy.age  contracted  the  dread 
disease,  cholera,  from  which  he  died  and  was 
buried  in  the  Lakes.  Nelson  is  a  manufacturer  of 
lumber  and  a  miller  at  Redwood,  Jefferson  County. 


Eliza  is  the  widow  of  Ludowic  Salisbury,  and  is  a 
resident  of  Theresa,  N.  Y.  Sallic  died  unmarried. 
Polly  and  ISIargaret  grew  to  womanhood,  were 
married,  but  are  now  deceased.  Hiram  M.  is  the 
j-oungest  of  the  family. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject  were 
passed  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  where  during 
the  winter  months  he  acipiired  his  education  in 
the  district  schools.  He  remained  with  iiis  father 
until  the  death  of  the  latter,  after  which,  with  his 
brother  Nelson,  he  carried  on  the  farm  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  Then  selling  the  homestead  to  his 
brother,  he  came  West  to  Illinois  and  first  made  a 
settlement  near  Lisbon,  Kendall  County.  He  bought 
iinimpro\ed  land  and  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  that  county',  in  which  he  resided  for  some  twenty 
years.  Mr.  Cook  then  sold  his  farm  and  removed 
to  Ford  County,  where  he  purchased  a  farm, 
which  he  operated  for  about  twenty  years.  While 
there  he  also  engaged  in  merchandising,  carrying 
ou  business  for  several  years.  Afterward  he  re- 
moved to  Buckingham,  where  for  some  time  he 
engaged  in  business,  but  afterward  sold  out  and 
became  the  owner  of  an  elevator.  About  1877  he 
began  dealing  in  grain,  coal  and  tile. 

On  October  6,  1850,  Mr.  Cook  and  Lucrelia 
Red  field  were  married  in  Jefferson  County,  N.  Y. 
The  lady  is  a  daughter  of  Nathaniel  and  Sallie 
(Webster)  Redfield,aud  was  born  in  DcKalb,  Law- 
rence County,  N.  Y.,  May  23,  1829.  Mrs.  Cook's 
father  was  one  of  the  pioneer  farmers,  and  erected 
his  little  log  cabin  in  the  midst  of  the  forest, 
where  wild  animals  were  plentiful.  Both  of  her 
parents  are  dead  and  are  buried  in  Lisbon,  111. 
Her  father  was  born  in  New  York  in  1800,  and  ho 
died  October  10,  1875,  and  her  mother  was  born  in 
Vermont,  November  17,  1806,  and  died  February 
21,  1892.  Both  were  consistent  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Two  children  grace 
the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife:  Joseph  N., 
who  is  married  and  is  in  business  with  his  father; 
and  Ada  Ella,  wife  of  George  B.  McNamce,  whose 
sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work,  and  who  is 
a  business  man  of  P.uckingham. 

Formerly,  Mr.  Cook  was  a  Jackson  Democrat, 
but  united  with  the  Republican  party  on  its  or- 
ganization.    He  has  shown  indomitable  will  and 


534 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


energy  in  bis  business  life,  having  overcome  all 
obstacles  in  his  pathwaj'  with  courage  and  pluck. 
He  started  in  life  without  any  means,  and  had  the 
great  misfortune  to  lose  his  right  arm  by  acci- 
dent in  a  threshing-machine  after  removing  to 
Illinois.  He  is  the  owner  of  four  hundred  acres 
of  valuable  farm  land  in  Ford  Count}-,  and  desir- 
able residence  property'  in  Watseka,  111.,  and  like- 
wise in  Buckingham.  "While  in  Ford  County  he 
was  apjiointed  Postmaster,  in  which  capacity  he 
acted  for  about  ten  years,  also  serving  as  Justice 
of  the  Peace  for  two  or  more  terms.  He  is  now 
School  Treasurer  of  Norton  Township.  In  what- 
ever official  position  he  has  been  placed,  he  has 
shown  himself  a  capable  and  efficient  officer.  He 
has  been  a  resident  of  Illinois  for  nearly  a  half- 
century,  and  is  well  known  in  Ford,  Kankakee 
and  adjoining  counties.  He  is  one  whose  word  is 
considered  as  good  as  his  bond,  and  in  all  pul)lic 
affairs  he  has  taken  an  active  interest. 


^^ 


yESLEY  BONFIELD.  Among  the  repre- 
sentative men  of  Kankakee  who  date  tiieir 

\\^^  residence  in  this  city  from  the  days  of  its 
early  liistor}',  is  the  gentleman  whose  name  heads 
this  sketch,  and  who  has  made  Kankakee  his 
home  since  1855.  He  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  where 
his  birth  occurred  in  1828.  His  father.  Dr.  Thomas 
S.  Bonfield,  was  born  in  Baltimore,  Jld.,  and  re- 
moved from  the  Slate  of  his  birth  to  Ohio  at  an 
early  period  in  his  professional  life.  He  settled  in 
Stark  Count}',  where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  for  many  3fears,  and  where  be  resided 
until  his  death.  The  mother  of  our  subject  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  Troup.  She  was  a  na- 
tive of  the  Keystone  State, and  died  when  her  son 
Wesley  was  an  infant.  He  and  his  brother,  Thomas 
P.,  of  Kankakee,  were  the  only  children  by  the 
first  marriage  of  Dr.  Bonfield,  who  was  twice  mar- 
ried. Mrs.  P^liza  Sn3-der,  of  San  Jose,  Cal.,  is  the 
only  child  by  the  second  union. 

Wesley  Bonfield  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native 
county,  and  received  good  educational  advantages. 


In  1850  he  went  to  Chicago,  at  which  time  that 
now  famous  cit}'  was  but  an  uninviting  hamlet, 
and  gave  no  promise  of  the  importance  which  it 
was  destined  to  attain.  Mr.  Bonfield  remained 
there  for  about  two  years, and  for  the  same  length 
of  time  was  employed  by  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road in  the  southern  portion  of  the  State. 

Afterwards  he  came  to  Kankakee,  and  until 
1858  vvas  employed  as  Deput}'  Circuit  Clerk.  In 
the  year  just  mentioned  he  .engaged  in  the  drug 
business,  at  what  was  then  Middleport,  but  now 
bears  the  name  of  Watseka.  In  18G2,  returning  to 
this  city,  he  opened  a  drug  store,  which  he  oper- 
ated for  twent}'-  six  3'ears,  when  he  disposed  of  it. 
In  1873,  Mr.  Bonfield,  in  company  with  L.  B. 
Cobb,  Franklin  Crawford  and  others,  erected  a  fac- 
tory for  the  manufacture  of  strawboard.  This 
business  became  a  ver}^  important  one,  and  was 
continued  until  a  few  3'ears  since,  when  it  was 
sold  to  what  was  then  the  Union  Strawboard 
Compan3',  now  known  as  the  American  Straw- 
board  Company,  but  one  year  later  this  property 
was  leased  by  Mr.  Bonfield  and  L.  B.  Cobb,  who 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  wrapping  paper, 
which  business  they  closed  in  February,  1893. 
Mr.  Bonfield  at  one  time  organized  a  compan3'  for 
the  manufacture  of  buttons  in  Kankakee.  The 
enterprise  prospered,  but  the  factor3'  being  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  was  not  rebuilt.  Since  1880  our 
subject  has  been  interested  in  mining  in  Colorado, 
and  a  liberal  degree  of  success  has  attended  bis  in- 
vestments in  that  direction. 

Politicall3',  Mr.  Bonfield  has~  been  allied  with 
the  Republican  party  since  its  organization.  He 
has  served  on  the  School  Board  some  five  or  six 
3'ears.  Sociall3^,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  belonging  to  Kankakee  Lodge  No.  38'J,  and 
Kankakee  Chapter  No.  78. 

In  1856  Mr.  Bonfield  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Emma  Dixon,  a  native  of  Illinois,  b3'  whom 
he  had  three  children,  of  whom  two  are  living, 
namely,  Emma,  wife  of  John  Dixon,  of  Kankakee, 
and  Eliza,  who  is  at  home.  After  the  death  of  his 
wife  iMr.  Bonfield  married  Miss  Susan  A.,  daugh- 
ter of  L.  B.  Cobb,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Kanka- 
kee, the  marriage  occurring  at  Kankakee  in  1868. 
By  this  union  six  children   have   been   born,  two 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


535 


sons  and  four  daughters:  Belle;  Ellen,  wife  of  Ja- 
cob Cline,  of  Cliicago;  Emmons,  who  graduated 
from  the  Kankakee  High  School  in  1891;  Edith; 
llaswell  T.  and  Lucia. 

All  enterprises  that  have  had  for  their  object 
tlie  best  interests  of  the  city  and  community  have 
ever  received  tlie  cordial  and  substantial  support 
of  Mr.  Bonlield.  For  many  ^ears  he  has  been 
closely  identified  witli  the  prosperity  and  growth 
of  Kankakee.  He  and  his  wife  have  long  held 
membership  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
to  wliich  Ihey  give  their  heartv  support. 


»i^.i<^.^. 


I  HARLES  E.  BOYER  is  one  of  tlie  substan- 
tial farmers  and  stock-raisei-s,  and  a  resident 
'J/J  of  Kankakee  County,  his  lionie  being  on 
section  5,  Norton  Township.  His  birtii  occurred 
in  the  city  of  Piuladelphia,  Pa.,  on  the  25tli  of 
January,  1829.  His  parents  were  Peter  and  Ilan- 
hah  (Botlie)  Boyer,  both  natives  of  Germany. 
The  father  was  born  in  1800,  and  wlien  twentj-- 
eight  years  of  age  emigrated  with  his  young  wife 
to  Pennsylvania.  He  worked  for  a  number  of 
years  at  liis  trade,  tliat  of  a  stone  mason,  and  later 
moved  to  Montgomery  County,  where  he  engaged 
in  agriculture,  also  working  at  his  trade.  His 
death  occurred  in  1884,  his  wife  having  died  a 
few  years  previousl3\ 

.  Charles  E.  is  the  eldest  of  a  family  comprising 
six  sons  and  three  daugliters  who  grew  to  matur- 
ity. The  family  circle  is  still  unbroken,  and  they 
are  all  married  and  have  homes  of  their  own. 
William  carries  on  a  farm  in  Jlontgomgry  County; 
Kate  became  the  wife  of  Albert  Manuel,  who  is 
now  deceased;  John  B.  is  a  farmer  in  Boone 
County,  lud.;  Peter  is  a  mechanic  employed  in  the 
machine  shops  of  W'ilmington,  Del.;  Mary  is  the 
wife  of  .Samuel  Frelz,  of  Clayton,  Del.;  Elizabeth 
resides  in  Canton,  N.  J.,  and  is  the  wife  of  David 
Crawford;  Jacob  lives  in  Lansdale,  Pa.,  and  is  a 
dentist  by  profession;  George  is  a  printer  of  Can- 
ton, X.  J. 

The  boyhood  and   youth  of   Charles   E.   Boyer 


!  were  passed  in  Montgonierj'  and  Bucks  Counties. 
He  left  home  when  sixteen  years  of  age,  and  en- 
tered the  employ  of  a  neighboring  farmer.  Of  his 
limited  means  he  gave  to  help  support  and  edu- 
cate the  younger  children.  His  own  school  privi- 
leges were  very  limited,  and  comprised  but  three 
months  of  the  year.  However,  he  was  very  stu- 
dious, and  by  perseverance  accpiired  a  good  educa- 
tion. He  was  given  a  certificate  to  teach,  and 
taught  school  for  one  winter  in  Montgomery' 
County.  He  deserves  great  credit  for  the  zeal 
and  patience  which  he  manifested  in  obtaining  an 
education,  for  the  obstacles  and  difliculties  in  his 
way  required  great  courage  to  overcome.  For 
several  years  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  contrib- 
uted to  his  brothers'  and  sisters'  support. 

In  the  year  1853,  Mr.  Boyer  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Anna  Seipt,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania.  Unto  them  have  been  born  eight 
children,  four  sons  and  four  daughters.  George  is 
a  merchant  and  Postmaster  of  Reddick;  Samuel  is 
a  farmer  of  Kansas;  Susanna  is  the  wife  of  Louis 
Weis,  of  this  county;  Irwin  is  an  agriculturist  of 
Kankakee  County;  Mary  Ann,  wife  of  Charles 
Reike,  now  resides  in  Iowa;  Ida  is  the  wife  of  Ed 
L'nz.  a  farmei  of  Norton  Township;  Frank  S.  as- 
sists in  carrying  on  the  home  farm;  L.  Irene 
also  resides  at  home. 

Until  1866,  Mr.  Boyer  carried  on  his  farm  in 
Montgomery  County,  but  in  that  year  he  removed 
West  to  Illinois.  Two  years  previous  he  had 
purchased  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  unimproved  prairie  land.  On  this  property  he 
located,  and  here  he  still  resides.  The  care  and 
cultivation  which  he  bestowed  upon  it  brought  to 
him  abundant  returns,  and  by  wise  management 
he  was  soon  on  the  road  to  prosperity.  He  has 
added  to  his  original  purchase, and  now  has  in  his 
home  place  two  hundred  and  fourteen  acres  which 
are  well  improved,  tiled,  and  otlierwise  in  good  con- 
dition, and  on  the  place  are  a  neat  and  substantial 
residence,  large  barns  and  otiier  necesjar^'  farm 
buildings.  He  is  truly  a  self-made  man,  and  the 
prosperity  which  he  now  enjoys  is  well  deserved. 
He  bravely  overcame  the  many  obstacles  in  his 
pathway  in  his  early  life, and  has  carried  the  same 
brave  determination  up  to  the  present  time. 


536 


POSTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Boyer  voted  for  Hon.  John  C.  Fremont  in 
1856,  and  has  supported  every  nominee  of  the  Re- 
publican party  for  President  since.  Though  never 
wishing  official  recognition,  he  has  served  as  Road 
Commissioner.  He  has  ever  given  liis  hearty  sup- 
port to  public  schools,  and  for  nearly  a  quarter  of 
a  century  has  been  a  member  of  the  School  Board. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boyer  are  members  of  the  Evangeli- 
cal Church.  The  many  friends  whom  he  has  made 
in  this  vicinity  will  be  pleased  to  read  this  brief 
tribute  to  his  worth. 


'■M-v-%-- 


LPHONSO  MELLEN,  a  retired  farmer, 
now  resides  in  Kankakee.  This  volume, 
which  gives  the  records  of  many  of  the 
most  prominent  pioneers,  would  be  surely 
incomplete  without  a  sketch  of  Mr.  Mellen,  who 
dates  his  residence  in  this  county  from  1838.  He 
has  been  prominently  identified  with  the  growth 
and  development  of  this  section,  and  has  been  a 
strong  factor  in  its  prosperity. 

Mr.  Mellen  was  born  in  Bennington  Count}', 
Vt.,  on  the  26th  of  September,  1821,  and  is  a  son 
of  Natlianiel  and  Achsah  (Wheeler)  Mellen.  The 
Mellen  familj-  are  of  English  descent,  and  were 
among  the  pioneers  of  New  P^ngland.  Tlie  pater- 
nal grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  bore  the  same 
name  as  his  father,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
while  the  father  was  born  in  Bennington  County, 
Vt.,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  In  that  State 
for  several  years  after  his  marriage  he  carried  on 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  in  the  year  1838  emi- 
grated Westward.  He  settled  in  what  is  now  Kan- 
kakee County,  at  a  place  about  three  miles  from 
Waldron.  He  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  to  lo- 
cate there.  At  that  time  the  nearest  mill  was  in 
Wilmington,  and  all  marketing  was  done  in  Chi- 
cago. Mr.  Mellen  opened  up  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  raw  prairie  land,  which 
did  not  come  into  market  until  the  following 
j-ear,  1839.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred on  the  27th  of  March,  1866,  his  property 


comprised  two  hundred  and  thirty  acres.  He  was 
a  man  of  considerable  influence  in  the  community, 
and  at  various  times,  both  in  Vermont  and  Illinois, 
occupied  local  official  positions.  His  wife  sur- 
vived him  several  years,  and  departed  this  life 
on  the  27th  of  October,  1875.  Both  parents  were 
buried  in  Beebetown  Cemetery,  and  their  last  rest- 
ing-place is  marked  by  a  suitable  monument. 

Alphonso  Mellen  is  the  only  son  and  is  fourth  in 
order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  seven  children,  who 
grew  to  mature  3-ears.  AVhen  but  seventeen  years 
of  age,  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  and 
since  that  time  has  passed  his  entire  life  in  this 
county.  He  received  common-school  advantages 
in  his  native  State,  and  afterward  attended  a 
school  at  Hadley,  111.  As  he  was  the  only  son,  he 
remained  at  home,  assisting  his  father  in  carrying 
on  the  homestead,  for  several  3^ears  after  he  had 
passed  his  majority.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Mel- 
len located  on  a  farm,  which  was  a  portion  of  his 
father's  homestead.  In  the  spring  of  1853  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Otto  Township,  located  on  the 
Iroquois  River.  Of  this  tract  but  twenty  acres 
were  broken,  and  as  there  was  no  suitable  resi- 
dence, he  erected  a  good  farm  house  and  other 
buildings.  For  many  3-ears  he  carried  on  and  cul- 
tivated his  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-five 
acres  in  that  township,  and  in  1890  he  rented  the 
place  and  became  a  resident  of  Kankakee.  In 
this  city  he  owns  a  nice  residence  property,  and 
has  retired  largely  from  the  active  duties  and 
anxieties  incident  to  the  life  of  a  farmer. 

Mr.  Mellen  was  lirst  mari-ied  in  .Joliet,  Will 
County,  on  the  9th  of  December,  1814,  to  Miss 
Sarah  Ann  Sir])less,  who  was  born  in  Ohio.  To 
them  were  born  two  children,  Clarence  D.  and 
Henry  J.,  who  are  both  farmers  of  Wilson  County. 
Kan.  Mrs.  Mellen  died  on  the  27th  of  .July  185.5. 
In  AVill  County,  on  the  13th  of  September,  1851. 
Mr.  Mellen  and  Gertrude  Brinkerhoff  were  united 
in  marriage.  The  lady  is  a  native  of  the  Empire 
State,  born  in  Albany  County,  and  when  a  child 
of  nine  years  came  AVest  with  her  parents.  Her 
father,  Martin  N.  Bi'inkerhoff,  was  one  of  the  hon- 
ored early  settlers  of  Will  County,  111.  By  hi; 
last  union  Mr.  Mellen  has  two  daughters  living 
Lizzie    A.,    wife    of    Charles    Havens,   of    Holi 


m\mm\  of  Illinois 


# 


^■v'- 


•^■"^       iff 


w 


lMI  LY    a    MYERS 


LIBRAfiY 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


541 


County,  Neb.;  and  Gertie  E.,  who  is  engaged  in 
business  at  Mineral  Springs,  Ind.  A  son,  Walter 
A.,  grew  to  mature  years,  was  an  invalid  during 
his  entire  life,  and  passed  away  on  the  8th  of  Jan- 
uar3',  1889,  at  the  age  of  thirty-one  years. 

Mr.  Mellen  cast  his  first  ballot  for  Henry  Clay, 
and  was  formerly  an  old-line  Whig.  He  became 
identified  with  the  Republican  party  on  its  organ- 
ization, but  recently  has  become  allied  with  the 
Prohibition  party.  For  about  six  years  he  served 
as  Supervisor  of  Otto  Township,  and  was  also 
Road  Commissioner.  The  cause  of  education  finds 
in  him  a  faithful  friend,  and  for  a  quarter  of  a 
century  he  was  a  member  of  the  School  Board. 
Both  our  subject  and  his  wife  hold  membership 
with  the  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
Kankakee,  and  the  latter  is  actively  engaged  in 
the  AVoraan's  Christian  Temperance  Union  work. 
In  civic  societies,  Mr.  Mellen  has  ever  been  inter- 
ested and  is  a  Master  Mason,  having  served  as 
Master  and  representative  of  Grant  Lodge,  to 
which  he  belongs.  For  fifty-four  years  Mr.  Mel- 
len has  made  Kankakee  County  his  home  and  the 
center  of  all  his  interests,  and  by  his  unassuming 
worth  has  won  the  confidence  of  his  many  friends 
and  acquaintances. 


=m^^^m=^ 


■^  ACOB   IMYERS,  a   retired  farmer  and  coal 
merchant,  has  lived  in  Kankakee  for  tliirty- 
five    years,     lie    was    born     in     Frederick 
County,  Md.,  a  mile  and  a-half  from  Fred- 
erick City,  on  the  10th  of   April,   1817.     His   ma- 
ternal grandfather,  John  Kenaga,  reared  quite  a 
large  famil3'  and  was  seventy-two  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Pennsyl- 
vania.    He  followed  agricultural  pursuits  through- 
out life.     Our  subject  is  the  son  of  Rudolph  and 
Anna  (Kenaga)  Myers,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Berks  County,  Pa.,  and  of  German  descent.     Tiie 
father  was  twice   married,  the   first   time  in   May, 
,  1800,  to  Anna  Kenaga,  by  whom  he  had  six  chil- 
I  dren,  Elizabeth,  John,   Mary,   David,   Jacob  and 
j  Susan  Ann,  of  whom  only  the   two  3'ounger  ones 

26 


are  now  living.  Susan  is  the  widow  of  .lacob  Metz 
and  is  now  living  in  Wooster,  Ohio.  The  mother 
of  this  famil}-  died  in  1827,  when  our  subject  was 
ten  years  of  age.  The  father  was  again  married 
tiie  same  year,  his  second  wife  being  Miranda 
Montgomery,  by  whom  he  had  three  children: 
William  Henry,  who  lives  in  St.  Paul;  Asbury 
Hamilton,  who  resides  in  Cincinnati;  and  Edwin 
James,  who  died  in  AVooster,  Ohio. 

Rudolph  Myers  commenced  farming  in  Penn- 
sylvania, residing  in  Berks  and  Cumberland  Coun- 
ties until  about  1815,  when  he  removed  to  Mary- 
land and  there  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
for  about  twelve  years.  He  then  returned  to 
Pennsylvania,  living  there  until  1833,  wlien  he  fi- 
nally removed  to  Ohio,  settling  upon  a  farm  in 
Wayne  County,  about  six  miles  to  the  southwest 
of  Wooster.  He  followed  agricultural  pursuits 
during  his  entire  life  and  died  in  1852,  being  sev- 
ent3-two  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

In  1857,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  came  from 
Champaign  County,  Ohio,  to  Kankakee  County, 
III.  He  located  in  the  then  small  village  of  Kan- 
kakee and  until  1892  lived  continuously  in  one 
house.-  On  the  31st  of  December,  1846,  Mr.  M.yers 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Minerva  Drake, 
daughter  of  Nathan  and  Miranda  Drake,  of  Holmes 
County,  Ohio.  One  child  graced  their  union,  a 
daughter,  Rovilla  Ann,  who  was  the  wife  of  J.  S. 
Sheffler  and  died  December  18,  1886.  Mrs.  Myers 
departed  this  life  on  the  18th  of  September,  1852, 
and  on  the  12th  of  September  of  the  following 
year,  Mr.  Myers  married  Miss  Emily  A.  Funk,  a 
daughter  of  Joel  and  Elizabeth  (Kenaga)  Funk,  of 
Champaign  County,  Ohio.  One  child  was  born 
to  them,  a  son,  Alvah  Forest,  who  is  now  engaged 
in  buying  hay  and  grain  in  Kankakee  in  carload 
lots,  and  is  also  Secretary  of  the  Kankakee  Build- 
ing and  Loan  Association.  He  married  Miss  E. 
Maj'  Reed,  of  Frankfort,  Kan. 

Mr.  Myers  during  the  first  two  years  of  his  resi- 
dence here  rented  a  farm  and  afterward  bought  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres  one  mile  east  of  town.  About 
three  3'ears  later  he  purchased  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  three  miles  east  of  Kankakee,  which 
last  tract  he  still  owns  but  lias  disposed  of  his 
former  purchase.     He  is  also  the  possessor,  in   ad- 


542 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAX,  RECORD. 


dition  to  liis  residence  property,  on  which  he  has 
a  large  and  pleasant  house,  of  another  good  resi- 
dence. When  Mr.  Myers  first  located  in  this  city  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  had  been  built  but  three 
years.  During  tiie  war  he  clerked  in  the  ware- 
house of  S.  C.  Kenaga  and  for  two  j^ears  was  book- 
keeper in  the  flouring-mill  of  Dickson,  McGrew  & 
Kenaga.  For  about  two  years  he  ran  a  flour  store 
in  the  town  and  after  that  entered  the  empl03'  of 
Smith  &  Johnson,  grain  merchants,  for  whom  he 
was  bookkeeper.  Mr.  Myers  then  engaged  in  the 
coal  business  for  a  few  years  and  has  been  for 
some  time  retired  from  active  business  life. 

Our  subject  is  an  active  worker  in  the  Grace 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  Kankakee,  in 
which  he  held  the  offices  of  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer for  twcnt}'  3'ears.  He  was  also  Trustee  and 
Steward  for  many  years  and  still  holds  the  former 
office,  and  was  Secretary  of  the  Sunday-school 
for  thirty  years.  He  is  a  believer  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Prohibition  party,  which  he  sup- 
ports. The  cause  of  temperance  has  ever  found 
in  him  a  warm  and  able  defender  and  all  other  re- 
forms calculated  to  benefit  the  people  may  be  sure 
of  his  hearty  endorsement.  He  has  never  aspired 
to  official  positions,  though  he  has  shown  ample 
ability  to  act  in  such  capacities,  could  he  be  in- 
duced to  accept  the  same. 

On  the  21st  of  November,  1892,  Mr.  Myers  was 
called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  was 
taken  from  his  side  by  the  hand  of  death  after 
nearly  fort^^  years  of  married  life.  She  had  been 
a  consistent  and  faithful  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  for  sixty-five  years,  and  Mr. 
M3'ers  for  sixty-three  years. 


'■>W'|i  i|  '   |i  fc  Jll  ^    I    >■ 


'^'OHN  H.  SHAFFER,  of  Kankakee,  a  well- 
known  dealer  in  coal  and  sewer  pipes,  has 
been  a  resident  of  this  city  for  over  a  quar- 
^  ter  of  a  century,  and  has  been  engaged  in 
his  present  business  since  Maj-,  1879.  He  was  born 
in  Berne,  Albany  County.  N.  Y.,  on  tlie  17th  of 
March,  1833,  and  is  a  .son  of  Thomas  L.  and  Eva 


(Warner)  Shaffer.  The  {)arents  were  natives  of 
Albanj'  County,  where  the3-  spent  their  entire 
lives  in  agricultural  pursuits.  They  were  useful 
and  respected  members  of  societj',  and  their  deaths 
occurred  in  their  native  county,  the  father  having 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years;  the  mother 
died  in  1882.  The  Shaffer  family  emigrated  from 
Berne,  Switzerland,  in  a  very  early  day,  and  took 
a  lease  of  the  Van  Rensselaer  Patent.  On  the 
Warner  side  our  subject  is  of  German  descent. 

John  II.  Shaffer  was  reared  upon  his  father's 
farm,  and  his  education  was  acquired  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  the  neighborhood.  Beginning  life 
for  himself  as  a  farm  hand,  he  saved  sufficient 
mone}'  to  set  up  a  home,  and  was  married  in  his 
native  county  on  the  2d  of  April,  1846,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Winne,  who  was  born  in  Bethlehem,  Al- 
bany' Count}',  N.  Y.,  in  1829,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Francis  and  Maria  (Hogan)  Winne.  Tiie  Winne 
famil}'  is  of  Dutch  extraction,  having  crossed  the 
ocean  in  an  earl}'  day.  They  have  had  two  chil- 
dren, a  son  and  a  daughter.  Frank  was  born  in 
1847.  He  enlisted  under  the  flag  in  1864,  in  the 
Ninth  Hlinois  Cavalry,  and  after  participating  in 
two  battles  died  from  exposure  at  Memphis,  on 
the  1st  of  August,  1864.  Mary  is  a  resident  of 
Kankakee,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  as  are  also  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaffer. 

In  1860,  Mr.  Shaffer  emigrated  to  Illinois  and 
settled    in   Boone   County,    where  he  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  until  March,   1867.     At  that 
time  he  removed  to  Kankakee  and  engaged  in   the 
farm  implement  and  machinery  business,  which  he 
conducted  successfully  until  1879.     He  then   sold 
out  and  engaged  in  his  present  line.     In  1884,  Mr. 
Siiaffer  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Kankakee  by       '. 
President  Cleveland,  and  served  acceptably  in  that       ' 
position    for   four  3'ears.     He  has   been  Ma3or  of       , 
Kankakee    for    three    years,  those  of    1875,  1876       t 
•ind  1877.     He   was   the  anti-ring  candidate,  and 
made  a  popular  and  efficient  officer.     He  uses  his       1 
riffht    of  franchise    in    favor    of    the    Democratic      ■> 
party.     Socially,  he   is  a  Master  Mason,  being  a      /i 
member  of  Kankakee  Lodge  No.  .389,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
in  which  he  was  initiated  and  made  a  Mason.     He 
is  a  stockholder  in,  and  a  member  of,  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  the  City  National  Bank  of  Kankakee. 


M 


I 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


He  is  also  one  of  six  proprietors  of  a  rich  gold 
mine  in  Colorado.  Mr.  Shaffer  lias  now  been  ac- 
tively identified  with  the  business  interests  of  Kan- 
kakee for  twenl3-live  years.  In  all  the  relations 
of  life,  both  public  and  private,  lie  has  been  found 
upright  and  li<>noral)lc  and  faitiiful  to  evcr\-  trust. 
He  is  well  informed,  affable  and  courteous  in  man- 
ner, and  has  formed  many  warm  friendships 
among  the  best  citizens  of  Kankakee. 


HERMAN  HARDEBECK,  Trustee  and 
Manager  of  the  North  Kankakee  Improve- 
ment Association, and  general  dealer  in  real 
estate,  has  been  a  resident  of  this  city  only 
four  years,  but  during  that  time  h.as  done  more  to 
encourage  its  improvement  and  developr.ient  and 
that  of  the  territory  adjacent  than  many  who  have 
spent  a  lifetime  here.  He  was  the  organizer  and 
chief  mover  in  the  formation  of  the  important  as- 
sociation of  wliicli  he  is  manager  and  through  whose 
inlluence  a  rapidly  developing  manufacturing 
center  has  sprung  into  existence  just  to  the  north  of 
the  old  cit3-,  and  which  is  incorporated  as  a  separate 
municipality  under  the  name  of  North  Kanka- 
kee. Mr.  Hardebeck  came  to  this  city  from  Fowler, 
Ind.,  in  1889,  and  handled  large  bodies  of  land. 
He  platted  and  sold  in  lots  three  subdivisions  in  the 
cit}'  of  Kankakee  and  succeeded  in  awakening  an 
interest  in  the  real-estate  business  and  public  im- 
provement such  as  the  town  had  never  known  be- 
fore. In  the  spring  of  1891,  he  organized  the 
syndicate  known  as  the  North  Kankakee  Improve- 
ment Association,  which  purchased  a  tract  adja- 
cent to  and  north  of  tiiis  city.  In  1892  he 
formed  a  second  syndicate,  and  platted  another 
tract  adjoining  the  first,  all  known  as  North  Kan- 
kakee. Under  ^Ir.  Ilardebeck's  direction,  sites  were 
given  witii  cash  bonuses  to  several  manufacturing 
companies  which  have  erected  their  plants  and  are 
in  successful  operation.  The  .Joseph  Turck  Furni- 
ture Compan}-,  the  Ideal  Folding  Bed  Comi)an3',  the 
Gibbs  Chair  Factory,  the  .John  Lane  &  Company's 


Machine  Works,  the  Seth  Hart  Planing  .\liil  eom- 
pany  and  the  Dimiiie  it  Dirkes  Furniture  Company 
arc  here  located,  the  last-named  said  to  be  the 
largest  and  best-equitipod  furniture  factory  in  the 
United  States.  The  result  of  the  efforts  made  by 
Mr.  Hardebeck  as  Manager  of  the  North  Kankakee 
Improvement  Association  can  therefore  be  readily 
seen.  A  thrifty  and  prosperous  nianufacliiring 
community  has  s|5rung  into  existence  upon  a  tract 
which  two  years  ago  consisted  of  bare  fields.  The 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  has  established 
a  station  there,  cluirclies  and  schoolhouses  are  be- 
ing built,  a  postollice  is  established  and  the  town 
is  incorporated.  This  and  other  enterprises  which 
originated  with  Mr.  Hardebeck  have  caused  a  gen- 
eral advance  in  the  price  of  real  estate  in  and 
about  Kankakee  and  an  awakening  of  a  spirit  of 
enterprise,  which  is  shown  in  the  erection  of  num- 
erous substantial  buildings  and  fine  residences  and 
the  enlarging  and  im[)roving  of  others. 

The  birth  of  our  subject  occurred  in  Hamilton 
County,  Ohio,  on  the  1st  of  September,  1842.  He 
is  a  son  of  Barney  and  Elizabeth  (Holt)  Hardebeck. 
His  parents  are  natives  of  Hanover,  Germany,  and 
emigrated  to  America  in  early  life.  They  are  both 
living  and  make  their  home  with  our  subject. 
When  a  young  child  Mr.  Hardebeck  removed  from 
Hamilton  County,  Ohio,  to  Decatur  County,  Ind., 
where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  At  an  early- 
age  he  turned  his  attention  to  mercantile  and 
manufacturing  pursuits.  In  1871  he  went  to  In- 
dianapolis, where  he  engaged  in  the  real-estate 
business  for  about  four  years,  during  which  time 
he  handled  large  bodies  of  land  as  agent  and  ef- 
fected satisfactory  sales.  From  1878  to  1883  he 
was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  near  Fowler, 
Ind.,  and  from  that  point  removed  to  this  couut3'. 

On  the  nth  of  September,  1862,  Mr.  Hardebeck 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth 
Schulte,  a  daughter  of  J.  B.  Schulte.  She  was 
born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  departed  this  life  on 
the  11th  of  June,  1880,  at  Fowler,  Ind.  By  her 
marriage  she  became  the  mother  of  eight  children, 
six  of  whom  are  now  living.  William  J.  married 
Katie  Studer  and  resides  in  Kankakee;  (ieorge  H. 
is  married  and  is  a  successful  farmer  of  this 
county';  Josephine  R.  is  the  wife  of  Robert  L.  Cox 


544 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  North  Kankakee;  Ida  is  the  wife  of  Frank 
Maier  and  resides  in  North  Kankakee;  Clara  died 
in  childhood;  Olivia  and  Doretta  are  still  at 
home;  and  Robert  H.,  the  youngest  of  the  family, 
died  in  childhood. 

On  the  21st  of  October,  1884,  Mr.  Ilardebeck 
was  again  married,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
Philomena  Schroeder,  a  daughter  of  Herman 
Schroeder.  She  was  born  in  Franklin  County, 
Ind.  Three  sons  have  been  born  of  this  union, 
Everette,  Frank  and  Lawrence.  The  parents  arc 
members  and  regular  attendants  of  the  Catholic 
Church. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Ilardebeck  is  a 
Democrat,  and  while  a  resident  of  Fowler,  Ind.,  he 
served  for  several  years  as  a  Trustee  of  that  town. 
The  business  operations  of  our  subject  are  charac- 
terized by  sound  judgment,  enterprise  and  sagac- 
ity. His  boldness  and  energy  in  speculation,  sup- 
ported by  cool  judgment  and  indefatigable  appli- 
cation to  details,  have  won  for  him  substantial  and 
increasing  success  and  the  confidence  and  respect 
of  all  with  whom  he  has  I)een  associated.  Strict 
integrity  and  correct  business  methods  have  always 
marked  his  course  in  life  and  have  been  important 
factors  in  building  up  and  maintaining  the  repu- 
tation which  he  now  enjoys. 


_^=<e) 


!>^-<^ 


i- 


'\ff  AMES  BYRNS,  deceased,  a  worthy  pioneer 
and  the  second  Sheriff  of  Ivankakee  County, 
was  born  in  New  York,  December  31,  1815, 
and  was  a  son  of  James  and  Margaret  (My- 
ers) Byrns.  The  parents  removed  to  Lake  County, 
Ohio,  when  he  was  yet  a  child  and  later  to  Ma- 
comb Countj',  Mich.,  arriving  there  in  1819. 
When  quite  young  our  subject  lost  his  mother, 
and  when  a  mere  lad  went  as  a  cabin-boy  on  the 
Lakes.  The  boat  on  which  he  shipped  was  wrecked 
in  a  severe  storm,  onl}'  two  beside  himself  being 
saved.  About  1829  he  went  to  Chicago,  then  a 
hamlet  and  militarj'  post  known  as  Ft.  Dearborn. 

Mr.  Byins  became  a  resident  of  Illinois  in  1835, 
and  two  years  later  located  on   the  south  side  of 


the  Kankakee  River  in  what  afterward  became  the 
town  of  Aroma.  He  made  a  settlement  on  section 
25  and  built  his  pioneer  cabin  on  the  eastern  side 
of  the  prominent  elevation  subsequently'  known  as 
Mt.  Langhan. 

On  the  7th  of  December,  1843,  Mr.  Byrns  was 
married  in  Aroma  Township  to  Miss  Mary  A. 
Dille,  whose  parents,  Samuel  and  Mary  (Barr) 
Dille,  were  among  the  early  pioneers  of  that  town- 
ship and  brought  her  there  when  a  small  child  in 
1837.  Mrs.  Byrns  was  born  in  Euclid,  Cuya- 
hoga Count}',  Ohio.  Seven  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters graced  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  es- 
timable wife.  Albert  I.  has  been  twice  married, 
the  first  time  to  Ellen  Draj'er  and  later  to  Emma 
Drayer;  he  now  resides  in  Mead  County,  Kan., 
where  he  holds  the  office  of  Sheriff.  Samuel  H. 
married  Lena  Wadley  and  resides  in  Roselawn, 
Ind.  Charles  and  Edwin  died  in  infancy.  Arthur 
J.  is  the  present  Sheriff  of  Kankakee  County. 
Thomas  died  in  infancy.  Mary  E.  resides  in  Kan- 
kakee. Susan  v.,  wife  of  Marion  Riggs,  resides  on 
a  portion  of  the  old  homestead,  as  does  her  next 
younger  brother,  William  M.,  who  married  Ellen 
CahiU. 

Mr.  Byrns  began  life  away  from  home  as  an  ap- 
prentice. He  made  his  own  way  from  the  first 
and  by  hard  work  and  good  management  accumu- 
lated a  large  property,  having  at  the  time  of  bi.« 
death  upwards  of  eight  hundred  acres  of  land 
and  valuable  city  property.  He  was  a  successful 
farmer  and  grower  of  live-stock  and  was  promi- 
nent in  public  affairs  in  the  early  days  of  Kanka- 
kee County.  A  Whig  in  politics,  he  was  the  sec- 
ond Sheriff  of  this  county,  his  brother  George  hay- 
ing held  that  position  one  year  previously.  Mr. 
Byrns  was  Chairman  of  the  first  Board  of  Super- 
visors held  at  Momence  upon  its  organization  in 
1853  and  held  that  office  several  subsequent  terms 
including  the  years  1864,  1869  and  1873.  He  als( 
served  as  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  was  Postmastei 
of  the  Mt.  Langhan  office.  In  all  of  his  officia 
positions  he  discharged  the  duties  pertainin; 
thereto  with  .ability  and  fidelity. 

Early  in  his  married  life  Mr.  Byrns  purchasci 
another  farm, situated  on  the  same  section  wher 
his  first  claim  was  located,  which  was  known  astli 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


545 


Allen  Rakestraw  place,  where  he  made  bis  home 
until  his  deatli,  wiiicli  occurred  Ueccraher  21, 
1878.  lie  was  buiied  in  the  little  cemetery  on 
Mt.  Liinghan,  witliin  a  few  rods  of  his  old  pioneer 
home.  Ilis  estimable  wife,  the  partner  of  his  joys 
and  sorrows,  and  of  his  failures  and  successes  for 
thirty-live  3'ears,  still  survives  and  resides  on  the 
old  homestead.  Mr.  Byrns  was  a  Whig  in  early  life 
but  joined  the  Republican  party  at  its  organiza- 
tion and  adhered  to  it  through  life.  He  was  the 
first  Chairman  of  the  Kankakee  County  Board  and 
a  member  of  tiie  building  committee  which  had 
charge  of  the  erection  of  the  present  court  house. 
He  was  a  man  of  sterling  integrity,  energetic  and 
practical,  and  was  highly  respected  in  this  com- 
munity. He  was  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to  which  denomina- 
tion his  widow  also  belongs. 


^^EOKGE   W.    HASKER  is  numbered  among 
(||  (-_  the    practical    and    progressive  farmers    of 
^^^^1    Otto  Township,  where  he  resides  on  section 
32.     He  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  was  born  in 
Cook  County,  on  the  22d  of  October,  1857,  being 
a  son  of  Capt.  .Tohn  Ilasker,  whose  birth  occurred 
in   Wisbeach,    England,    on    the    22d  of   August, 
1819.    For  twent3'-five  3'ears  the  latter  was  a  sailor 
and   made   many  voyages  upon  the  Atlantic,  In- 
dian and  Pacific  Oceans.     He  came  to  the  United 
States    about    1852,  making    his    headquarters  in 
Chicago,  and  for  about  five  years  he   was  captain 
,  of  a  vessel  on  Lake  Michigan.     Then    believing 
I  that  thirty  3'ears  spent  upon  the   water   was  suffl- 
j  cient,  he  determined  to  turn  his  attention  to  agri- 
!  cultural  pursuits,  and  accordingly  settled  upon   a 
farm  near  Orland,  Cook  Count3',  where  ho  engaged 
in  farming  for  the  succeeding  four  years.     In   the 
year    1861,   he    came    to    Kankakee    County    and 
bought  a  forty-acre   tract.     This  was   unimproved 
property,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  able,  he  purchased 
I  an  adjoining  eighty  acres,  on  which  he  proceeded  to 
I  raise  crops  and  make  various   improvements.     Af- 
Iter  a  few  years  he  added  to  his  farm  adjoining  ter- 


ritory, when  his  land  consisted  of  one  hundred 
and  sixt3'  acres  in  one  body.  At  the  time  of  his 
settlement  in  Otto  Township,  there  were  but  few 
people  within  its  limits,  and  most  of  the  land  was 
wild  and  unimproved.  Mr.  Hasker  was  very  suc- 
cessful as  a  farmer,  and  overcame  the  difficulties 
and  privations  with  fortitude  well  wortli3'of  emu- 
lation. 

Capt.  Ilasker  was  married  in  England,  February 
5,  1850,  to  Miss  Amelia  Smith,  a  native  of  Walton, 
that  country,  who  was  born  October  21,  1823,  and 
died  in  Chicago.  The  death  of  the  Captain  oc- 
curred on  the  25th  of  July,  1870.  They  were  both 
buried  in  Evergreen  Cemetery,  of  Chebanse,  where 
a  suitable  monument  has  been  erected  to  their 
memor3'.  Their  families  consisted  of  four  sons: 
John,  who  resides  in  Kankakee;  our  subject,  who 
is  second  in  order  of  birth;  Edwin,  a  farmer  of 
Otto  Township;  and  William,  the  youngest  of  the 
family,  who  lives  in  Chicago. 

When  a  child  of  four  years,  George  Hasker  came 
with  his  parents  to  Kankakee  Count3',  and  passed 
his  boyhood  days  upon  his  father's  farm.  He  re- 
ceived a  fair  education  in  the  common  schools 
during  the  winter  season,  and  was  early  inured  to 
the  labors  and  cares  of  farm  life.  He  met  with  a 
most  unfortunate  accident  when  about  twenty 
3'ears  of  age,  by  which  he  lost  all  the  fingers  of  his 
left  hand  in  a  corn  sheller.  He  remained  with  his 
father  on  the  home  farm  until  the  latter's  death, 
and  after  that,  in  company  with  his  older  brother, 
John,  he  took  charge  of  the  farm.  About  two 
3'ears  later,  the  brother  married  and  left  the  home- 
stead, and  our  subject  took  charge  of  the  place, 
which  he  soon  afterward  purchased  from  his  mother 
and  3'ounger  brothers.  Since  it  came  into  his  pos- 
session, he  has  steadily  made  improvements  upon 
it,  and  the  well-tilled  fields,  which  yield  abundant 
harvests,  its  good  barns,  windpump  and  other 
modern  farm  apifliances,  all  indicate  that  the 
owner  is  a  man  of  progressive  and  practical  ideas. 

In  Otto  Township,  on  the  18th  of  May,  1882, 
Mr.  Ilasker  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jen- 
nie L.  Mcintosh,  who  was  born  in  this  county,  Feb- 
ruary 18,  1862,  and  is  a  daughter  of  S.  II.  Mcin- 
tosh, whose  sketch  appears  on  another  page  of 
this  work.     One  daughter  has  blessed  this    union. 


546 


POxtTRAlT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  bright  little  girl  of  five  years,  whom  her  parents 
call  Sarah  Amelia.  Mrs.  Hasker  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  her  hus- 
band, tiiough  not  a  member,  is  a  regular  attendant. 
Since  casting  his  first  vote,  Mr.  Hasker  has  sup- 
ported the  Republican  party,  and  is  a  faitliful  ad- 
herent of  its  principles.  His  first  ballot  was  cast 
for  Hon.  James  A.  Garfield,  and  in  every  Presi- 
dential election  since  that  time  he  has  supported 
the  Republican  candidates.  In  him  the  cause  of 
education  finds  a  warm  friend,  and  for  some  time 
he  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  School  Board. 
He  has  never  desired  political  preferment,  but  has 
rather  avoided  it,  giving  his  attention  to  his  busi- 
ness interests.  He  has  spent  almost  his  entire  life 
in  the  county,  and  is  well  known  in  this  section, 
where  he  numbers  many  friends,  whom  he  has 
made  by  his  upright  and  honorable  course  in  life. 


LEXIS  L.  GRANGER  is  an  attorney  and 
counselor  at  law  in  Kankakee,  and  is  a 
representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer  fami- 
lies of  this  county.  He  was  born  in  the 
township  of  Bourbonnais,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred on  the  15th  of  September,  18G7.  The  fam- 
il3'  is  of  French  descent,  the  earliest  American  an- 
cestor having  settled  in  Acadia,  from  which  the 
people  were  exiled  when  the  country  passed  into 
the  hands  of  the  English,  which  event  has  been 
made  immortal  by  Longfellow  in  his  beautiful 
poem  of  Evangeline.  The  ancestors  of  the  Granger 
family  were  victims  of  that  cruel  exile.  The 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Massa- 
chusetts, and  removed  from  there  to  Canada. 

Alexis  Granger  is  a  son  of  Ambrose  Granger, 
who,  when  but  seven  years  of  age,  emigrated  with 
his  father,  David  Granger,  from  St.  John's,  Can- 
ada, to  Kankakee  County.  Botli  the  father  and 
grandfather  of  our  subject  are  still  living,  and  are 
residents  of  Bourbonnais  Township.  On  arriving 
at  man's  estate,  Ambrose  Granger  wedded  Marce- 
line  Toucliette,  a  native  of  Canada,  and  unto  them 


was  born  a  famil}^  of  eight  children,  seven  sons 
and  a  daughter.  Rev.  Ambrose  D.  is  pastor  of 
Notre  Dame  Churcii  of  Chicago,  which  is  lo- 
cated on  the  North  Side  of  the  city;  Henry  is  a 
resident  of  this  county;  Alexis  L.  is  the  next  in 
order  of  birth;  Peter,  George,  William,  Mary  and 
Joseph  complete  the  family. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  primary 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town, 
and  later  entered  St.  Viatcur's  College  at  Bour- 
bonnais Grove,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in 
the  Class  of  '87.  For  the  year  succeeding,  Mr. 
Granger  read  law  in  tiie  office  of  the  Hon.  Daniel 
H.  Paddock,  of  Kankakee,  and  in  1888  entered  the 
Union  College  Law  School  in  Chicago,  and  while 
there  took  an  examination  in  the  Appellate  Court 
and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar.  Returning  to  Kan- 
kakee, Mr.  Granger  opened  a  law  office  in  the 
summer  of  1890.  He  is  quite  a  }'Oung  man,  and 
has  already  given  evidence  of  much  natural  abil- 
ity and  of  liberal  culture.  He  has  received  a  thor- 
ough education  in  both  the  English  and  French 
languages,  and  large  opportunities  lie  before  him. 
In  his  political  relations  he  is  in  favor  of  the  • 
Democracy,  and  in  1892  was  honored  by  his  party 
in  being  made  the  nominee  for  State  Senator. 


•r#= 


ON.    AZARIAII    BUCK    is   a    merchant  of 
1^  Herscher,  111.,  too  well  known  to  the  citi- 


zens of  Kankakee  County  to  need  a  special 
i^j  introduction  to  the  readers  of  this  volume. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  born  May  17, 
1828,  in  Rochester.  His  lather,  George  H.  Buck, 
was  of  German  birth  and,  emigrating  to  the  New 
World,  first  located  in  Penns3ivania.  He  was 
married  there  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Watson,  and  after 
a  residence  of  a  few  years  in  the  Keystone  State. 
removed  to  Rociiester,  where  he  reared  his  family. 
Mr.  Buck,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  re- 
ceived good  school  advantages  in  Rochester  and 
there  grew  to  manhood.  He  there  learned  tlie 
silversmith's  trade,  after  completing  which  he 
followed  the  business  for  a  number  of  years  as  an 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


64? 


employe  of  Stanton  Bros.,  who  had  the  most  ex- 
tensive trade  in  tiie  citj-.  For  some  time  he  was 
in  chai'gc  of  their  business  entirely'.  In  1850,  Mr. 
Buck  came  West  to  Chicago,  entering  the  emplo}' 
of  the  American  Express  Company.  At  tliat  time 
the  express  matter  was  carried  b}-  the  old  stage 
coaches  from  St.  Louis  to  Chicago,  and  our  subject 
was  among  the  pioneer  expressmen  of  Illinois, 
continuing  as  such  for  five  years.  While  Mr.  Buck 
was  in  the  employ  of  this  company  he  experienced 
some  terrible  weather,  especially  that  of  February, 
1854.  He  was  the  express  messenger  on  the  Chi- 
cago &  Alton  Railroad  when  a  terrible  blizzard 
came  upon  them,  and  the  company  was  forced  to 
give  to  the  passengers  the  provisions  and  supplies  in 
its  charge.  They  were  snowbound  for  three  days, 
and  during  tliat  time  one  car  was  burned  up  to 
protect  the  passengers  from  the  severity  of  the 
weather.  The  lirst  trip  out  of  Chicago  he  made 
to  St.  Louis,  going  as  far  as  La  Salle  on  the  pac- 
ket, and  thence  to  Peoria,  111.,  b3'  steam  boat, 
the  next  stage  of  the  journey  being  made  b}' 
team.  He  never  gave  a  bond  to  his  company 
during  his  time  of  service,  which  is  a  recommend 
to  Mr.  Buck  for  his  integrity. 

In  1855  our  subject  came  to  Kankakee  County, 
where  he  pre-empted  a  tractof  land  in  Pilot  Town- 
ship, upon  which  he  settled  and  opened  up  a  farm. 
He  afterward  purchased  more  land  and  was  exten- 
sively engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  for  up- 
wards of  twenty  years.  He  was  one  of  the  suc- 
cessful and  enterprising  farmers  of  the  county. 
When  he  first  became  a  settler  of  Pilot  Township 
there  were  about  four  residences  in  the  townsliip. 
Deer  and  wolves  were  plentiful  when  they  came 
here,  and  Mrs.  Buck  tells  that  she  even  drove  the 
wolves  from  the  doorway  with  the  broom,  which 
shows  the  original  wildness  of  Kankakee  County. 
The  first  team  they  owned  was  a  team  of  cattle. 
When  he  and  his  wife  first  knew  Kankakee  City  it 
was  a  village  of  scarcely  one  hundred  and  fifty 
inhabitants.  The  Illinois  Central  Railroad  was 
the  only  railroad  then  in  existence  in  the  county. 
Mr.  Buck  built  the  second  schoolhouse  in  Pilot 
Township.  There  were  no  churches  nor  school- 
houses  when  he  first  came  to  this  part  of  the 
county.      He    has    driven    his   cattle    to  Chicago 


markets  and  his  hogs  to  Kankakee.  Many  times 
the  homes  of  the  early  settlers  of  Pilot  Townsliip 
were  threatened  by  the  terrible  prairie  fires,  and 
the  neighbors  would  collect  to  fight  the  demon, 
fire. 

In  1872,  Mr.  Buck  entered  into  partnership  with 
his  brother,  J.  II.,  and  engaged  in  general  merchan- 
dising at  Pilot  Centre.  They  also  ran  a  black- 
smith, wagon  and  general  repair  shoj),  and  dealt  ex- 
clusively in  grain,  live-stock,  coal,  and  farm  imple- 
ments. On  the  completion  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  through  the  township  the  brothers  moved 
their  store  from  Pilot  Centre,  stock  and  all  to 
Herscher.  While  still  in  transit  they  carried  on 
the  buying  and  selling  of  goods  just  the  same  as 
usual.  They  located  on  the  lot  where  they  have 
since  carried  on  their  business.  Buck  Bros,  had 
the  first  store  and  were  the  pioneer  merchants  of 
the  town.  Their  stock  is  large  and  well  selected 
and  they  are  doing  a  successful  business. 

In  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  Mr.  Buck  was  married  to 
Miss  Catherine  E.  Cori'is,  who  is  a  native  of  the 
Isle  of  Man,  and  was  born  in  September,  1828. 
Mrs.  Buck  is  an  active  and  consistent  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  is  a  lady 
highly  esteemed  for  her  many  pleasant  and  noble 
qualities. 

Formerly  an  old-line  Whig,  Mr.  Buck  has  been 
an  active  Republican  since  the  organization  of 
the  party.  In  local  politics  he  has  also  been  active 
and  has  held  numerous  positions  of  trust  and 
honor.  He  was  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  National 
Republican  Convention  at  Cincinnati  which  nom- 
inated Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  and  has  also  been 
sent  to  various  State  and  county  conventions. 
He  was  elected  the  first  Collector  of  Pilot  Town- 
ship, and  was  also  the  first  Highwa_v  Commissioner. 
For  twenty-four  years  he  was  Township  Treasurer 
and  served  as  Supervisor  of  Pilot  Township  for 
twenty-two  years.  Mr.  Buck  was  elected  to  the 
Lower  House  of  the  Thirty-first  General  Assembly 
and  during  that  time  served  on  some  of  the  most 
important  committees,  among  which  we  mention 
Committee  of  Banks  and  Banking,  State  Buildings 
and  Grounds,  and  Roads  and  Bridges.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  holding  mem- 
bership with    the    Kankakee    Lodge.     He   is    well 


548 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


known  througlioiit  Illinois  as  a  man  of  superior 
business  capacity  and  exceptional  abilit}'.  By  his 
many  good  qualities  and  thorough  integrity  he 
has  made  many  friends  who  give  to  him  their  com- 
plete confidence  and  respect. 


^i\ 


m^mi 


'\fl  AMES  NICHOLS  was  for  many  years  a  suc- 
cessful farmer  on  section  11,  Ganier  Town- 
^j^,  ,  ship,  in  tills  county.  He  was  born  in  Col- 
^5^^  umbus,  Ohio,  on  the  4th  of  February,  1812, 
and  was  of  English  and  German  extraction.  He 
was  the  eldest  child  of  AVilliara  and  Mary  (Gundj-) 
Nichols,  whose  family  consisted  of  seven  sons  and 
five  daughters.  Our  subject  was  self-educated  al- 
most entirely,  as  his  educational  advantages  were 
of  the  most  limited  description.  When  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  Mr.  Nichols  married  Miss  Melinda, 
daughter  of  Ashford  and  Mar^'  leather,  the  cere- 
mony being  performed  in  1833,  at  which  time  he 
was  just  twenty-one  years  of  age. 

Soon  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Nichols  went  to 
Vermilion  Count}',  111.,  where  he  purchased  Gov- 
ernment land,  which  was  unimproved  prairie  and 
timber.  He  built  a  log  cabin  at  first  and  lived 
there  until  1846.  His  journey  to  Vermilion  County 
was  by  ox-team  in  1845.  After  living  in  that 
county  but  a  short  time,  Mr.  Nichols  came  to  Will 
(now  Kankakee)  County,  where  he  purchased  two 
hundred  acres  of  Government  land  located  in 
Ganier  Township,  on  section  11.  To  build  a  house, 
he  hauled  all  his  lumber  from  Chicago  by  team 
over  the  primitive  roads  of  that  early  day,  and  in 
this  dwelling  he  resided  until  his  death  in  the 
year  1857. 

Eight  children  blessed  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Nichols.  The  eldest  of  the  family,  Mary  A.,  died 
in  1838;  William  G.  isa  successful  salesman,  trav- 
eling for  the  drug  house  of  Robert  Stevenson,  of 
Chicago;  Angeline,  who  for  fifteen  years  was  a 
successful  teacher  of  Kankakee  County,  is  now 
living  on  the  old  homestead;  Emelinc  is  the -wife 
of  Charles  Prather,  an  agriculturist  living  in  Ganier 
Township;  James  S.  is  also  a  farmer  of  the  same 


township;  Joseph  lives  upon  and  operates  the  old 
home  farm;  and  Martha  A.  is  the  wife  of  Melviu 
R.  Lively,  who  is  an  attorney-at-law  in  Webb  City, 
Mo. 

Our  subject  always  took  an  earnest  interest  in 
politics  and  in  local  affairs.  He  was  a  stanch  Re- 
publican throughout  life  and  held  many  township 
offices,  discharging  the  duties  of  the  same  with 
fidehty.  IMr.  Nichols  was  a  member  of  the  Odd 
Fellows' society  and  was  a  truly  self-made  man,  as 
he  began  life  a  poor  bo}'  without  a  dollar  in  the 
world,  and  even  at  the  time  of  his  marriage  was 
absolutely  without  means.  He  departed  this  life 
on  the  6th  of  January,  1857,  and  his  remains  lie 
interred  in  the  Momence  Cemetery.  In  disposi- 
tion he  was  genial  and  pleasant,  and  won  many 
friends  by  these  characteristics.  He  was  one  of 
the  earl}'  pioneers  who  paved  the  way  for  the 
success  and  prosperity  which  have  crowned  this 
portion  of  the  State,  and  whom  we  can  never 
repay  in  full  measure  for  the  hardships  they  have 
endured,  but  we  can  hold  them  sacred  in  memory 
and  imitate  their  noble  deeds. 


_^ 


/ 


♦^•J-^' 


W  EMUEL  BUCK,  a  well-known  farmer,  resid- 
I  (^  '"=  °"  section  13,  Sumner  Township,  is  a 
ilLi^  native  of  the  Green  Mountain  State,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Bennington  County  on 
the  1st  of  October,  1832.  He  was  early  inured 
to  the  duties  and  cares  of  farm  life  and  received 
fair  educational  advantages,  as  good  as  could  be 
obtained  in  those  early  days.  When  nineteen 
3'ears  of  age  he  left  the  old  homestead  and  worked 
for  two  years  in  a  meat-market,  learning  the 
butcher's  trade.  This  occupation  he  followed  for 
two  years,  and  in  1853  came  to  Illinois.  In  com- 
pany with  a  brother,  E.  H.  Buck,  he  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Sumner 
Township,  Kankakee  County.  On  this  property 
our  subject  is  still  living,  it  having  been  his  home 
for  over  forty  years.  At  the  time  of  his  purchase, 
with  the  exception    of   a    few   acres    which    were 


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PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


553 


broken,  no  improvements  hart  been  made  upon 
the  farm.  During  the  first  years  he  was  obliged 
to  carry  his  produce  and  grain  to  Cliicago  by 
means  of  teams.  He  helped  to  build  the  first 
plank  bridge  on  the  road  wiiich  runs  between  his 
farm  and  Momence. 

June  30,  1867,  Mr.  Buck  wedded  Mrs.  Mary 
E.  Jewett,  nee  IMcKinstry,  a  sketch  of  whoso  family 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  A  daughter. 
Bertha,  is  their  only  child  and  makes  her  home 
with  her  parents.  Mrs.  Ikiek  was  previously  mar- 
ried to  Charles  Jewett,  who  died  in  Vermont.  By 
this  marriage  three  children  were  born:  Julius; 
Eva,  who  became  the  wife  of  Charlie  Beers,  a  gen- 
eral merchant  of  Kansas;  and  Alice,  whose  death 
occurred  in  1890. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Buck  is  a  strong 
Republican.  He  has  held  the  offices  of  Constable 
and  Township  Collector,  and  in  him  the  cause  of 
education  finds  an  able  advocate,  he  having  for 
twelve  years  served  as  School  Director.  Both 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buck  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  the  former  holds  membership  with 
the  Odd  Fellows'  society.  At  the  present  time 
he  owns  and  carries  on  a  fine  farm  of  one  hun- 
dreil  acres,  which  shows  on  ever3'  hand  the  care 
and  attention  bestowed  upon  it  by  its  owner. 


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<|  lilLLIAM  S.  POTTER,  one  of  the  thrifty 
XrJI  and  well-to-do  farmers  of  Norton  Town- 
\fm  ship,  owns  a  farm  on  section  27.  He  has 
resided  in  this  county  for  a  quarter  of  a  century 
and  is  a  native  of  Illinois.  He  was  born  in  La 
Salle  County  April  7,  1857,  and  is  a  son  of  Isaac 
Potter,  a  native  of  the  Empire  State.  The  latter 
came  West  to  Illinois  when  a  young  man,  landing 
in  Chicago  about  1835.  That  wonderful  city  was 
then  but  a  swamp  and  gave  little  promise  of  its 
later  prosperity  and  wealth.  Mr.  Potter  made  a 
settlement  in  La  Salle  County,  near  Sandwich,  and 
is  numbered  among  the  honored  first  settlers  of 
that  region.  The  Indians  were  still  in  the  county 
but  were  peaceably  disposed  and  made  little  trouble. 


In  that  county'  he  married  Elizabeth  Brook,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  Ohio,  and  whose  father, 
Thomas  Brook,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  De 
Kalb  County.  With  his  family,  the  latter  spent 
several  weeks  in  the  fort  during  the  Indian  troub- 
les. After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Potter  pre-empted 
land  and  opened  up  a  farm  in  La  Salle  Countj'. 
He  hauled  his  grain  with  ox-teams  to  Chicago,  as 
that  was  the  nearest  market.  His  death  occurred 
in  1863.  His  wife  is  still  living  and  resides  with 
a  son  near  Aurora,  111. 

William  S.  Potter  is  one  of  a  fainilj'  comprising 
six  sons  and  two  daughters  who  are  living,  as  fol- 
lows: Mrs.  J.  H.  Bateman,  of  l)e  Kalb  County; 
Nelson,  who  carries  on  farming  in  Nebraska;  John, 
a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  a  resident  of  Missouri; 
Marietle,  who  is  the  widow  of  J.  H.  Druilt,  and 
resides  in  Downer's  Grove,  Du  Page  County; 
George,  who  resides  in  Indiana;  Thomas,  also  a 
resident  of  Downer's  Grove;  William  S.,  who  is 
next  in  order  of  birth;  and  Oscar,  who  makes  his 
home  in  Downer's  Grove. 

When  nine  years  of  age  our  subject  came  to 
Kankakee  County  with  his  mother  and  here  was 
reared  to  manhood.  He  had  common-school  priv- 
ileges and  remained  with  her  until  attaining  his 
majority.  In  Springfield,  Mass.,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Nettie  Shumway,  on  the  26th 
of  Januaiy,  1880.  The  lady,  who  was  born  Janu- 
ary 15,  1857,  isa  nativeof  the  Bay  State,  was  reared 
in  Belchertown,  and  was  a  successful  teacher  of  Kan- 
kakee County  before  her  marriage.  Her  mother 
was  in  her  maidenhood  Miss  Pratt,  a  cousin  of  the 
Hon.  D.  D.  Pratt,  of  Indiana,  and  a  granddaugh- 
ter of  Capt.  Pratt,  who  attained  that  rank  in  the 
War  of  the  Revolution.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Potter 
have  two  children,  a  son  and  daughter,  Harry 
Shumway  and  Capitola  Stella. 

About  two  3'ears  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Pot- 
ter farmed  the  home  place,  when  he  bought  out 
the  heirs.  After  residing  there  for  several  3-ears 
he  sold  the  property  and  purchased  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides.  He  owns  one  hundred  and 
thirtj'  acres  adjoining  the  town  of  Buckingham 
and  has  it  all  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
Ovving  to  its  fertility-  and  location  this  is  a  most 
valuable  and  desirable  piece  of  property.     In  ad- 


554 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


dition  to  his  farming  interests,  Mr.  Potter  has 
dealt  extensivelj'  in  grain  for  the  past  three  years 
and  is  progressive  and  enterprising  in  his  business 
methods.  He  is  a  stanch  supporter  of  the  Republican 
party,  casting  his  first  Presidential  ballot  for  Hon. 
James  A.  Garfield,  since  which  time  he  has  supported 
every  nominee  and  the  principles  of  the  organiza- 
tion. For  several  3-eai-s  our  subject  has  been  a 
member  of  the  School  Board  and  is  a  loyal  friend 
to  our  school  system.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Modern  Woodmen,  and  is  the  Venerable  Coun- 
sel of  Buckingham  Lodge  No.  1512.  Mrs.  Potter 
is  a  member  of  the  North  Congregational  Church, 
of  Springfield,  Mass.,  whose  pastor  was  formerly 
Dr.  Gladden.  Mr.  Potter  has  spent  his  whole  life 
in  Illinois  and  a  quarter  of  a  century  in  this 
county,  where  he  enjoys  the  well-merited  regard 
and  confidence  of  all. 


1^+^! 


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ARRY  B.  STATES  owns  and  operates  a  farm 
on  section  33,  Norton  Township.  AVe  wish 
to  add  to  the  roster  of  the  old  settlers  of 
^  Kankakee  County  the  name  of  one  of  the 
honored  pioneers,  who  has  been  a  resident  of  this 
section  for  twenty-seven  years.  He  is  a  native  of 
the  Keystone  State,  born  in  Huntingdon  County'  on 
the  27th  of  October,  1832.  He  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
L.,  and  a  brother  of  William  V.,  whose  sketch  ap- 
pears elsewhere  in  this  work.  The  boyhood  and 
youth  of  our  subject  were  passed  in  his  native 
county,  where  he  received  a  good  education  in 
the  common  and  high  schools.  Upon  complet- 
ing his  studies,  for  some  time  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing, after  which  he  learned  the  printer's  trade. 
This  line  of  occupation  not  being  in  accordance 
with  his  taste,  he  gave  up  the  business  and  went 
to  work  upon  the  Penns3'lvania  Canal.  For  six 
years  he  worked  at  repair  and  construction  for 
the  company,  and  then  leaving  them,  went  into 
the  employ  of  a  railroad  company.  For  a  year  he 
was  local  freight  agent  for  the  Broad  Top  JJailroad. 
Resigning  that  position,  Mr.  States  came  West 
to  Illinois,  joining  his  father  and  brother  in  Kan- 


kakee County.  Though  he  had  had  no  experience 
as  a  farmer,  he  concluded  to  turn  his  attention  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  accordingly  settled  on  a 
farm,  the  one  which  is  still  iiis  home.  He  has  a 
well-improved  place  of  sixty-six  acres,  about  two 
miles  from  Buckingham,  and  as  a  farmer  he  has 
succeeded  reasonably  well. 

The  8th  of  January,  1857,  witnessed  the  marri- 
age of  Mr.  States  in  Huntingdon,  Pa.,  with  Miss 
Mary  M.  Glazier,  who  was  born  in  that  county,  in 
the  town  of  the  same  name.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
George  W.  Glazier,  also  a  native  of  the  Keystone 
State,  but  who  is  now  deceased.  By  tliis  union 
three  children  were  born,  one  of  whom,  a  son,  died 
in  infancy,  and  one,  Charles  L.,  died  in  this  county 
when  twelve  years  of  age.  A  daughter,  Ella  Lud- 
low, is  the  wife  of  Asa  F.  Beardsley,  a  grain-dealer^ 
in  Buckingham. 

For  a  number  of  years   Mr.  States  has  given  his 
support  and  influence  to  the  Prohibition  party,  be- 
ing a  firm  believer  in  and  advocate  of  temperance 
and  legislation  in  its  behalf.     He  and  his  wife  arel 
active  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Churchl 
of  Buckingham,  and  they  are  held  in   the  highestj 
regard  by  their  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances, botii   in   this   and  adjoining   townships.     AJ 
loyal   citizen,  he    is  not   an    aspirant    for  otticial] 
honors,  preferring  to  give  his  whole  energy  andl 
time  to  his  home  and  business. 


ylLLIAM  J.  UNZ  is  a  member  of  the  flrn 
of  M.  F.  Riley  &  Unz,  general  merchant 
\J^  of  Reddick,  111.  He  is  a  native  of  thii 
county,  and  the  date  of  his  birth  is  September  2] 
1862.  His  father,  Wilhelm  Unz,  was  born  in  Ger^ 
many  and  emigrated  to  the  New  AVorld  when 
child  of  eight  years  with  his  parents,  who  first  lo^ 
cated  in  Pennsylvania  and  later  removed  to  KenJ 
tucky.  He  grew  to  man's  estate  and  wedded 
tlieie  Mary  Feller,  who  was  also  a  native  of  the 
Fatherland.  For  a  few  years  Mr.  Unz  resided  in 
Kentucky  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1856.  He  lo- 
cated in  Kankakee  County,  being  one  of  its  hon- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


5. '55 


oicd  early  pioneers.  He  purchased  two  hundred 
acres  of  land,  which  he  proceeded  to  develop,  .and 
was  quite  a  siicfessful  agriculturist.  He  afterward 
added  to  his  original  |)iucbase  until  at  his  death 
his  farm  comprised  four  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  valuable  property.  At  the  time  of  his  settle- 
ment, and  for  nianj^  \'ears  afterward,  his  nearest 
neighbor  was  four  miles  distant.  After  a  life  of 
industry-  and  unremitting  toil  he  wiis  called  from 
the  scene  of  his  labors  by  death  in  the  summer  of 
1801.  In  local  politics,  he  took  quite  an  active 
part,  but  neither  desired  nor  .accepted  office.  His 
wife  survives  him  and  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead. 

AVilliam  .T.  is  the  sixth  in  order  of  liirth  in  a 
family-  of  thirteen  children,  but  four  sons  and  five 
daughters  of  whom  grew  to  mature  years.  The 
boyhood  and  yonth  of  our  subject  were  passed 
in  this  county,  where  he  received  a  common- 
school  education.  He  assisted  his  father  in  carry- 
ing on  the  homestead  farm  until  he  was  twenty 
years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  decided  to  leave 
the  pursuit  of  .agriculture,  which  w.as  distasteful  to 
him,  and  devote  himself  to  merchandising.  There- 
fore he  formed  a  partnership  with  JI.  F.  Rilej'and 
with  him  commenced  business  at  Keddick.  They 
began  in  a  small  way  with  limited  stock  and  capi- 
tal, but  have  added  to  both,  and  now  carry  a  large 
and  well-selected  line  of  general  merchandise,  in- 
cluding dr}'  goods,  clothing,  boots  and  shoes, shelf 
and  heavy  hardware.  The}'  also  deal  in  lumber, 
coal  and  grain.  They  own  their  large  store  build- 
ing of  two  stories,  which  is  filled  with  merchandise 
on  both  floors.  The  firm  has  established  a  reputa- 
tion for  fair  dealing,  reliable  goods  and  living 
prices. 

In  this  county,  on  the  10th  of  October,  1888, 
Mr.  Unz  and  Miss  Carrie  Myers  were  united  in  mar- 
riage. The  lady,  like  her  husband,  is  a  native  of 
Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of  (ieorge  L.  Myers,  a 
retired  farmer  now  residing  in  Dwight.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Unz  have  beeu  born  two  children:  Stella 
Elvira  and  Agnes  Helen. 

In  both  local  and  general  politics,  Mr.  Unz  is 
much  interested  and  active,  and  has  served  as  a 
delegate  to  the  county  conventions.  His  first  bal- 
lot was   cast    for  Hon.  James  O.   I5laine   in  1884, 


since  which  time  he  has  alway.>  .-.uiiim. iii.il  tliu 
nominees  of  the  Republican  party.  He  is  a  firm 
believer  in  the  efficacy  and  need  of  good  schools 
and  teachers,  to  secure  which  he  gives  his  heart}' 
co-operation.  Mr.  Unz  is  a  man  of  superior  busi- 
ness talent,  as  his  dail}'  increasing  business  gives 
proof.  Personally,  by  his  manly  worth  and  hon- 
orable cliaracter,  he  has  won  and  well  deserves  the 
esteem  of  his  many  friends  and  wide  circle  of  ac- 
quaintances. 


^  IfelLLIAM  A.  PICKERING,  a  real-estate 
\\  -,  /  dealer  of  Kankakee,  became  a  resident 
^^'  here  in  187C.  He  at  that  time  eng.aged  in 
the  boot,  shoe  and  harness  trade,  which  occupations 
he  followed  for  a  number  of  years,  but  his  health 
becoming  impaired  by  too  close  confinement  to 
business  he  retired  from  that  vocation  and  en- 
gaged as  a  commercial  traveler,  re|)rescnting  a 
Chicago  and  Detroit  firm  of  brusli  manufacturers. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Madison  County,  Ind., 
January  31,  1844.  In  December,  1887,  he  engaged 
in  the  real-estate  business,  and  has  dealt  quite  ex- 
tensively in  both  Chicago  and  Kankakee  realty. 
He  has  erected  a  nice  residence  in  Kankakee,  but 
carries  on  his  principal  real-estate  business  in  Chi- 
cago. 

IMr.  Pickering  married  Miss  Anna  M.  Deebank, 
who  was  born  in  England  and  is  a  daughter  of 
AVilliara  A.  Deebank,  a  well-known  citizen  of  Kan- 
kakee. Her  father  was  also  a  native  of  the  same 
country.  In  18.52,  he  emigrated  with  his  family 
to  the  United  States  and  after  his  arrival  at  his 
destination,  New  YorkCit}',  he  worked  at  his  trade 
for  three  3'ears.  He  became  a  citizen  of  Kankakee 
in  1855.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Elizabctli 
Whardle,  and  to  them  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren. A  son.  Prank,  the  second  in  order  of  birth, 
died  in  .lanuary.  1890,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine 
years.  Those  surviving  are  Mrs.  Pickering,  .\dell 
and  Florence. 

Our    subject    has    recent!}'   completed    a    very 


556 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


modern  home,  where  he  now  resides.  He  is  a  well- 
known  and  representative  citizen  of  Kankakee  and 
is  in  every  respect  worthy  the  confidence  and  es- 
teem in  which  he  is  held.  He  and  his  estimable 
wife  have  an  only  child,  a  daughter,  Glennie  Belle, 
whose  birth  occurred  on  the  18tli  of  September, 
1879,  in  Monmouth,  Warren  County,  III.  Politi- 
cally, our  subject  has  always  been  a  Republican. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church. 


I>^^<^ 


^l  OSEPH  L.  IRWJN,  passenger  conductor  and 
an  employe  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
Company  for  the  past  fifteen  j'ears,  has  been 
running  between  Kankakee  and  Blooming- 
ton,  111.,  for  ten  years  of  that  time.  He  was  born 
in  Wells  County,  Ind.,  on  the  22d  of  August, 
1851,  and  is  a  sou  of  George  S.  and  Ruth  (Stan- 
ton) Irwin.  The  parents  were  born  in  North  Caro- 
lina, and  removed  to  Indiana  while  single.  Our 
subject's  mother  was  a  second  cousin  of  Edwin  M. 
Stanton,  Lincoln's  Secretary'  of  War.  The  parents 
were  married  in  Indiana,  and  had  a  family  of  three 
children,  two  sons  and  a  daughter.  John  M.  was 
a  soldier  of  the  late  war,  a  member  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fifty-third  Indiana  Infantry,  and 
•died  at  Russellville,  Ky.,  in  1865, from  disease  con- 
tracted in  the  service.  Joseph  is  next  in  order  of 
birth.  Tlie  daughter,  Mary  L.,  is  now  Mrs.  Arthur 
Back,  of  Huntington  County,  lud.  In  1866,  the 
family  removed  to  Kankakee  County,  and  settled 
in  the  township  of  Otto,  where  the  father  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  1887,  when  he  removed 
with  his  wife  to  Kankakee,  where  they  still  make 
their  home. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  man- 
hood on  a  farm,  and  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools.  He  was  married  in  Otto  Township, 
on  Christmas  Day  of  1870,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  De- 
voe,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Sarah  (Rhodes)  De- 
voe,  the  former  born  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  the  latter  in  Ohio.  Thej^  emigrated  from  San- 
dusky, Ohio,  to  Michigan  City,  lud.,  and  in    1855 


located  in  Otto  Township,  on  Christmas  Day  of 
that  year,  where  they  continued  to  reside, engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1879,  which  witnessed 
tlieir  removal  to  Red  Willow  County,  Neb.,  where 
they  now  reside  in  the  town  of  Lebanon.  Six 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Irwin,  of 
whom  four  are  now  surviving.  Delphina  L.,  the 
eldest,  died  when  one  year  of  age;  George  AV.  is, 
employed  at  railroad  work  with  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral; Lizzie,  Edith  and  Joseph  A.  are  still 
home;  and  Marion  died  in  infanc}'. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Irwin  are  members  of  the  MetL 
odist  Episcopal  Church,  and  the  latter  is  one  of  thi 
Woman's  Relief  Corps,  and  active  in  charitablj 
work.  Our  subject  began  railroading  in  1876  wita 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company,  on  thj 
Bloomington  Branch  of  that  road,  helping  to  secur 
the  right  of  way,  and  aiding  in  its  construction.  Th 
following  year  he  was  employed  as  brakeman  o^ 
its  first  trains,  and  a  year  later  was  made  conductoi; 
in  which  capacity  he  has  since  served.  For  the  paa| 
five  years  he  has  been  running  passenger  trains  es 
clusively.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Order  of  Railj 
way  Conductors,  and  holds  membership  with  Ho\'v! 
ard  Lodge  No.  218,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Kankakee.  Mi| 
Irwin  has  made  his  home  in  this  c'.ty  since  1879 
and  is  widely  and  favorably  known  here  and  ij 
the  vicinit3'.  His  record  as  a  railroad  conductoi 
is  first-class,  as  he  has  always  been  known  to  be  i 
prudent  and  capable  man,  whose  aim  has  beei 
to  make  travel  on  his  trains  as  safe  and  pleasanl 
as  possible,  while  among  the  trainmen  who  have 
worked  under  him  he  is  deservedly  popular. 


lARTON  L.  CORN  WELL,  a  well-known 
resident  of  Kankakee,  is  one  of  the  earlj 
?y)JII  and  honored  settlers  of  the  town  of  Nor^i 
ton,  Kankakee  County.  His  residence  covJ 
ers  a  period  of  almost  a  third  of  a  century,  the 
time  of  his  settlement  here  having  been  in  the  auj 
tumn  of  1860.  Since  then  he  has  been  promij 
nently  connected  with  the  history  of  the  countjj 
and  has  ever  borne  his  part  in  its  upbuilding  and 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RFXORD. 


but 


advancement.  He  well  deserves  representation  in 
tliis  volume,  and  with  pleasure  we  present  to  our 
rtadeis  this  record  of  his  life. 

Mr.  Cornwell  is  a  native  of  tlie  Kmpire  State, 
having  been  born  in  Wayne  County,  N.  Y.,  ou  the 
28th  of  March,  1833,  and  is  a  son  of  William  B. 
Cornwell,  a  native  of  Connecticut.  The  grandfa- 
ther of  our  subject  bore  the  name  of  Gilbert  Corn- 
well,  and  the  family  was  probably  founded  in  this 
countr}-  during  early  Colonial  d.ays.  The  father 
of  our  snbject,  when  but  a  child,  removed  with  his 
parents  to  New  York,  the  family  settling  in  Col- 
umliia  Count}'.  lie  was  there  reared  to  manhood, 
no  event  of  special  importance  occurring  during 
the  days  of  his  childhood.  After  attaining  to 
years  of  maturity,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sarah  Barton,  and  subsequently  removed 
from  Columbia  County  to  Wayne  County,  where 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born.  In  ISC'),  the 
father  and  mother  came  to  Illinois,  but  later  re- 
moved to  Michigan,  locating  in  Battle  Creek,  where 
they  spent  the  remainder  of  their  da3s.  The  fa- 
ther was  born  in  1804,  and  died  in  1886,  having 
attained  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighth-two  years.  His 
wife  had  passed  away  manj-  years  previous.  Her 
birth  occurred  in  1806,  and  she  was  called  to  her 
final  rest  in  1866.  They  were  the  parents  of  a 
family  of  live  children,  the  eldest  of  whom^  Lo- 
vira,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  years.  A  son, 
William  II.,  died  in  childhood.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  is  the  eldest  surviving  member  of  the 
family.  The  next  is  a  sister,  Phoebe,  now  the  wife 
of  Hiram  INIunn,  of  Ames, Iowa.  John  J.,  who  is  a 
resident  of  Battle  Creek,  Mich.,  served  in  the  army 
in  the  War  for  the  Union,  as  a  member  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Eleventh  New  York  Regiment. 

Barton  L.  Cornwell  spent  the  days  of  his  boj^- 
hood  and  youth  upon  his  father's  farm,  and  was 
early  inured  to  the  labors  of  the  field.  As  soon  as 
he  was  old  enough  to  handle  the  plow,  he  began 
■work,  and  his  summer  months  were  thus  passed. 
In  the  winter  season  he  attended  the  district 
schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and  a  good  school  at 
Phelps,  N.  Y.,  thus  acquiring  a  good  practical 
English  education.  For  five  winters  he  taught 
school  successfull}',  four  terms  in  his  native  State 
and    one   term  in    Will    County.     At  the  age  of 


twenty-three  years  he  left  home  and  made  bis  way 
to  Lockport,  Will  County,  111.,  but  si.v  months 
later,  however,  he  returned  to  the  State  of  New 
York. 

M.ay  19,  1858,  Mr.  Cornwell  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Eleanor  K.  Lane,  a  native  of 
Wayne  County,  N.  Y.,  born  August  12.  183G,  and 
a  daughter  of  Levi  and  Sallie  (Burnett)  Lane,  who 
were  of  New  England  ancestry.  Her  father  was  a 
native  of  Maine,  and  w.is  a  son  of  Ziba  and  F.annie 
Lane,  the  former  of  whom  was  a  son  of  John 
Lane,  and  a  grandson  of  .lob  Lane.  Job  Lane  was 
a  son  of  John  Lane,  who  was  a  son  of  Job  Lane, 
the  last  ancestor  of  whom  the  family  has  any  de- 
finite knowledge.  Ziba  Lane  was  born  in  Bedford, 
M.1SS.,  Jul}'  5,  1756,  and  was  probably-  a  man  of 
means,  for  family  records  show  that  he  sold  lands 
in  Bedford  to  J.  Lane  February  11,  1791,  April 
4,  1791  and  August  25,  1792;  to  S.  Lane,  Feb- 
ruary 2,  1793;  to  B.  Lane,  October  30,  1793;  and 
to  W.  Goodwin,  April  2,  1796.  Ziba  Lane  was 
married  April  1,  1778,  by  the  Rev.  Henry  Cum- 
ming.  to  Lydia  Danforth,  of  Billerica,  Mass.,  and 
the  children  of  that  marriage  were  Hannah,  who 
was  born  November  25,  1778;  Josiah,  who  was 
born  September  28,  1780,  and  died  November  5, 
1780,  aged  one  month  and  eight  days;  Ziba,  who 
was  born  January  31,  1782,  married  Frances  G. 
Dennis,  and  settled  in  Lyons,  N.  Y.;  John,  who 
settled  in  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  and  was  probably  named 
for  his  grandfather,  John  Lane;  F.  Bowman,  who 
was  born  September  24,  1787,  married  Roxinda 
Parlin,  and  was  probably  named  for  his  grand- 
mother, Ruth  (Bowman)  Lane;  and  James,who  mar- 
ried Eliza  Moss.  The  name  James  is  common  in 
the  Lane  family. 

Sallie  Lane,  Mrs.  Cornwell's  mother,  was  a  na- 
tive of  the  Empire  State,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
James  I.  and  Mary  Burnett.  Mr.  Lane  is  still  liv- 
ing, and  is  yet  a  resident  of  Wayne  County,  N.  Y. 
He  was  born  in  1806,  and  hence  has  attained  to 
the  very  advanced  age  of  eighty-six  years.  The 
mother  died  in  December,  1890,  at  the  age  of  four- 
score years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lane  were  the  parents 
of  eleven  children,  of  whom  three  died  in  cliild- 
hood.  The  remaining  eight  grow  to  years  of  ma- 
turity, and  the  eldest  of  these  were  twins,  Mary 


558 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  Martha.  Mary  died  many  years  ago.  Martha 
became  the  wife  of  John  Everhart,  and  died  in 
1889,  leaving  two  children.  The  six  surviving 
members  of  the  Lane  familj^  are  Frances  G.;  Mrs. 
Corn  well,  wife  of  our  subject;  Rodney  D.;  Mrs. 
Harriet  R.  Vanderbilt;  Laura  Jane  Burnett;  and 
Levi  E.  All  of  the  survivors  of  this  family  are 
still  residents  of  their  native  county  (Wayne), 
with  the  exception  of  Mrs.  Cornwell. 

In  the  spring  of  1859,  the  year  following  their 
marriage,  our  subject  and  his  wife  bade  good-bye 
to  their  home  in  the  East,  and,  emigrating  West- 
ward, took  up  their  residence  in  Will  County,  111. 
After  a  year  spent  in  Lockport,  they  removed  to 
Kankakee  County,  where  they  have  since  made 
their  home.  Mr.  Cornwell  located  upon  a  tract  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  which  he  pur- 
chased of  the  railroad  company,  and  subsequently 
extended  the  boundaries  of  this  farm  by  an  addi- 
tional purchase  of  forty  acres.  The  entire  amount 
of  two  hundred  acres  was  placed  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation.  It  was  all  ])rairie  land,  and  he 
transformed  it  into  rich  and  fertile  fields,  which 
yielded  to  him  a  comfortable  income.  He  still 
owns  this  place,  but  has  recently  removed  with  his 
family  to  Kankakee. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cornwell  were  born  four 
children,  a  son  and  three  daughters.  The  eldest, 
Alice  L.,  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Patterson,  and 
the}'  reside  upon  the  homestead  farm  of  her  father; 
Henry  L.  is  engaged  in  the  real-estate  business  in 
North  Kankakee;  and  Harriet  L.,  is  a  shorthand 
reporter,  being  in  the  employ  of  the  Indiana,  Illi- 
nois &  Iowa  Railroad  Company,  at  Kankakee.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cornwell  recently  lost  their  youngest 
child,  Nora  B.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
j'ears. 

Our  subject  has  led  a  bus}'  and  useful  life,  and 
through  his  well-directed  efforts,  his  perseverance 
and  good  management  has  acquired  a  comfortable 
competence.  AVishing  to  live  a  retired  life,  he 
left  his  farm,  and  vvitli  his  family  removed  to  Kan- 
kakee, in  June,  1892.  They  have  a  new  and  pleas- 
ant home,  situated  on  the  corner  of  Madison  and 
Maple  Streets,  near  the  eastern  terminus  of  Station 
Street,  where  they  are  resting  in  the  enjoyment  of 
the  fruits  of  their  former  toil.     This  worthy  cou- 


ple are  numbered  among  the  well-known  and 
highly  esteemed  citizens  of  Kankakee.  In  his  po- 
litical relations,  our  subject  was  formerly  identified 
witli  the  Republican  party,  but  believing  that  the 
liquor  traffic  is  the  great  evil  of  our  land,  some 
years  ago  he  connected  liimself  with  the  party 
which  makes  the  suppression  of  intemperance  an 
issue  in  its  platform.  In  short,  he  is  a  pronounced 
J'roliibitionist,  and  does  all  in  his  power  for  the 
growth  and  success  of  that  political  organization. 
For  five  years  he  was  Assessor  of  Norton  Town- 
ship, and  for  eight  years  was  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
For  over  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  and  his  wife 
have  been  connected  with  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  are  faithful  and  consistent  mem- 
bers.    Socially,  he  is  a  Master  Mason. 


NTHONY  GERARD,  Cashier  of  the  Bank 
of  St.  Anne,  was  born  in  that  town  on  the 
7th  of  June,  1865.  His  father,  Louis  Gerard 
<^^  was  a  native  of  New  York  and  of  English 

parentage.  For  twenty-two  years  he  was  a  sailor 
both_  on  the  ocean  and  the  Lakes.  Over  thirty 
years  ago  he  came  to  Illinois  from  New  York  and 
located  in  Chicago.  After  a  short  residence  in 
that  city  he  left  the  Lakes  and  removed  his  family 
to  St.  Anne.  When  eighty-two  years  of  age  he 
was  called  from  this  life,  on  the  6th  of  July,  1891. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  was  in  her  maidenhood 
Miss  Mary  Mason.  She  was  a  native  of  France  i 
and  of  French  parentage.  She  is  still  living,  now  i 
well  advanced  in  years.  By  her  marriage  she 
became  the  mother  of  twelve  children,  five  sons 
and  seven  daughters.  Of  this  number  eight  are 
now  living:  Elizabeth,  Susan,  Kittie,  Rosella, 
Joseph,  Eli,  Louis  and  Anthony. 

Our  subject  was  reared  upon  a  farm  in  St.  Anne, 
where  he  received  his  early  education.  Afterwards 
he  attended  school  in  Muskegon,  Mich.  He  worked 
for  two  summers  in  a  sawmill,  after  which  he 
spent  seven  years  clerking  for  John  Fern.  For 
some  time  he  worked  upon  a  farm,  and   in  March)  li 


! 


I 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


559 


1892,  took  the  position  of  cashier  in  the  bank  of 
St.  Anne,  of  which  J.  N.  Iliiigins  is  President  and 
proprietor. 

On  the  li)th  of  February,  1888.  Mr.  Gerard  was 
united  in  marriage  with  ]Miss  Ilattie  Martin, 
daugliter  of  Legar  and  Eliza  (Drollett)  Martin. 
Mrs.  Gerard  is  a  member  of  tlie  First  Presbyterian 
Cliurch  of  St.Anne,  and  stands  liigh  in  social  circles. 
In  his  political  affiliations,  our  subject  casts  liis 
ballot  in  favor  of  the  Republican  partj'.  Socially 
and  as  a  citizen  he  is  held  in  tlie  highest  regard 
and  is  a  young  man  of  great  promise. 


4^ 


-^> 


eriARLFS  SCHNEIDER  has  been  a  resident 
of  tlie  city  of  Kankakee  since  18f)9,  and 
has  one  of  tlie  leading  insurance  agencies 
of  this  place.  He  has  been  engaged  in  the  insur- 
ance business  since  1875,  and  represents  many  of 
the  principal  companies  of  the  country,  including 
the  German  Insurance  Company  of  Freeport;  the 
German  ia  Insurance  Company  of  New  York;  the 
Milwaukee  ]\Ieclianics'  Insurance  Company,  of 
iyiilwaukee,Wis.;  the  German  Insurance  Company 
of  Peoria,  111.;  and  the  New  Hampshire  Insurance 
Com|ianj-,  of  Alanchester,  N.  H. 

Mr.  Schneider  is  of  German  birth.  A  native  of 
the  Kingdom  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  he  was 
born  on  the  10th  of  May,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of 
Ludwig  Schneider,  also  a  native  of  Wurtemberg. 
His  father  never  came  to  America,  but  continued 
to  live  in  the  locality  of  his  birth  until  called  to 
the  home  beyond.  Of  his  family  there  are  but 
three  surviving  members,  including  the  subject  of 
{this  sketch  and  his  brother  Louis,  who  also  resides 
in  Kankakee,  and  a  sister,  who  is  yet  living  in 
Germany. 

AVe  now  take  up  the  history  of  Mr.  Schneider, 
whose  name  heads  this  record.  The  days  of  his 
|boyhood  and  youth  were  passed  in  his  native  land, 
jwhere  he  accpiired  his  education.  He  also  there 
learned  tlie  trade  of  engraving  on  steel  and  other 
metals.  When  a  young  man  of  eighteen  years  he 
letermined  to  seek  a  home  in  Ameiica,   of    whose 


advantages  and  privileges  he  had  heard  such 
favorable  reports.  Carrying  out  iiis  resolutions, 
he  bade  good-b^-e  to  his  old  home,  and  on  the  19th 
of  June,  1851,  sailed  from  the  Fatiiorland  to  the 
New  AVorld.  His  brother  Louis,  of  this  city, 
came  a  few  months  later.  Mr.  Schneider  at  once 
landed  in  New  York,  and  worked  at  his  trade  in 
that  city,  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  in  other  places  in 
the  East  for  about  fourteen  years.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period  he  came  to  Illinois. 

It  was  on  May  10,  1855,  in  New  York  City  that 
Mr.  Schneider  w.as  married  to  Miss  Mary  llahn, 
also  a  native  of  Wurtemberg.  By  their  union  has 
been  born  a  family  of  children,  as  follows:  Albert, 
who  was  born  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  in  1860,  and  is 
employed  by  his  father  in  busine-ss;  Otto,  a 
resident  of  La  Salle,  111.;  William,  a  clerk  in  the 
office  of  the  Concordia  Insurance  Company  in 
Milwaukee;  and  George,  now  in  Chicago.  The 
younger  members  of  the  family  are  Charles,  Mary, 
Frederick  and  Pauline,  and  are  still  under  the 
parental  roof.     They  have  also  lost  five  children. 

Mr.  Schneider  is  a  man  of  good  business  ability, 
and  he  need  never  regret  his  emigration  to 
America,  as  he  has  here  met  with  success  and  found 
a  ple.asant  home.  He  is  now  one  of  tlie  public- 
sjiirited  citizens  of  Kankakee,  and  takes  a  com- 
mendable interest  in  whatever  tends  to  promote 
the  general  welfare  of  the  community  in  which  he 
resides. 


mA 


1^=^ 


SA  F.  BEARDSLEY  has  since  1887  been 
pioprietor  of  the  Beardsley  Elevator  and 
a  dealer  in  grain  at  Buckingham,  111.  He 
also  handles  coal  and  farm  implements  and 
has  a  large  and  increasing  trade.  He  was  born  De- 
cember 6,  1848,  in  La  Salle  County.  His  father, 
Levi  C.  Beardsley,  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1821, 
and  came  to  Illinois  just  after  reaching  his  majority. 
He  w.as  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  La  Salle 
County,  and  there  married  Miss  Nancy  C.  Flem- 
ing, who  was  a  sister  of  James  Fleming,  whose 
sketch  appears  in  this  volume.  Mr.  Beardslcj- setr 
tied   upon  a  farm  and  reared  his  family,  and  died 


560 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGEAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  La  Salle  County  in  1863,  being  then  in  the  prime 
of  life,  only  forty-two  years  of  age.  His  wife  had 
departed  this  life  two  years  previously  at  the  age 
of  thirt3^-two. 

Asa  Beardsley  is  the  younger  of  two  brothers. 
Ralph  W.  was  a  fanner  of  Norton  Township,  but 
died  .lanuary  11,  1893.  Our  subject  spent  his 
youth  in  the  county  where  he  was  born,  and  there 
he  had  good  school  advantages.  After  leaving 
the  common  schools  he  attended  for  two  terms  the 
Wheaton  College.  In  1869  he  came  to  Kankakee 
County  and  purchased  a  tract  of  prairie  land.  Pie 
was  ver}^  active,  industrious  and  ambitious,  and  in 
addition  to  his  agricultural  pursuits  branched  out 
in  business  in  various  directions.  He  purchased  a 
sheller  and  engaged  in  corn-shelling  during  a  por- 
tion of  the  year.  He  also  bought  and  ran  a  thresh- 
ing machine  for  a  number  of  years.  For  some 
time  he  was  engaged  in  boring  wells,  and  during 
the  time  spent  upon  his  farm  lie  had  very  good 
success  and  accumulated  a  nice  property.  In  1879, 
removing  to  Buckingham,  Mr.  Beardsley  pur- 
ciiased  a  business  and  engaged  in  merchandising 
until  the  year  1884.  His  success  in  this  line 
being  very  indifferent,  he  sold  out  the  business 
and  for  two  years  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building  successfully'.  Since  1886  he  has  contin- 
ued to  do  more  or  less  in  this  line  at  intervals  in 
connection  with  his  other  business.  In  1885  he 
turned  his  attention  toward  buying  and  selling 
grain,  and  two  years  later  became  the  owner  of 
the  Beardslej'  Elevator,  as  before  mentioned. 

In  this  county,  on  the  16lh  of  December,  1875, 
Mr.  Beardsley  and  Miss  Ella  L.  States,  were  mar- 
ried. The  lady  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  but 
was  reared  and  educated  in  Norton  Township, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  II.  B.  States,  whose  sketch 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  A  bright  little 
girl  of  three  summers,  Irma  M.,  graces  their  union. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beardsley  at  present  hold  member- 
ship with  no  church  organization,  but  formerly 
united  with  the  "Wesleyan  Methodist  Church,  to 
which  faith  thej-  still  adhere. 

In  his  political  belief,  Mr,  Beardslej'  now  sup- 
ports the  measures  and  nominees  of  the  Prohibi- 
tion part}'.  He  was  formerly,  however,  affili.ated 
with    the    Republican   party.     Though  never  de- 


sirous of  official  positions,  he  has  been  elected  and 
served  one  term  as  Township  Collector.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Buckingham  Cornet  Band,  and  is 
quite  a  proticient  performer.  He  is  conceded  to 
be  one  of  tlie  enterprising,  public-spirited  and  suc- 
cessful business  men  of  Buckingham,  and  is  well 
known  in  tliis  and  adjoining  counties.  In  his  per- 
sonal relations  and  business  dealings  with  his  fel- 
low-men, he  has  always  been  found  honorable  and 
upright. 


♦^•fe 


^J 


/  ^^3^=*~ 


EORGE  B.  McNAMEE  is  a  merchant  of 
Buckingham.  He  is  a  native  of  Oiiio,  hav- 
ing been  born  in  Fairfield  County,  on  tlie 
18th  of  December,  1852,  and  is  a  son  of  Job  and 
Catherine  (Walters)  McNamee.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Mai-yland' 
moved  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  Fairfield  County, 
when  it  was  a  vast  wilderness.  In  that  county  his 
son  Job  was  born  and  grew  to  manhood,  and 
there  married  a  daughter  of  John  Walters,  who 
was  also  an  honored  pioneer  of  the  county.  For 
several  years  after  his  marriage,  Mr.  McNamee  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Fairfield  County,  and  in  1871 
settled  in  Norton  Township,  Kankakee  County. 
For  a  number  of  years  he  operated  the  farm  which 
he  then  bought  and  opened  up,  but  is  now  living 
retired,  passing  his  remaining  da3's  with  his  son, 
our  subject.  His  wife  was  called  from  tliis  life 
April  19,  1889. 

Our  subject  was  one  of  four  sons  and  two 
daughters,  who  are  all  living  and  are  now  married. 
William  is  engaged  in  business  in  Chicago;  our 
subject  is  next  in  order  of  birth;  Viola  is  the  wife 
of  R.  F.  Wadley,  a  farmer  of  Iroquois  County; 
Maggie  married  W.  J.  Watson,  a  druggist  of 
Braidwood,  Will  County;  T.  H.  carries  on  the  old 
homestead;  and  Pei-ry  is  engaged  in  business  in 
Seatonville,  111. 

George  McNamee  was  blessed  with  good  school 
advantages,  and  supplemented  liis  common-school 
education  by  one  term  at  college.  At  the  time  of 
his  father's  coming  to  Illinois,  he  removed  with 


■  C'r  |LL(,\OIS 


/^t?ih^ 


&jt^. 


>. 


w 

OP    IHt 
MMIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


i 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


him  and  helped  to  open  up  a  farm  in  this  county, 
remaining  with  him  for  several  years  after  attain- 
ing his  majority. 

On  the  6th  of  September,   1883,  Jlr.  McNamee 
married  Miss  Ada  Ella  Cook,  the  ceremony  being 
performed  in  Ford  County.     Mrs.  McNamee  is  a 
daughter  of  II.  M.  Cook,  whose  sketch  appears  on 
another  page  of  this  work,  and  was  born  in   Ken- 
dall County.     By  her  marriage  she  has  become  the 
mother  of  three  children,  Minnie,  Fred  and  Riiba. 
After  his  marriage,  Mr.  McNamee  carried  on  a 
farm  for  a   few  years,   but   in    1889   removed   to 
Buckingham,  where  he  engaged   in  the  butchering 
business.     This  occupation   he  has  followed  up  to 
the  present  time,  and  in  Marcli,  1892,  also  opened 
a  general  grocery,     lie  has  built  up  a  large  trade 
and   is  doing  well.     Tlie    first  ballot  cast  by  our 
subject  he  deposited  for  Samuel  J.  Tilden  in    the 
Presidential  election    in    1876,   and    is   a   strong 
Democrat.     He  has  never  wished  for  otlicial  recog- 
nition, but  has  been  elected  to  fill  various   posi- 
tions of  honor  and  trust.     He   has  served  as  Con- 
stable of  Norton  Township  for  eight  years,  and 
was  Deputy  Sheriff  of  this  county  for  four  years. 
He  always  takes  an  active  part  in  local  campaigns, 
and  for  years  has  been   a   member  of  the  County 
Central  Committee,  and  has  been  sent  as  a  dele- 
gate to  the  county,  senatorial  and  congressional 
conventions.     Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Lodge 
No.  381,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at  Cabery,  and  is  Banker 
of  Lodge  No.  1512,  M.  W.  A. 


d***** 


A.}..5.^.^ 


'•{••{••{••{•*^W''i"!"}'+f 


*  EMI  BRADLEY  COBB,  a  well-known  and 
"  representative  citizen  of  Kankakee,  has 
been  a  resident  of  this  county  since  Marcli, 
1862.  He  is  an  elder  brother  of  Emory  Cobb, 
whose  sketch  is  given  elsewhere  in  this  volume, 
and  is  a  native  of  the  town  of  Dryden,  Tompkins 
County,  N.  Y.,  his  birth  occurring  on  the  5th  of 
May,  1823.  He  is  descended  on  the  paternal  side 
from  an  old  New  England  family  of  English 
origin.      His   grandfather,    p:iisha    Cobb,   was    an 

26 


early  pioneer  of  Tompkins  County,  and  continued 
to  reside  there  until  his  dealli. 

Our  subject  is  the  son  of  William  and  Achsah 
(Bradley)  Cobb,  tiie  latter  also  l)eing  of  New  Eng- 
land extraction.  Her  father,  Lemi  Bradley,  went 
from  New  England  to  Herkimer  County,  N.  Y., 
from  there  to  Groton,  Tompkins  County,  and  still 
later  to  Genoa,  Cayuga  County,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death.  Our  subject  is  one  of  a  family  of 
ten  children,  of  whom  seven  grew  to  mature  years, 
five  being  sons  and  two  daughters.  The  eldest  of 
those  surviving  is  Mrs.  T.  1).  Wire,  of  Evanston, 
III.;  Lemi  is  next;  Elisha  is  a  resident  of  Cayuga 
County,  N.  Y.;  Emory  resides  in  Kankakee;  and 
Harriet  is  the  wife  of  Col.  II.  C.  Clarke,  of  this 
city.  Those  deceased  are  Claris>:i  Jane,  Ruth,  Ed- 
ward L.,  William  N.  and  Cyrus  U.  The  father  of 
this  family  died  April  22.  1813,  and  the  wife  and 
mother,  who  survived  her  husband  for  many  years, 
passed  away  at  the  home  of  her  son  Emory  in  Kan- 
kakee, February  16,  1875. 

Mr.  Cobb,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,    went 
from    his   birthplace    to  (ienoa,    Cayuga  County, 
when  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  two  years  after 
the  death  of  his  father.     For  a  lime  he  worked 
land  on  shares,  but  finally  purchased  a  farm.     For 
seventeen  years  he  made  his  home  in  the  towns  of 
Genoa,  Venice  and    Ledyard,  N.  Y.,   respectively, 
and    in    18C2   came  to   Kankakee  and   engaged  in 
operating   the   place    now   known    as    the  Graves 
farm,  which  was  then  owned  by  his  brother  Em- 
ory.    For  ten  years  after  his  arrival  in  this  county 
he   engaged   in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  in  this 
time  purchased  considerable  land,  including  forty 
acres    which    he  bought  in    1869,  now  comprised 
within  the  city  limits  and  a  portion  of  which   lie 
still  owns.     He  had  previously  purchased  a   farm 
of  his  brother,  which,  however,  he  never  occupied. 
In  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  on  the  11th  of  July,  1815,  Mr. 
Cobb  wedded  Miss  Mary  A.  Emmons,  whose  death 
occurred  December  2  7,  1855.    By  her  marriage  she 
became  the  mother  of  three  children:  Susan  Alice, 
wife  of  Wesley  Bonfield,  of  Kankakee;  Ellen  Ach- 
sah, who  became  the  wife  of  Theodore  F.  Andrews, 
of  Chicago;  and  Emmons  B.,  also  of  tlie  Garden 
City.     On  the  1 1th  of  March,  1857,  Mr.  Cobb  mar- 
ried Miss  Alice  M.  Cowles,  of  Cortland   County, 


566 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


N.  Y.,  in  which  count}'  she  was  born  November  28, 
1823.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Judah  and  Polh'  (Gos- 
ner)  Cowles,  the  former  of  whom  was  of  English 
descent,  and  the  latter  of  German.  The  i)arcnts  of 
Mrs.  Cobb  were  residents  of  Cortland  County  from 
1810  until  their  deaths,  the  father  passing  awa}' in 
1856,  and  the  mother  in  1868.  Their  family  com- 
prised nine  children,  four  sons  and  five  daughters, 
of  whom  five  survive:  .Joseph,  the  eldest  of  the 
family,  died  in  18:^8;  Thomas  B.  resides  at  Post- 
ville,  Iowa;  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Alger  lives  in  Cortland 
County,  N.y.;  Lucy  died  in  1879;  Martin  L.  lives 
in  Dodge  County,  Wis.;  Mrs.  Cobb  is  the  next  in 
order  of  birth;  Rev.  Philo  resides  in  the  State  of 
New  York  and  is  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church;  Alice  and  Ljdia  M.  are  dece.ised. 

In  October,  1869,  Mr.  Cobb  removed  to  Kanka- 
kee and  four  years  later,  in  company  with  several 
other  gentleman,  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
straw-board.  This  enterprise  became  one  of  the 
most  important  industries  of  the  city,  but  after 
carrying  it  on  for  many  years,  the  proprietors  sold 
the  plant  to  the  American  Straw  Board  Company. 
The  mill  stood  idle  for  a  year,  and  then  was  leased 
to  Mr.  Cobb  and  his  son-in-law,  Weslc}'  Boufield, 
who  embarked  in  the  manufacture  of  wrapping 
paper,  from  which  business  Mr.  Cobb  retired  at  the 
close  of  1892. 

For  thirty  years  our  subject  has  been  a  resident 
of  Kankakee,  and  has  ever  been  closely  connected 
with  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  city.  He  is 
especially'  esteemed  for  his  generous  and  philan- 
thropic traits  of  character,  as  he  is  ever  ready  to 
contribute  liberally  of  his  means  to  charitable  and 
religious  purposes.  He  has  been  a  faithful  and 
consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  for  fifty-two  years,  and  has  loyally  sup- 
ported church  enterprises  and  the  preaching  of  the 
Gospel.  Mrs.  Cobb  h.as  been  a  member  of  the  same 
church  for  fifty-four  years.  In  his  political  affilia- 
tions, he  is  now  identified  with  the  Prohibition 
party,  believing  that  the  curse  of  the  liquor  traffic 
should  be  suppressed  by  national  legislation.  Dur- 
ing the  nearly  fifty  years  since  Mr.  Cobb  attained 
his  majority,  his  political  belief  has  been  as  fol- 
lows: In  1844,  he  voted  for  James  K.  Polk;  in 
1848  for  Martin  Van  Buren;  in  1852  for  John  P. 


Hale;  in  1856  for  John  C.  Fremont;  for  Abraham 
Lincoln  in  1860  and  1864;  in  the  two  succeeding 
Presidential  elections  for  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant;  in 
1876  for  R.  B.  Hayes;  for  James  A.  (4arfield  in 
1880;  m  1884  for  John  P.  St.  John;  four  years 
later  for  Clinton  B.  Fisk;  and  in  1892  for  John 
Bidwell. 


©.- 


-^:i. 


"^ 


^-^ 


r=i 


C^" 


-§) 


W  AMES  W.  NULL  is  one  of  the  most  efficient 
and  trusted  employes  of  the  llbnois  Cen- 
tral Railroad  Company,  being  stationed  at 
Buckingham  as  agent  and  o[)erator.  His 
birth  occurred  in  Zanesville,  Muskingun  Count}', 
Ohio,  on  the  16th  of  June,  1858.  His  father,  John 
W.  Null,  was  a  native  of  the  Old  Dominion  and 
grew  to  manhood  in  that  State.  When  a  young 
man,  he  went  to  Ohio,  first  locating  in  Licking 
County,  where  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Eliza 
Keith,  who  was  born  in  the  Buckeye  State.  Mrs. 
Null  died  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  but 
an  infant. 

Until  fourteen  years  of  age,  James  lived  with 
friends  and  relatives  in  Ohio,  and  in  1872  came  to 
Illinois.  He  joined  an  uncle  who  owned  a  farm 
in  McLean  County,  and  with  him  he  staid  for 
several  years,  working  on  the  farm.  During  the 
winter  months,  he  w^s  allowed  to  attend  school, 
and  before  leaving  Ohio  had  the  advantages  of 
the  good  public  schools  at  Zanesville.  He  was 
of  an  active  mind  and  ambitious  temperament, 
and  while  still  at  school  took  up  the  study  of 
telegraphy,  in  which  he  soon  became  quite  profi- 
cient. In  1879,  Mr.  Null  came  to  Kankakee  Coun- 
ty, entering  the  railroad  office  at  Irwin,  where  he 
continued  the  study  of  telegraphy.  After  a  few 
months,  he  was  transferred  to  Kempton,  Ford  Coun- 
ty, being  night  operator  there  for  about  four 
months,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  was 
given  the  office  at  Risk,  being  agent  and  night 
operator  at  that  point  for  one  and  a-half  years. 
In  October,  1882,  Mr.  Null  was  stationed  at  Buck- 
ingham, and  has  since  that  time  been  the  .igent 
and  telegraph  operator  here.     He  has  become  iden- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


507 


tilled  with  the  business  growth  and  development 
of  lliis  thriving  town,  and  for  ten  years  has  been 
numbered  among  its  wortliy  citizens.  He  is  agent 
for  tlie  Phenix  Fire  Insurance  Company  of  Brook- 
lyn, which  is  one  of  the  best  companies  of  its 
kind  in  the  I'nited  States.  He  is  also  secretary  of 
the  Inter-State  Building  and  Loan  Association  of 
Bloomington,  111.,  and  lias  held  that  ollice  for  the 
past  three  years. 

At  Culloni,  111.,  on  the  8th  of  November,  1883,  a 
wedding  ceremony  united  the  destinies  of  JL-.  Null 
and  Miss  Emma  F.  Shearer,  who  is  a  daughter  of 
J.  ,1.  and  Catherine  Shearer,  of  CuUom,  in  which 
town  Mrs.  Null  passed  her  girlhood  and  grew  to 
womanhood,  though  Ohio  was  the  State  of  her 
birth.  One  son,  Rodney  E.,lias  blessed  their  union. 
Sociall}-,  Mr.  Null  is  highly  esteemed  and  res- 
pected as  one  of  the  most  pleasant  and  obliging 
I  agents  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company. 
Though  not  an  .aspirant  for  political  honors,  he 
has  ever  taken  an  interested  and  active  part  in 
politics,  having  been  alliliated  with  the  Republican 
party  since  attaining  his  majority.  His  first 
ballot  was  cast  in  the  Presidential  election  of  1880 
for  11(111.  .James  A.  Garfield.  Mr.  Null  is  a  man 
of  superior  business  capacit\-,  and  is  intelligent  and 
'  well  read.  Being  thrown  u|ion  his  own  resour- 
I  ces  when  (jiiite  a  young  man,  he  li.as  had  to  make 
his  own  w.ay  in  the  world  unassisted,  and  is  well  de- 
serving of  the  fair  measure  of  success  to  which  he 
has  attained. 


,  AVID  BLOOM,  a  pioneer  of  northern  Ill- 
inois, was  born  in  Burlington,  Bradford 
County,  Pa.,  April  1,  1800,  and  was  of 
German  extr.aclion.  His  parents  were 
among  the  tiist  settlers  of  Bradford  Couutj'.  In 
the  autumn  of  1819  Mr.  Bloom  married  Miss  Polly 
I  A.  Rutty,  who  was  some  months  his  senior.  She 
I  was  born  October  10,  1799,  and  was  of  Scotch  and 
English  parentage,  her  people  being  among  the 
pioneers  of  Lycoming  County,  Pa. 

Mr.  Bloom    in   the  fall  of    1833  made  a   trip  to 


the  then  far  West,  the  limit  of  his  journey  being 
Dorr  Prairie,  which  he  considered  an  earthly  Eden, 
and  where  he  thought  of  returning  with  his  family. 
Almost  his  entire  trip  was  made  on  horseback  ex- 
cept on  his  return  East,  when  he  crossed  Lake 
Erie.  He  was  gone  from  home  for  nearly  tliree 
months,  and  was  induced  by  an  acquaintance  to 
finally  settle  in  what  is  now  "Will  County,  111., 
July  11,  1831,  just  at  the  beginning  of  the  wheal 
harvest.  They  moved  into  a  liouse  owned  by  J. 
M.  Reynolds,  and  the  next  day  Mr.  Bloom  engaged 
in  harvesting,  working  with  the  cradle  for  twenty- 
seven  days.  Most  of  the  grain  was  cut  with  a 
sickle  that  3'ear  and  the  following,  and  even  cra- 
dles were  scarce  in  the  new  settlement,  and  such  a 
thing  as  a  liarve-sting-machine  was  yet  a  thing  of 
the  futuie.  He  worked  for  William  Cougar, 
grandfather  of  William  Cougar  of  this  city,  and 
for  Joseph  S.  Reynolds,  grandfather  of  J.  Rey- 
nolds, of  Kankakee. 

In  1835  Mr.  Bloom  bought  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  at  the  land  sale  in  Chicago.  He  was 
by  trade  a  millwright, and  built  one  of  the  first  saw- 
mills in  this  county  in  the  fall  of  1835  at  or  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Sag,  in  Cook  County,  for  Pad- 
dock Brothers;  in  183G  he  built  a  saw  and  grist  mill 
for  Cornelius  Van  Horn  at  the  head  of  Hickoiy 
Creek  timber  in  Van  Horn's  Grove.  He  also 
helped  to  build  the  dam  and  mill  at  Bourbonnais, 
the  building  being  afterward  removed  to  Kanka- 
kee. While  in  California  lie  also  built  two  other 
mills.  During  the  year  1836  he  sold  his  land 
and  located  a  claim  m  Iowa,  where  the  city  of 
Cedar  Rapids  now  stands,  intending  to  move  there 
the  ensuing  spring,  but  in  his  absence  the  claim 
was  jumped,  so  he  was  forced  to  abandon  the  idea 
of  settling  there. 

hi  December,  1836,  ."Mr.  Bloom,  in  partnership 
with  Jacob  Sammons,  engaged  in  bu3ing  and  driv- 
ing hogs  across  the  prairie  to  Chicago.  It  was 
while  out  on  this  expedition  that  he  bargained  for 
the  claim  on  Rock  Creek,  section  23,  Rockville 
Township,  Kankakee  County,  where  he  moved  in 
the  early  spring  of  the  following  year.  At  that 
time  pork  brought  a  good  price,  speculation  of  all 
kinds  was  rife,  and  everyone  expected  to  become 
weallh3'  at  once.     As  before  mentioned,  in  Decern- 


568 


PORTRAIT  AOT)  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


ber,  1836,  Mr.  Bloom  and  Mr.  Sammons  having 
purchased  a  large  drove  of  four  hundred  hogs  in 
the  vicinity  of  Danville,  111.,  were  on  their  way 
Northward  to  dispose  of  them  in  the  Chicago  mar- 
kets. Thej'  had  proceeded  as  far  as  Sugar  Creek, 
in  what  is  now  Iroquois  County,  when  they  were 
overtaken  by  that  sudden  and  terrible  change  of 
weather  which  is  still  spoken  of  by  the  earliest 
settlers  with  a  shudder  of  dread.  That  was  the 
most  remarkable  change  of  weather  ever  recorded 
in  the  annals  of  this  country,  and  the  date  is  given 
as  December  20,  1836.  The  day  and  night  pre- 
vious had  been  mild  and  foggy,  part  of  the  time 
with  heavy  rain,  until  about  three  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  when  it  cleared  off  and  the  Polar  blast 
came  sweeping  down  across  the  almost  barren 
prairie  from  the  Northwest.  The  first  touch  of  its 
icy  fingers  transformed,  as  by  magic,  the  appearance 
of  the  whole  face  of  nature.  The  ground  had  been 
covered  with  slush;  north  of  Kankakee  to  Chicago 
the  saturated  snow  was  about  one  foot  in  depth, 
and  the  sloughs  and  streams  were  full  of  water. 
In  an  incredibly'  short  space  of  time  the  whole 
country  became  a  vast  sheet  of  ice,  and  some  of 
the  old  settlers  contend  that  it  froze  sufficiently 
in  five  minutes  to  bear  the  weight  of  a  man.  Mul- 
titudes of  wild  animals  and  birds  perished  with 
the  intense  cold.  As  soon  as  the  "norther"  struck 
them,  Mr.  Bloom  realized  the  great  danger  the}' 
were  in  and  requested  his  partner  to  take  the  two 
teams  with  which  they  had  to  hauled  corn  for  their 
stock  and  the  men  who  were  assisting  them, 
and  seek  a  place  of  shelter  as  soon  as  possible, 
which  they  succeeded  in  doing.  Our  subject  re- 
mained with  the  drove  until  he  found  a  partial 
shelter  for  them  in  a  patch  of  tall  prairie  grass. 
By  ihis  time  it  had  become  dark,  and  it  was  evi- 
dent tliat  he  must  do  something  to  save  himself. 
He  tried  in  vain  to  remount  his  horse,  as  he  had 
become  chilled  and  his  outer  clothing  was  frozen. 
Finding  the  attempt  impossible,  he  led  the  horse 
to  a  stack  of  hay  at  no  great  distance,  and  turn- 
ing him  loose,  began  stamping  around  the  stack 
to  keep  from  freezing,  at  the  same  time  revolving 
in  his  mind  how  he  should  be  able  to  find  the 
house,  which  he  knew  could  not  be  far  distant. 
Fortunately  for  him  rescue  was  at  hand,  and  right 


cheerfull}' he  answered  a  manly  hello.  The  stranger  f 
and  good  Samaritan  turned  out  to  be  a  Methodisti 
parson,  who  had  stopped  at  the  house  for  shelter, . 
and  had  bravely  volunteered  to  go  out  in  the  bit-  ; 
ter  cold  to  the   aid   of    the  suffering.     Mr.  Bloom 
ever  afterward  held  him  in  grateful  remembrance. 
On  the  following  day  they  visited  the  drove,  but 
as  the  cold   was   still  veiy   severe   they   could   do 
nothing  but  feed  them.     Many  had  perished   and 
some    were    badly    frozen.     Two    daj's   afterward  Ij 
they  started  with  all  that  could    travel,  and   then, 
commenced  a  toilsome  and  weary  inarch  of  from 
four  to  six  miles  per  day.     In  crossing  the  streams 
the  ice  had  to  be  covered  with  straw  or  scarified 
with  axes.     When  they  arrived  at  William  Baker's 
place,  now  known  as  the  Ohio  House,  tliej'  slaugh- 
tered the  disabled  and  heaviest  of  the  drove,  which 
were  sent  to   Chicago  on   sleighs-     In   those  days 
hogs  that  were  bought  for  from  §2.50  to  $3   per, 
hundred  were  sold  for  from  ^9  to  $12  per  hundred. 
As  there   were  no  railroads,  the  products  of    the 
country  south  were  mostly  sent  to  Cincinnati,  and  as 
the  demands  of  the  northern  part  of  the  State  were 
pressing,  high  prices  resulted. 

The  principal  occupation  of  David  Bloom  was 
farming  and  stock-raising.  During  the  excLlemenI 
consequent  on  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California, 
he  became  one  of  the  honored  "'49ers,"  residing 
there  for  about  five  years,  engaged  in  mining  and 
lurabering,and  returning  once  to  his  home,  in  1852 
on  a  visit.  In  the  summer  of  18.51,  the  people  oi 
Greenwood  Valley,  Cal.,  were  obliged  to  executei 
summary  justice  upon  a  notorious  desperado  whc 
had  killed  two  or  three  men.  The  Judge  Lynch 
method  of  ridding  the  country  of  such  characters^ 
was  popular,  and  Maj.  Bloom,  as  he  was  called  there 
was  asked  to  preside  at  the  meeting  and  trial.  The 
man  was  found  guilty  and  confessed  to  the  mur- 
ders. Mr.  Bloom  had  to  pronounce  sentence  ol 
death  upon  him,  and  gave  the  culprit  one  hour  in 
which  to  prepare  for  his  doom,  at  the  expiration 
of  which  he  was  promptly  executed  by  hanging 
from  the  limb  of  a  tree.  The  two  instances  noted 
above  show  some  of  the  difficulties  with  which  th< 
pioneer  had  to  contend,  and  the  courage  nccessarj 
for  frontier  life. 

Our  subject  was  a   man  of   strict    integrity  oi 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


56d 


character,  of  strong  religious  convictions,  and  in 
early  life  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  but 
on  coming  to  Illinois  was  for  a  number  of  years 
not  a  member  of  any  denomination.  Late  in  life 
lie  joined  the  church  of  the  United  Brethren,  of 
which  he  was  a  faithful  member  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  on  the  24tli  of  January,  1877.  He 
W.1S  ever  kind  and  charitable  to  the  unfortunate 
and  needy.  Politically,  he  was  a  Jackson  Demo- 
crat, a  great  admirer  of  Judge  Douglas  and  lion. 
John  AVentworth.  Of  the  latter  he  was  always  a 
warm  personal  fiiend  and  zealous  supporter,  being 
a  inenilier  of  the  convention  held  in  Joliot,  in 
May,  1843,  which  gave  that  gentleman  his  first 
nomination  for  Congress. 


HARLES  B.  FOSTER,  a  self-made  man, 
who  is  now  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits on  section  25,  Limestone  Township,  is 
a  native  of  New  York.  He  was  born  in  Parma, 
Monroe  County,  June  2,  1832,  and  is  a  son  of 
Hiram  and  Permelia  (Curtis)  Foster.  Tlie  father 
was  born  in  Vermont,  February  26,  1802.  The 
paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  also  a  na- 
tive of  the  Green  Mountain  State,  and  was  of 
English  extraction.  In  an  early  day  lliram  Fos- 
ter removed  to  New  York,  and  during  his  resi- 
dence there  met  and  married  Miss  Curtis,  who  was 
horn  in  Onondaga  County,  N.  Y.,  May  8,  1803. 
Her  parents  and  her  ancestors  for  several  genera- 
tions were  born  in  the  New  England  States.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Foster  continued  their  residence  in  New 
York  until  1850,  when  they  emigrated  to  Michi- 
gan. He  was  a  painter  by  trade,  but  after  remov- 
ing to  the  West  engaged  in  farming. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  youngest 
child  and  only  son  in  a  family  of  five  diildren. 
He  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  after 
he  had  attained  his  majority.  The  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  were  quietl}-  passed,  and  his 
education  was  acquired  in  the  common  district 
schools    of  the  neighborhood.     To  his  father  he 


gave  the  beneflt  of  his  labors  until  twenty-three 
years  of  age,  when  he  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  without  a  doll.ar.  He  first  earned  his  live- 
lihood by  working  as  a  carpenter  and  joiner, 
which  occupation  he  followed  for  a  period  of 
tliree  years  in  Michigan  and  Indiana. 

An  important  event  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Foster 
occurred  on  the  1  Ith  of  February,  1858,  when 
was  celebrated  his  marriage  with  Miss  Clara  E. 
Nickerson,  who  was  born  in  Indiana,  August  31, 
1841.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Garret  and  Martha 
(Ivenney)  Nickerson.  Her  father  was  born  in 
<^ieen  Anne  County,  Md.,  M.ay  4,  18(12,  but  her 
tnollicr  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  her  birth 
having  occurred  in  the  Keystone  Stale,  on  the  8th 
of  March,  1809.  In  an  early  day  they  emigrated 
to  Indiana,  and  in  18fi0  came  to  this  count}', 
where  they  botli  died.  Mrs.  Foster  received  such 
educational  advantages  aa  the  public  schools  af- 
forded, and  remained  with  her  parents  until  her 
marriage.  By  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his 
wife  were  born  four  children,  but  the  eldest  is 
now  deceased.  George  G.,  who  was  born  Sep- 
tember (J,  1859,  died  on  the  18lh  of  February 
following.  Carrie  E.,  born  April  2,  18(!2,  is  now 
the  wife  of  Rudolph  Hawkins,  a  resident  farmer 
of  Kankakee  County.  Mary  N.,  born  September 
28,  18(57,  and  Jennie  P.,  born  January  8,  1879, 
are  still  under  the  parental  roof. 

Since  his  marriage  Mr.  Foster  has  engaged  in 
farming,  and  he  how  owns  and  operates  eighty 
acres  of  good  land  in  Limestone  Township,  pleas- 
antly situated  within  two  and  a-half  miles  of  the 
cit3'  of  Kankakee.  For  some  time  Jlr.  Foster  was 
independent  in  his  political  views,  but  for  the  last 
five  years  he  has  been  a  supporter  of  the  Demo- 
cratic iJarty.  His  fellow-townsmen,  appreciating 
his  worth  and  ability,  have  frequently  called  upon 
him  to  serve  in  public  positions  of  honor  and 
trust.  He  h.as  lield  the  ollice  of  Town  Clerk  for 
several  j'ears,  has  been  School  Director  for  his  dis- 
trict for  the  long  period  of  twenty-  years,  and  is 
now  one  of  the  School  Trustees  of  his  township. 
He  was  Supervisor  of  Limestone  Township  for 
three  years,  at  which  time  the  ''Three  C.'s"  K.  R. 
bonds  were  issued,  and  his  name  was  on  every  bond. 
His  frequent  re-election  indicates  the  promptness 


670 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


and  fidelity  with  which  he  always  discharges  his 
public  duties,  and  his  long  connection  with  tlie 
school  interests  attests  the  fact  that  the  cause  of 
education  finds  in  him  a  warm  friend.  He  is  a 
public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen,  and  those 
who  know  him  esteem  him  highly  for  his  sterling 
worth  and  strict  integritj\ 


— t 


M>-^<^ 


-i^ 


'Xl  OHN  S.  RANSOM,  a  retired  merchant  of  Mo- 
mence,  and  a  well-known  citizen,  was  born 
in  Selma,  Ala.,  on  the  31sl  of  March,  1849, 
and  is  a  son  of  Elijah  and  Eunieia  (Steb- 
bins)  Ransom,  both  of  Connecticut.  Tlie  father 
was  of  English  origin,  an  ancestor  of  his  coming  to 
America  early  in  the  eighteenth  century  in  com- 
pany with  two  brothers.  They  emigrated  from  Col- 
chester, England,  one  of  them  settling  in  Connect- 
icut, one  in  Vermont,  and  tlie  other  in  Tennessee. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  Con- 
gregational minister  in  Guilford,  Conn.,  as  early  as 
1763,  and  bore  tlie  name  of  St,e|)hen  W.  Stebbins. 
On  the  father's  side  our  subject's  great-grandfa- 
ther was  a  farmer,  and  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution- 
ary War.  He  built  a  large  frame  house  in  Salem, 
Conn.,  which  is  still  standing  in  a  good  state  of 
preservation. 

Elijah  Ransom  was  born  in  Salem,  Conn.,  in 
1816,  and  there  was  reared  to  manhood.  His  edu- 
cation was  received  in  the  common  schools,  and 
was  supplemented  by  a  course  at  Bacon  Academy, 
in  Colchester,  Conn.  Wliile  a  boj^,  he  clerked  in  a 
store  in  Salem,  developing  a  special  aptitude  for 
business.  For  some  time  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
J.  B.  "Wheeler,  who  keiit  a  general  store,  and  with 
him  he  was  afterward  associated  as  partner,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Wheeler  &  Ransom.  They  con- 
tinued in  company  together  for  a  number  of  years, 
Mr.  Ransom  then  selling  his  interest  in  the  store 
and  removing  to  Selma,  Ala.  There  he  opened  a 
general  store  and  engaged  in  business  for  about 
seven  years  at  that  place.  He  then  returned  to 
Connecticut  and  established  a  new  line  of  trade, 
where  he  remained  until  liis  death,  which  occurred 


in  September,  1888.  He  was  always  prominent  in 
church  work,  and  for  many  yenrs  was  considered 
a  pillar  of  the  Congregational  Church.  His  wife  is 
slill  living,  and  since  her  husband's  death  has 
made  her  home  in  Chicago  with  three  of  her  chil- 
dren who  live  there.  She  is  also  a  devoted  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  is  now  sev- 
enty-three years  of  age.  In  her  family  were  five 
sons  and  two  daughters:  Edward  S.,  Annie  S.  (who 
died  in  December,  1891,  at  her  home  in  Chicago), 
John  S.,  Caroline  W.,  Charles  N.,  William  S.  and 
Elijah. 

Mr.  Ransom,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
imbibed  from  early  childhood  a  good  knowledge 
of  business  principles.  He  received  a  common- 
school  education,  and  attended  Bacon  Academv, 
and  afterwnrd  Williston  Seminary  in  East  Hamp- 
ton, Mass.,  said  to  be  one  of  the  best  preparatory 
institutions  in  the  United  States.  After  he  iiad 
completed  his  studies,  Mr.  Ransom  returned  to 
Colchester,  where  he  entered  the  employ  of  his  fa- 
ther in  his  general  store  and  remained  with  him 
for  six  years.  He  then  went  to  Chicago,  where  he 
became  an  employe  of  Gage  Bros,  it  Co.,  wholesale  i 
millinery  and  notion  dealers,  and  for  ten  3'ears,  I 
from  1872  until  1882,  he  continued  with  them. 

On  the  1st  of  February,  1882,  occurred  the  wed- 
ding of  Mr.  Ransom  and  Miss  Emma,  daughter  of 
Henry    C.    and    Emeline    (Chapman)   Ransom,  of 
Hartford,    Conn.     To    our   subject  and    his    wife 
have  been  born  two  children,  the  elder   of   whom, 
Adelaide   Louise,  died   in  infancy;     Henry    Cecil 
is    still  living.      After    his    marriage,    Mr.    Ran- 
som came  to  Momence,  where  he  purchased  a-half 
interest  in  the  firm  of  Stratton  it   Hamilton,  gen- 
eral merchants.     For  one  year  the  firm   carried  on 
business    under    the   name  of  Stratton,  Ransom  & 
Co.,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  our  subject  pur- 
chased the    entire  business.     He    continued  alone 
having  an  extensive  trade,  until  in  October,  1892 
when  he  sold  out  to  Charles  Hack.     Mr.    Ranson 
commenced    doing  business   in  the  stone   buildinj 
on  River  Street,  which  place  he  occupied  forsevei 
years,  and  then  built  a  fine  brick  building  on  Fion 
and  Locust  Streets.     He  has  been  a  member  of  th' 
Northwestern  Traveling  Men's  Association  for  thv 
past  eleven  3'ears.     He  was  President  of   the  Mo 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


671 


mence  Hay  Palace  Association  during  its  existence 
in  1890  and  1891,  and  lias  been  President  of  the 
Jloraence  Building  and  liOan  Association  from  its 
organization  until  October,  1892,  when  he  re- 
signed. 

Though  Mr.  Ransom  has  never  desired  to  be  an 
office-holder,  he  is  a  stanch  Republican,  and  was 
President  of  the  Republican  Club  in  the  campaign 
of  1888.  He  and  his  wife  were  reared  in  the  Con- 
gregational Church,  to  which  they  formerly  be- 
longed, but  there  being  no  cluirch  of  that  denom- 
ination in  Momence,  they  identified  themselves 
with  the  Episcopal  congregation.  Our  subject  is  a 
member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  and  helped  to  or- 
g.anize  the  Momence  Council  in  1886,  having  taken 
a  card  from  the  Council  to  which  he  belonged  in 
Chicago.  He  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of 
the  Momence  Council,  and  was  its  Regent  for  two 
years.  The  body  was  organized  with  twenty  mem- 
bers, but  it  now  has  sixty-three.  In  1887,  Mr. 
Ransom  was  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  Grand  Coun- 
cil at  Chicago,  a  year  later  was  chosen  Grand  Chap- 
lin, in  1889  Grand  Guide,  and  in  1890  Grand  Ora- 
tor, in  which  capacity  he  served  for  two  terms. 
He  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  se- 
cret societies,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  being  Chancellor-Commander  of  Golden 
.Shield  Lodge  No.  32.3,  of  Momence.  He  also  be- 
longs to  the  Royal  League,  Alpha  Council  No.  1, 
of  Chicago,  a  fraternal  organization  similar  to  the 
Roval  Arcanum. 


=^^^i^"i^ig 


l#i#S- 


I  YLAND  I).  SHERMAN,  an  early  settler  of 
Kankakee,  who  enjoys  an  extended  ac- 
■t-  \  quaintance,  and  who  has  for  many  jears 
been  an  intluential  and  potent  factor  in 
local  and  State  politics,  is  a  native  of  Indiana, 
and  was  born  in  Rusliville,  Rush  County,  of  the 
Hoosier  State,  on  Christmas  Day  of  182G.  His 
father,  Jonathan  Sherman,  of  New  England  origin, 
was  born  in  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  on  the  1st  of 
May,  1793,  and  was  descended  from  an  old  New 
England  family  that  dated  its  arrival  in  America 


prior  to  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  When  a 
young  man  Jonathan  Sherman  went  to  Virginia, 
where,  on  the  .Otli  c)f  October,  1820,  he  niarriedthe 
mother  of  our  subject,  wiiose  maiden  name  was 
Cecelia  Posey.  jNIrs.  Sherman  was  born  near 
Richmond  and  came  of  an  old  Virginian  famil}-. 
Soon  after  their  marriage  they  settled  in  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  where  they  resided  until  1826,  when 
they  removed  to  Rusliville,  Rush  County,  Ind., 
where  the  wife  and  mother  died  .September  26, 
1836.  Mr.  Sherman  continued  to  live  in  Rush- 
ville  until  1866,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  on  a 
visit  to  his  children  and  died  at  Urbana,  in  April 
of  that  j-ear. 

Ryland  D.  Sherman  attended  the  common 
schools  in  his  native  State  and  was  married  in 
Rusliville,  on  the  5th  of  February,  1852,  to  Miss 
Mary  F.  Morrow,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Eliza- 
beth Morrow.  Mrs.  Sherman  was  born  in  Eliza- 
ville,  Ky.  Three  children  were  born  to  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife,  two  sons  and  a  daughter. 
Charles  B.  married  Maggie  Dolog  and  is  employed 
ill  the  postal  mail  service,  making  his  home  at 
Kankakee;  Roger  D.,  the  second  son,  married  Leal 
Nichols  and  resides  in  Kankakee;  and  Elizabeth, 
the  only  daughter,  is  the  wife  of  Newcoinb  G. 
llalsey,  Jr.,  a  prominent  grocer  of  this  city.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sherman  are  old-time  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  1856,  our  subject  removed  to  Kankakee, 
where  he  spent  a  year  in  the  hotel  business  in 
company  with  his  wife's  father,  after  which  he 
quit  that  business  and  accepted  the  position  of 
City  Collector  for  Kankakee,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1857  was  appointed  City  Marshal.  He  subse- 
quently served  four  years  as  Constable  and  in 
1862  was  elected  Sheriff  and  served  the  usual 
term  of  that  time,  which  was  for  a  period  of  two 
years.  He  was  re-elected  in  1866,  and  served  a 
second  term  of  two  years.  During  the  Garfield 
administration,  Mr.  Sherman  was  for  four  years 
Deputy  United  States  Marshal  under  Long  Jones 
for  the  Northern  District  of  Illinois.  AVhile  a 
resident  of  Indiana  he  was  an  earnest  AVhig  in 
politics  and  served  as  Postmaster  at  Rushville 
under  President  Fillmore.  He  came  to  Illinois 
about  the  time  of  the  disruption  of  the  old  parties 


572 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  soon  after  locating  in  Kankakee  was  one  of 
the  immortal  nine  to  meet  in  the  County  Clerk's 
office  and  organize  the  Republican  party  in  this 
countj'.  Since  that  time  Mr.  Sherman  has  been 
active  and  earnest  in  the  support  of  his  part^'  and 
for  twelve  years  was  a  member  of  the  Republican 
State  Central  Committee.  He  also  served  for  several 
^^ears  as  a  member  of  the  Kankakee  County  Commit- 
tee,and  has  always  been  active  and  influential  in  the 
councils  of  his  part}-.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to 
every  Illinois  Republican  State  Convention  since 
the  formation  of  the  party  until  1892.  Socially, 
Mr.  Sherman  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason,  a  mem- 
ber of  Kankakee  Lodge  No.  389,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.; 
of  Kankakee  Cliapter  No.  78,  R.  A.  M.;  and  of 
Ivanhoe  Commandery  No.  33,  K.  T. 


'  OlIN  B.  MILLANSON,  a  leading  liveryman 
of  Kankakee,  was  born  in  this  city  on  the 
29th  of  May,  1864.  Little  is  known  of  his 
grandparents,  his  paternal  grandfather  hav- 
ing died  when  lie  was  quite  young.  His  maternal 
grandfather,  Oliver  Crappo,  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
pation and  died  in  Kankakee  County  about  the 
year  1880,  being  eight.y-four  years  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  His  wife  still  survives  him  and 
is  nearly  ninety  years  of  age.  She  became  the 
mother  of  sixteen  children. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  Peter  and  Alice 
(Crappo)  Millanson,  are  botli  natives  of  Canada, 
and  are  of  French  origin.  Tliey  have  been  resi- 
dents of  Kankakee  for  over  thirty  years,  and  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century  the  fatlier  was  engaged  in  the 
livery  business,  from  wliich  he  retired  in  1888.  He 
sold  his  interests  to  Perr^'  Lowe  and  Mr.  Rosen- 
crans.  Mr.  Millanson  tiien  went  to  Chicago, 
where  he  engaged  in  business  for  about  a  year,  and 
tlien  returning  to  this  city  opened  a  sales  stable, 
which  he  still  owns  and  manages. 

Four  children  were  born  to  Peter  and  Alice 
Millanson,  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  William 
C.  was  twice  married,  his    first  union  being  with 


Miss  Mary  Koon,  of  Kankakee,  and  to  them  were 
born  two  daughters.  He  afterward  married  Miss 
Eva  Diamond,  of  Manteno,  111.,  a  daughter  of  A.  E. 
Diamond,  of  that  city.  They  make  their  home  in 
Manteno,  where  Mr.  Millanson  is  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business.  John  B.  is  the  second  in  order 
of  birth.  Alice  P.  became  the  wife  of  Henry  Raj'- 
mond,  who  is  in  the  transfer  business  in  Chicago. 
They  have  one  child,  a  daugliter,  Imabel.  Delia, 
the  youngest  of  the  famil}',  resides  with  her  par- 
ents. 

Mr.  Millanson,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
received  a  common-school  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Kankakee  and  then  attended  St.  Via- 
teur's  College  at  Bourbonnais.  He  remained  under 
the  parental  roof  until  arriving  at  maturity  and 
worked  for  his  father  in  the  livery  business.  In 
1889  he  purchased  the  livery  stable,  which  had 
formerly  belonged  to  his  father,  of  Lowe  & 
Rosencrans,  and  has  conducted  the  business  alone 
since  tiiat  time.  He  has  one  of  the  finest 
livery  stables  and  equipments  to  be  found  in 
any  city  in  Illinois.  He  has  a  large  array  of 
carriages,  buggies  and  sleighs,  and  also  has  two 
hearses  and  five  hacks.  He  keeps  about  twenty- 
five  horses  and  runs  what  may  justly  be  termed  a 
model  livery  establishment.  He  lias  ever  shown 
marked  business  ability  and  has  managed  his  in- 
vestments and  enterprises  with  sagacity  and  wise 
foresight. 

On  the  7th  of  Jul}',  1885,  Mr.  Millanson  was 
married  to  Miss  Bertha  Swannell.  Her  parents, 
William  G.  and  Laura  (Bristol)  Swannell,  reside 
in  Kankakee.  The  father  is  a  native  of  England, 
and  his  wife  was  born  in  one  of  the  Eastern  States. 
Two  children  grace  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his 
wife:  Alice  Mildred  and  Laura  Ann.  Mr.  Millanson 
is  a  member  of  the  Catholic  Church,  while  his  wife 
holds  membership  with  the  Episcopal  Church  of 
this  city. 

Our  subject  is  not  a  politician  in  any  sense  of 
the  term  and  has  never  had  aspirations  for  office. 
Politically,  he  is  a  supporter  of  the  Democratic 
part}',  which  ticket  he  has  always  voted  at  Pres- 
idential elections.  He  is  independent  in  city 
and  local  affairs,  casting  his  ballot  for  the  niau 
whom  he  thinks   best  qualified  to  fill  the  position. 


OF  THE 

I 'IV  OF  ILLINOIS 


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MMlVtRSltY  OF  ILLl^iS 


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PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


577 


He  is  an  enterprising  and  public-spirited  man, 
alive  to  the  city's  best  interests,  and  is  a  progress- 
ive and  active  business  man,  in  all  relations  of 
life  being  affable  and  genial,  thus  winning  many 
friends. 


^^  EORGE  F.  WALLACE  is  one  of  the  old 
settlers  and  prominent  farmers  residing  on 
section  10,  Yellowbead  Township.  He  was 
born  on  the  21st  of  October,  1841,  at  Monson, 
Mass.,  and  is  the  j-oungest  child  in  a  family  of 
two  sons  and  five  daughters  born  to  Sumner  and 
Mary  J.  (Devereaux)  Wallace.  The  father  was 
also  a  native  of  Monson,  Mass.,  and  was  of  Scotch 
extraction.  For  four  or  five  generations  the 
Wallace  family  were  residents  of  the  New  England 
States.  Sumner  Wallace  followed  agricultural 
pursuits  in  his  native  city  until  1855,  when  he 
emigrated  AVestward.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
was  born  at  Marblehead,  Mass.,  near  Boston,  and 
was  the  daughter  of  a  sea-captain,  who  was 
drowned,  ilr.  Wallace  located  in  Yellowbead 
Township  in  the  spring  of  1855,  and  proceeded 
to  develop  a  farm  from  the  raw  prairie  land.  For 
thirty-five  3ears  this  was  his  place  of  residence, 
and  he  was  held  in  the  highest  respect  by  many 
friends  in  the  township.  His  death  occurred  on 
the  8th  of  September,  1890.  His  wife  had  died 
a  number  of  years  previous,  on  the  4tli  of  April, 
1878. 

The  early  boyhood  daj-s  of  our  subject  were 
passed  in  the  Bay  State,  and  at  the  time  he  was 
eleven  years  of  age  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
this  county,  which  has  since  been  his  home.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  district  schools  near 
his  home,  and  until  the  death  of  his  mother  resided 
under  the  parental  roof,  assisting  his  father  in 
managing  the  home  farm.  On  the  29th  of  Febru- 
ary, 1872,  occurred  the  marriage  of  ISIr.  Wallace 
and  Miss  Lois  K.  Uradt,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Math- 
ias  and  Eliza  (Boutwell)  Bradt,  who  were  natives  of 
New  York  State,  where  they  spent  their  entire 
lives.     Mrs.  Wallace  is  the  fifth  child  in  a  family 


of  six  children,  and  the  only  one  living.  She  was 
born  in  Cortland  County,  N.  Y.,  February  29, 
1814.  A  son  and  daughter  have  graced  the  union 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wallace:  Minerva  B.,  who  was 
born  on  the  24tli  of  .January,  1873,  and  died  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1893,  and  Charles  B.,  born  October  21, 
1876. 

For  man}'  jears  Mr.  Wallace  has  devoted  his 
best  enei'gies  and  watchful  care  to  the  improvement 
and  cultivation  of  his  fine  farm,  which  comprises 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  and  which  is  located 
four  and  three-quarter  miles  northeast  of  Grant 
Park.  This  is  the  same  property  on  which  his  fa- 
ther located  when  settling  in  this  county.  He  has 
a  beautiful  country  home  and  excellent  improve- 
ments upon  his  place.  He  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  progressive  farmers  and  stockmen  of  the 
county. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Wallace  is  an  ardent 
Republican,  ever  supporting  the  men  and  measures 
of  his  party.  He  holds  membership  with  Royal  Ar- 
canum Lodge  No.  897,  of  Momence.  Personally, 
he  is  very  popular  in  this  locality,  where  he  num- 
bers many  warm  friends. 


*^^S 


\l^^  ENRY  EDWARD  SCHLEGEL,  a  merchant 

of  Buckingham,   is   numbered   among  the 

enterprising  and  substantial  business  men 

i!^     of  Kankakee  County,  and  has  been  actively 

and  successful!}'  engaged  in  business  in  this  place 

for  the  past  eight  years. 

Mr.  Schlegel  is  a  native  of  Germany,  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  Prussia,  in  June,  1841.  His 
parents,  John  Henry  and  Matilda  (Hahn)  Schlegel, 
were  both  natives  of  the  saire  country,  and  emig- 
rated to  the  New  World  in  1849.  They  arrived 
in  New  Orleans  in  November  of  that  year,  and 
went  by  way  of  the  Mississippi  to  St.  Louis,  where 
they  spent  the  winter.  In  the  following  spring 
the  father  located  in  La  Salle  County,  III.  He 
was  a  tailor  by  trade,  and  carried  on  business  for 
a  number  of  years  in  Peru.     Both  parents  are  now 


578 


yOETEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   EECORD. 


deceased,  and  were  buried  side  by  side  in  the  Peru 
Cemeter}'. 

H.  E.  Sehlegel  is  the  younger  of  two  brothers. 
Frederick  is  a  widower  and  makes  iiis  home  in 
Buckingham,  111.,  assisting  our  subject  to  carry  on 
business.  Mr.  Sehlegel  grew  to  manhood  in  Peru 
and  had  fair  school  advantages  both  in  the  Father- 
land and  in  La  Salle  County.  After  leaving 
school,  he  obtained  employment  as  a  clerk  in  Peru 
and  there  obtained  a  thorough  and  practical 
knowledge  of  mercantile  business  during  the  j'ears 
of  his  clerkship.  Going  to  Iroquois  County,  he 
clerked  for  Lemuel  Milk,  in  Milk's  Grove  Town- 
ship, for  a  number  of  years,  after  which  he  en- 
gaged in  merchandising  for  himself  at  Dauforth, 
where  he  carried  on  a  successful  business  for  about 
eight  3'ears,  commencing  in  1876.  Selling  to 
Kohl  &  Eden,  Mr.  Sehlegel  removed  to  Kankakee 
County,  where  he  bought  a  stock  of  merchandise 
in  Buckingham.  Since  that  time  he  has  success- 
fully carried  on  a  prosperous  and  increasing  busi- 
ness, and  has  manifested  creditable  energy  and 
enterprise. 

Mr.  Sehlegel  married  in  M.acon  County,  Mo., 
Miss  .Terusha  Severance,  the  ceremony  being  per- 
formed November  1,  1868.  JSIrs.  Sehlegel  was  a 
native  of  the  Empire  State,  but  grew  to  woman- 
hood in  Illinois.  By  their  union  was  born  one 
child,  a  daughter,  Minnie,  who  received  a  good 
education  and  is  now  keeping  house  for  her  fa- 
ther. In  June,  1886,  Mr.  Sehlegel  was  called 
upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  whose  final 
resting-place  is  in  the  Buckingham  Cemeter3-. 

In  his  political  affiliations  our  subject  has  alwa3-s 
been  a  supporter  of  the  Republican  part3'  since 
becoming  a  voter.  His  first  ballot  was  cast  in  the 
Presidential  election  of  1868,  for  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant. 
Though  he  has  never  sought  or  desired  official 
position,  instead  preferring  to  give  his  time  and 
attention  to  his  business  affairs,  he  has  alwa}'* 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  political  campaigns, 
and  is  much  concerned  in  the  success  of  his  party. 
Starting  in  life  a  poor  boy,  Mr.  .Sehlegel  has  made 
his  own  way  in  the  world,  and  to  his  indomitable 
will  and  enterprise  owes  the  success  he  has 
achieved.  He  has  erected  a  large  brick  store, 
and  in  addition  has  good   residence   property  in 


the  village.  He  is  the  owner  of  the  Buckingham 
Creamery  building,  and  is  one  of  the  substantial 
merchants  of  Kankakee  County.  He  was  reared 
in  the  Lutheran  faith,  but  with  his  daughter  now 
attends  the  Buckingham  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  He  well  deserves  the  respect  and  esteem 
in  which  he  is  held  by  all,  because  of  his  correct 
business  methods  and  integrity  in  all  of  the  voca- 
tions of  life. 


=♦^•5 


_y' 


^J_^  ARRISON  LORING.  Prominent  among  the 
%  older  members  of  the  Kankakee  County 
^  Bar,  stands  the  gentleman  whose  name 
*^  heads  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  the 
town  of  Bergen,  Genesee  Count}',  N.  Y.,  December 
1,  1824,  and  is  a  son  of  Bridge  and  Sallie  (Chip- 
man)  Loring.  The  father  was  born  near  Boston, 
Mass.,  in  February,  1802,  and  died  in  January, 
1892.  He  was  in  full  vigor,  physically  and  men- 
tality, up  to  within  a  short  time  of  his  death. 
The  mother  was  born  in  Stoekbridge,  M.ass., 
in  1804,  and  was  descended  from  the  old  Chip- 
man  farnilyof  Massachusetts.  Her  death  occurred 
in  1853. 

Harrison  Loring  was  graduated  from  Brockport 
Collegiate  Institute,  and  from  the  law  school  of 
Balston  Spa,  N.  Y.  He  w.as  admitted  to  the  Bar 
at  Rochester  in  18.50,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year, 
coming  to  Illinois,  he  established  practice  at  Nap- 
erville.  Du  Page  Count}',  where  he  continued 
until  May,  1855.  He  then  removed  to  Kankakee, 
which  was  but  a  small  village,  and  has  been  engaged 
in  active  practice  here  ever  since.  The  ground 
on  which  his  residence  and  office  now  stand 
was  then  covered  with  tlie  tiiickest  timber.  Mr. 
liOring  with  Ids  own  hands  cut  off  the  timber  and 
grubbed  out  the  stumps.  A  part  of  Kankakee  was  a 
veritable  mud-hole.  He  lias  seen  teams  mire  down 
on  East  Avenue,  now  one  of  the  best  business 
streets  in  the  cit3\ 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1852,  Mr.  Loring  was  mar- 
ried in  Bergen,  N.   Y.,  to  Miss  Almeda  Pa^-ne,  a 


PORTRAIT  AND  BTOGRAPmCAL  RECORD. 


579 


daughter  of  Stephen  and  Ruth  (Smith)  Payne. 
She  was  born  in  Riga,  Monroe  County,  N.  Y.,  and 
her  parents  were  natives  of  Massachusetts.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Loring  have  one  child,  a  daughter,  liv- 
ing, and  lost  three  children  in  childhood.  TVIiss 
Leoni  is  a  highly  accomplished  young  lady,  and 
possesses  superior  talent  as  an  artist  and  musician. 
Her  education  in  the  branches  of  art  and  music 
has  been  thoroughly-  and  successfully  pursued  un- 
der the  best  masters. 

Mr.  Loring  has  two  farms,  one  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  Pilot  Township,  and  one  of  one 
hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Otto  Townsliip,  both 
of  which  are  worked  under  lease.  Politically,  our 
subject  uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  favor  of  the 
Democratic  party,  but  h.as  never  sought  or  desired 
public  ofiice.  The  Loring  family,  of  which  he  is  a 
member,  is  of  Scotch  origin,  and  was  founded  in 
America  by  two  brothers,  one  of  whom  settled  in 
Boston,  Mass.,  and  it  is  from  that  branch  that  Har- 
rison Loring  is  descended.  Reuben  Loring,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  married  a  Miss  West, 
who  was  descended  from  the  Wests  of  Massachu- 
setts. He  settled  in  Genesee  County,  N.  Y.,  prior 
to  the  War  of  1812.  The  Chipman  family,  from 
which  Mr.  Loring  is  descended  on  the  maternal 
side,  is  of  English  origin,  and  one  of  the  old  and 
distinguished  families  of  New  England. 


^♦•{••{•♦i 


=i**4"5-'^a 


lEORGE  WHEELER,  who  for  twenty-tliree 
years  has  been  a  resident  of  this  countj',  is 
now  engaged  in  farming  on  section  .33,  Pilot 
Township,  where  he  owns  and  operates  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  land.  He  is  a  native 
of  Mullingar,  Westmeath,  Ireland.  His  father, 
George  Wheeler,  was  of  English  birth  and  became 
a  soldier  in  the  British  army.  His  regiment  was 
afterwards  stationed  at  Mullingar,  and  it  was  dur- 
ing that  time  that  the  birtii  of  our  subject  oc- 
curred. The  father  spent  nearly  his  entire  life  in 
the  army,  his  death  occurring  when  George,  Jr., 
was  but  a  child. 
Upon  the  war-ship  "Conway"  George  Wheeler, 


the  subject  of  this  sketch,  acquired  his  educa- 
tion. He  had  acadetship  on  that  vessel,  on  which 
he  first  sailed  from  Liverpool  when  a  lad  of  ten 
years.  After  completing  hiscadetship  he  followed 
the  sea  for  three  years  as  midshipman,  during 
which  time  he  visited  Bombay  and  other  ports  of 
East  India.  During  this  period  of  his  life  he  met 
with  a  very  peculiar  experience.  The  vessel  was  in 
mid-ocean,  and  in  the  darkness  of  the  night  the  ship 
carpenter,  whose  mind  had  become  unbalanced, 
rushed  across  the  deck  and  plunged  into  the  sea. 
The  cry  of  "Man  overboard!"  rang  out  through  the 
stillness.  The  Captain  immediately  threw  over  a  life 
buoj'  and  soon  a  boat  was  lowered  and  manned.  Mr; 
Wheeler  was  one  of  the  number  sent  out  on  the 
search.  The  little  boat  rode  a  long  way  from  the  ves- 
sel and  the  feeling  of  the  men  when  they  found  them- 
selves so  far  distant  and  upon  the  boundless  ocean 
on  a  dark  night  can  better  be  imagined  than  de- 
scribed. The  rescue  of  the  poor  carpenter,  how- 
ever, was  at  length  effected,  and  in  safety  the  little 
boat  load  again  reached  the  ship.  In  1869,  Mr. 
Wheeler  left  the  sea  and  came  to  the  United  States, 
joining  his  mother,  who  had  emigrated  to  the  New 
World  in  1865.  She  was  then  living  on  a  farm 
near  Herscher,  the  same  on  which  our  subject  now 
resides.  Mr.  Wheeler  at  once  went  to  her  and 
managed  the  farm  for  her  until  her  death,  which 
occurred  in  October,  1876.  This  was  his  first  ex- 
l)erience  as  an  agriculturist,  and  for  several  3'ears  it 
proved  to  be  an  uphill  business,  but  .as  lie  became 
more  .accustomed  to  the  work  and  by  experience  and 
observation  gained  an  insight  into  its  methods, 
he  became  a  successful  farmer  and  now  has  a  good 
tract  of  land,  well  improved. 

In  this  count}',  on  the  4th  of  March,  1877,  Mr. 
AVheeler  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Margaret 
Irene  Ward,  a  most  estimable  and  accomplished 
lady.  She  was  born  .January  28,  1861,  was  reared 
and  educated  in  .Joliet  and  is  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
S.  and  Susan  (Rugg)  Ward,  of  that  city.  Four 
children  have  come  to  bless  this  union,  three 
sons  and  a  daughter,  namely:  George,  John,  Earl, 
and  Mabel,  who  is  a  bright  little  maiden  of  two 
summers  and  the  idol  of  the  family.  They  lost 
one  daughter,  who  died  October  20,  1889,  at  the 
age  of   three   years.     Mr.   and  Mrs.  Wheeler   are 


580 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRArHICAL  RECORD. 


highly  respected  citizens,  whose  friends  Ihrough- 
out  tlie  community  are  man^'. 

Mr.  Wheeler  has  won  success  through  determined 
effort  and  good  management.  He  possesses  good 
business  ability  and  his  prosperity  is  well  deserved. 
In  politics  he  has  generally  been  a  supporter  of 
the  Democratic  part^-,  but  his  first  Presidential  vote 
was  cast  for  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant.  He  has  never  been 
an  active  politician  in  the  sense  of  office-seeking, 
preferring  to  devote  his  time  and  attention  to  his 
business  interests.  He  is  regarded  as  a  man  of 
upright  character  and  sterling  worth,  and  has  the 
respect  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  brought  in 
contact. 


liLit. 


mG^ 


'  AY  ATTERSON  FETTERLY,  a  commercial 
traveler  and  prominent  citizen  of  Kanka- 
kee County,  residing  in  Herscher,  well  de- 
_  serves  mention  in  this  volume,  for  he  is 
numbered  among  tlie  early  settlers  of  Pilot  Town- 
ship, whither  he  removed  with  his  parents  in  1853, 
when  less  than  a  year  old.  He  was  born  in  Branch, 
Branch  County,  Mich.,  on  the  20th  of  September, 
1852,  and  is  a  son  of  Lawrence  Fetterl}',  whose 
birth  occurred  in  Montgomery  County,  N.  Y., 
March  11,  1816.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
George  Fetterly,  was  a  native  of  the  Empire  State. 
The  family  is  of  German  descent  and  the  ancestors 
are  said  to  have  been  among  the  first  settlers  of 
the  city  of  Albany.  Later,  the^'  settled  in  the 
Mohawk  Valley  as  far  west  as  Utiea.  About  1826, 
George  Fetterly  and  his  family  removed  to  Madi- 
son County,  N.  Y.,  which  was  then  inhabited  only 
by  Indians.  The  grandfather  made  a  settlement  in 
the  midst  of  the  forest,  where  he  cleared  and  de- 
veloped a  farm.  He  became  one  of  the  leading 
agriculturists  and  prominent  citizens  of  that 
county. 

Lawrence  Fetterly  grew  to  manhood  in  Madi- 
son County  and  after  attaining  mature  j'ears 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Emily  Picket. 
The  lady  was  a  native  of  Montgomery  Count}', 
but  was  reared  in  Onondaga  County.     After    his 


marriage  Mr.  Fetterly  purchased  a  farm  in  Oneida 
County  and  there  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits 
for  a  period  of  two  years.  He  then  returned  to 
Madison  County,  where  he  spent  the  succeeding 
year.  The  .year  1843  witnessed  his  removal  AVest- 
ward  and  saw  him  located  in  Branch,  Branch 
Count}',  Mich.,  where  he  engaged  in  clerking  for 
six  3'ears.  He  then  formed  a  partnership  and  built 
an  ashery  and  engaged  in  that  line  of  business  for 
three  years,  after  which  he  sold  out  and  spent  the 
following  year  in  farming.  It  was  in  1853  that 
he  came  to  Illinois.  Making  his  way  to  Kankakee 
County  he  arrived  in  Pilot  Township  April  15  of 
that  year  and  pre-empted  land,  on  which  he  located. 
This  farm,  which  lie  still  owns,  he  obtained  from 
the  Government  and  his  deed  is  signed  by  Presi- 
dent James  Buchanan.  Not  a  furrow  had  been 
turned  or  an  improvement  made  upon  the 
tract,  but  he  at  once  began  breaking  it  and  in 
course  of  time  placed  the  entire  amount  under  the 
plow.  He  made  it  a  valuable  and  desirable  farm, 
whose  fertility  yielded  him  a  comfortable  income. 
There  he  carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  for  a 
quarter  of  a  centur}',  and  the  farm  which  he  oper- 
ated is  still  in  his  possession. 

When  Lawrence  Fetterly  became  a  resident  of 
Pilot  Township  tiie  wolves  were  so  plentiful  that 
Jay,  the  son,  has  shot  them  from  the  doorway,  and 
deer  were  so  plentiful  that  they  would  run  by  on 
the  premises.  The  prairie  tires  were  a  terror  to  the 
inhabitants  in  the  early  days,  and  ere  they  could 
hitch  up  four  teams  to  run  the  fire  line  of  furrows 
around  their  premises  to  save  their  homes  and  to 
burn  the  back  line,  the  demon  would  be  upon 
them.  The  Indians  were  oftentimes  visitors  to  the 
Fetterl}'  home  and  they  would  grind  their  knives 
upon  the  grindstone,  ofttimes  terrifying  Jay  with 
some  of  their  peculiar  motions,  when  he  would 
scamper  into  the  house. 

When  Mr.  Fetterly  first  came  to  Pilot  Township 
there  was  only  one  poor  little  log  cabin  in  Pilot 
Grove,  and  when  he  first  removed  to  Kankakee 
the  wood-choppers  were  felling  trees  for  building 
the  first  Court  House.  There  were  not  half  a 
dozen  cabins  erected  on  the  present  site  of  Kanka- 
kee city.  There  was  not  a  church  or  schoolhouse 
in  sight  of  their  cabin  home  when  they  first  settled 


.;i^l 


„SiE^: 


i-'  li^-   ^^^•-^. 


Xjlj, 


6i4AHJ^a^QJL 


^oJiM^ 


LiBRAtir  . 

OF  FHE 

HMIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


Kv- "*'*': 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


581 


here.  They  have  seen  Kankakee  in  its  primitive 
condition,  indeed.  Mr.  Fetterly  can  remember  tlie 
first  C.1UCUS  held  in  Uiis  township;  il  was  composed 
of  six  members,  and  he  can  rememlier  the  following 
being  present:  Lawrence  F"etterly,  Morey  Frink, 
Joe  Carrow,  Sr.,  Mr.  Robinson  and  Azariah  Buck. 

Mr.  Fetterly  lost  his  wife  in  1874.  She  de- 
parted this  life  on  the  loth  of  IMay,  and  her  re- 
mains were  interred  in  Evergreen  Cemetery  of 
Chebanse,  where  a  nice  monument  marks  her  rest- 
ing-place. In  1881,  Mr.  Fetterly  removed  to 
Ilerscher  with  his  youngest  daughter,  who,  how- 
ever, was  married  about  a  3'ear  later,  when  her  fa- 
ther gave  up  housekeeping.  For  the  last  eight 
years  he  has  resided  with  his  son,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  lie  is  a  hale  old  gentleman  of  sev- 
enty-six years  and  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church.  He  has  the  honor  of  being 
the  oldest  living  resident  of  Pilot  Township, 
and  his  fellow-citizens  esteem  him  as  a  man  of 
sterling  worth. 

Jay  A.  Fetterly  is  the  onlj-  son  in  the  family 
of  four  children  and  in  order  of  birth  is  third. 
The  eldest.  Mary  J.,  is  now  the  wife  of  Jacob 
Holmes,  who  is  engaged  in  the  livery  business  in 
Kankakee;  Liva  M.  is  the  wife  of  Charles  W. 
Frith,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  in  C'owle3' 
County,  Kan.;  Jay  is  the  next  younger;  and  Ida 
May  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Dunkelberger,  a  resi- 
dent of  Ida  County,  Iowa. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  spent  almost  his 
entire  life  in  Kankakee  County,  the  days  of  his 
youth  being  passed  upon  his  father's  farm.  His 
early  education,  acquired  in  the  common  schools, 
was  supplemented  by  two  years'  attendance  at 
the  Kankakee  High  School,  after  which  he  returned 
to  his  home  and  aided  his  father  in  the  care  and 
cultivation  of  the  old  homestead.  In  1869,  desir- 
ing to  give  his  attention  to  some  other  pursuit,  lie 
went  to  Chebanse,  where  for  three  years  he  served 
an  apprenticeship  at  the  harness-maker's  trade. 
After  this,  in  the  winter  of  1872-73,  he  went  to 
Michigan,  where  he  engaged  as  a  salesman  of  mus- 
ical instruments  and  sewing-machines  for  George 
W.  Wright,  with  headquarters  at  Cold  Water. 
There  he  remained  for  two  years,  after  which  he 
returned  home  and  .again   engaged  in  farm  labor, 


helping  to  operate  the  old   homestead    until  1879. 

On  the  .3d  of  July  of  that  year,  Mr.  Fetterly 
was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Yeoman,  a  native  of 
Illinois,  born  in  De  Kalb,  and  a  daughter  of 
George  S.  Yeoman.  Her  father  w.as  born  and 
reared  in  the  Empire  State  and  there  married  Miss 
Marengeline  Munger.  About  18.5.'5,  Mr.  Yeoman 
removed  with  his  family  to  De  Kalb  County,  111., 
where  he  eng.aged  in  farming,  but  he  spent  the 
last  years  of  his  life  in  Kendall  Count}-.  He  died  in 
July,  1868,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in  the 
cemetery  at  Lisbon.  After  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band, Mrs.  Yeoman  removed  to  Iroquois  Count}' 
and  is  yet  living  with  her  children.  Mrs.  Fetterly 
was  educated  in  Chebanse,  in  Francisville,  Ind., 
and  Onarga,  III.,  and  was  a  successful  school 
teacher  prior  to  her  marriage.  P>y  the  union  of 
our  subject  and  his  wife  were  born  two  children, 
but  the  eldest,  Lois  E.,  died  in  infancy.  The 
other  is  Mildred  Josephine,  and  they  have  also  an 
adopted  daughter,  Lyle  Imogene. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Fetterl}'  located  in 
Herscher  and  embarked  in  the  harness  business, 
which  he  carried  on  successfully  for  a  period  of 
nine  years.  He  then  sold  out,  rented  his  store 
and  accepted  a  position  on  the  road  as  traveling 
salesman  for  the  (iarfleld  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany, of  Chicago.  He  spent  one  year  in  the  era- 
ploy  of  that  firm,  after  which  he  accepted  a  posi- 
tion with  the  Indiana  Harness  Company,  of  Indi- 
anapolis, with  wliich  he  has  now  been  connected 
for  three  years.  In  January,  1893,  his  salary  was 
advanced  and  his  duties  extended,  and  he  now  has 
for  his  field  as  salesman  and  collecting  agent  the 
entire  State  of  Illinois,  and  that  he  is  successful  is 
shown  by  his  promotion.  He  is  a  pushing  and  in- 
dustrious traveling  salesman,  for  he  possesses 
superior  business  ability  and  is  energetic  and  pro- 
gressive. 

Mr.  Fetterly  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  prom- 
inent and  valued  citizens  of  Herscher.  He  owns 
a  fine  residence  propert}'  in  this  place,  also  several 
business  houses.  He  made  a  valuable  discovery 
of  gas  on  his  land,  striking  a  strong  vein  at  the 
depth  of  forty  feet,  and  he  now  has  his  residence 
heated  and  lighted  by  natural  gas.  This  discovery 
on  the  part  of  Mr.  Fetterly  led  others  to  search  for 


582 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


gas,  and  some  have  found  it,  although  others  have 
not  as  good  a  quality  as  that  found  at  the 
home  of  our  subject.  The  vein  upon  his  place, 
however,  is  sufflcieut  to  heat  and  light  tiie  entire 
town.  Since  becoming  a  voter,  Mr.  Fetterl}-  has 
been  identified  with  the  Republican  party,  but  has 
never  been  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office-seek- 
ing, preferring  to  devote  his  time  and  attention  to 
his  business  interests.  He  is  a  faithful  and  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and 
serves  as  one  of  its  official  board,  wliile  socially  he 
is  connected  with  the  Cold  Water  Odd  Fellows 
Lodge.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  rank  high  in  tlie 
community  in  whicli  tliey  reside,  their  home  is 
noted  for  its  liospitality,  and  their  friends  are 
many.  Mr.  Fetterly  is  highly  respected  for  his 
man^'  excellencies  of  character  and  for  the  up- 
right life  which  he  has  lived. 


"SK 


^]DWARD  F.  RIETZ  is  the  owner  and  pro- 
■^  prietor  of  one  of  the  most  extensive  and 
L^  also  the  oldest  lumber-yard  of  Kankakee. 


He  is  a  native  of  Chicago,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  that  cit3'  in  1859,  when  it  was  a  place  of 
much  less  importance  than  the  thriving  metrop- 
olis whicli  we  to-day  find  it.  His  early  life  was 
spent  there  and  in  Kank.akee.  His  educational 
privileges  were  those  afforded  by  the  public 
scliools,  and  his  business  training  was  received  un- 
der the  direction  and  in  the  employ  of  his  father. 
The  name  of  Rietz  has  long  been  connected 
with  the  lumber  interests  of  Kankakee.  The  father 
of  our  subject,  E.  G.  W.  Rietz,  who  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Chicago,  established  a  lumber-jard  in  this 
place  in  1857,  and  continued  to  successfully  con- 
duct the  same  until  1886,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  his  son,  Edward  F.,  the  present  proprietor.  The 
office  and  yard  are  located  on  the  corner  of  West 
Avenue  and  Station  Street,  and  the  premises  cover 
an  area  of  157x350  feet.  Suitable  structures  have 
been  erected  and  spacious  3'ards  adjoin,  so  that  the 
whole  is  complete.  Mr.  Rietz's  yard  is  the  recog- 
nized headquarters  for  lumber  of  all  grades  and 


for  everything  that  goes  to  make  up  a  first-class 
lumber-yard.  Private  tracks  have  been  laid  from 
his  grounds  to  the  railroad  near  by,  thus  affording 
ever\'  facility  for  transportation.  The  business 
involves  the  handling  of  nearly  three  and  a-half 
million  feet  of  lumber  per  annum.  A  large  trade 
was  built  up  by  the  founder  of  this  business,  and 
the  same  has  been  retained  b}'  the  present  pro- 
prietor. 

In  Chicago,  May  18,  1887,  Mr.  Rietz,  of  this 
sketch,  was  united  m  marringe  with  Miss  P^mily 
Grinner,  of  that  city,  and  unto  them  have  been 
born  three  interesting  children,  Elmer,  Adele  and 
Arthur.  Mrs.  Rietz  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  are  num- 
bered among  Kankakee's  prominent  and  higlil}' 
respected  citizens,  their  home  is  the  abode  of  hos- 
pitalit3',  and  they  hold  an  enviable  position  in  so- 
cial circles  where  true  worth  and  intelligence  are 
received  as  the  passports  into  good  societJ^  Mr. 
Rietz  is  one  of  the  energetic  and  progressive 
young  business  men  of  Kankakee.  He  is  sagacious 
and  far-sighted,  industry  and  strict  integrity  char- 
acterizing all  his  business  dealings.  He  takes  a 
commendable  interest  in  whatever  enterprises  he 
believes  are  for  the  best  interests  of  the  commun- 
ity, and  his  aid  is  never  withheld  from  any 
worthy  object.  Outside  of  his  business  relations, 
he  has  also  gained  many  friends,  having  a  wide 
acquaintance  throughout  both  the  city  and  the 
county. 


4^l|■:;:■■^;i•• 


EUGENE  COMSTOCK,  a  well-known  mer- 
chant of  Ilerscher,  111.,  is  enrolled  among 
the  honored  pioneers  of  Kankakee  County, 
dating  his  residence  in  Pilot  Township  since  1856. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  born  in  Onon- 
daga County,  on  the  7th  of  December,  1841.  His 
father,  Samuel  Comstock,  was  a  native  of  the  same 
county,  while  his  paternal  grandfather  was  born 
in  one  of  the  New  England  States,  and  was  a  vali- 
ant soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  On  arriving  at 
manhood,  Samuel  Comstock  was  united  in  marriage 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


583 


with  Sallio  Trowbridge,  wlio  was  born  in  New 
York,  ami  was  a  daughter  of  Seth  Trowbridge, 
who  was  of  an  old  New  England  family.  The  re- 
mote ancestors  on  both  sides  originally  came  from 
England.  For  some  ^ears  after  his  marriage  llie 
father  of  our  subject  carried  on  a  farm  in  Onon- 
daga County,  and  in  1856  removed  willi  his  fam- 
il\'  to  Illinois.  They  suffered  tlie  almost  incred- 
ible hardsiiips  and  privations  of  life  on  the  fron- 
tier, including  siel^ness,  fever  and  ague  being 
the  prevailing  disease  of  those  earl}-  da3's.  Kan- 
kakee Count}-,  and  indeed  much  of  the  surround- 
ing country,  was  little  better  than  a  swamp,  and 
therefore  it  is  little  wonder  that  there  was  so  much 
sickness  among  the  early  settlers.  Mr.  Comstock 
operated  Ins  farm  here  for  a  numljer  of  years  with 
good  success,  and  spent  the  remaining  years  of  his 
life  with  a  son  in  Rook  Count}-,  AVis.  His  death 
occurred  in  18G8,  and  his  wife,  who  survived  him 
for  a  number  of  years,  departed  this  life  at  the 
residence  of  her  daughter  in  Chebanse,  111.,  in 
1876.  Their  family  consisted  of  three  sons  and 
one  daughter,  who  grew  to  adult  years.  The  eld- 
est child,  Selli  T.,  died  when  a  3onng  man,  in  1862; 
yarah  C.  is  the  wife  of  J(.>nas  H.  Howe,  of  Emporia, 
Kan.;  Eugene  is  the  next  in  order  of  birth;  and 
Truair,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  contracted 
disease  while  in  the  service  of  his  countr}',  which 
resulted  in  his  death  in  1865. 

When  a  lad  of  fourteen  years  our  subject  came 
from  New  York  with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  arriv- 
ing in  Kankakee  County  in  185G.  He  grew  to 
manhood  on  the  home  farm  in  Pilot  Township, 
and  though  he  had  had  fair  school  advantages  in 
the  Empire  State,  his  privileges  in  that  direction 
were  but  limited  after  coining  West.  After  attain- 
ing his  majority  he  took  charge  of  the  iiomestead, 
and  carried  it  on  quite  successfully.  In  February, 
1865,  Mr.  Comstock  donned  the  blue,  joining  the 
Ninth  Illinois  Cavalry  in  Cliicago.  With  his  regi- 
ment he  was  sent  South  to  Mississippi  and  Ala- 
bama, and  after  a  time  was  assigned  on  detached 
duty  as  clerk  to  the  Provost-Marshal.  While  in 
that  capacity  he  administered  the  amnesty  oath  to 
large  numbers  of  Confederates.  He  received  his 
discliarge  from  the  service  in  November,  1865,  and 
at  once  returned  to  his  family  and  home. 


In  the  fall  of  1863  Mr.  Comstock  was  united  in 
marriage,  in  Kankakee  County,  with  Miss  Luzene 
M.  Jliller,  who  was  born  in  Ashtabula  Count}-, 
Ohio,  and  came  to  Illinois  when  a  young  lady. 
By  their  uuion  were  born  two  children:  Arietta  B., 
who  became  the  wife  of  Lee  Wadleigii,a  farmer  of 
Iroquois  County;  and  Truair,  a  young  man  of 
good  education,  and  who  is  liis  father's  partner  in 
the  hardware  business.  The  mother  of  these  chil- 
dren departed  this  life  in  1872,  and  in  the  autumn 
of  1873  Mr.  Comstock  married  Miss  Henrietta 
Saininons,  a  native  of  New  York,  who  came  West 
when  a  child,  and  was  reared  and  educated  in  Illi- 
nois. Iler  father,  David  Sammons,  is  now  deceased. 

On  his  return  from  the  army  Jlr.  Comstock  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  two  years  in  Pilot  Township, 
which  place  he  sold  in  1867,  and  removed  to  Rock 
Count} ,  Wis.,  where  he  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  for  a  period  of  about  one  year.  However, 
he  preferred  Kankakee  County,  and  selling  his 
farm  in  Wisconsin  he  again  purchased  land  in  Pi- 
lot Township,  which  he  continued  to  operate  until 
1892.  This  property  was  a  well-improved  farm 
near  Ilerscher,  and  as  an  agriculturist  he  was  quite 
successful.  Selling  his  land,  he  has  since  engaged 
in  mercantile  business  in  Ilerscher.  He  first  pur- 
chased a  half  interest  in  a  well-known  hardware 
concern,  but  has  since  bought  out  his  partner,  and 
in  his  place  has  taken  in  his  son,  the  firm  beino- 
Eugene  Comstock  &  Son.  They  have  a  well- 
equipped  store,  and  carry  a  good  stock  of  shelf 
and  heavy  hardware,  and  also  handle  farm  imple- 
ments. They  are  doing  a  very  fair  and  satisfac- 
tory business,  which  gives  good  promise  of  rapidly 
increasing. 

Mr.  Comstock  has  voted  for  every  Republican 
nominee  iu  the  Presidential  elections  since  the 
year  1864,  having  cast  his  first  ballot  for  Abra- 
ham Lincoln.  He  has  held  several  local  official 
positions  to  the  satisfaction  of  all,  being  first 
elected  Commissioner  of  Highways,  next  serving 
as  Township  Trustee,  and  then  being  appointed  to 
fill  an  unexpired  term  as  Supervisor,  after  which 
he  was  elected  to  the  same  oftk-e,  and  is  now  one 
of  the  Board  of  County  Supervisors.  He  has 
been  sent  as  a  delegate  to  numerous  county  con- 
ventions in  local  politics  and  public  affairs.     Per- 


584 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


sonally,  Mr.  Comstock  is  a  man  of  most  excellent 
character  and  habits,  and  one  wlio  makes  friends 
on  every  hand.  He  is  social  and  agreeable  in 
manner, and  his  many  friends  are  ever  welcome  in 
his  hospitable  and  cultured  home. 


-^^ 


S->TEPHEN  TART,  Assessor  of  the  city  of 
Kankalvee  for  1892,  and  a  veteran  of  the 
))  late  war  for  the  Union,  was  born   in    Al- 

""^  burgh.  Grand  Isle  County,  Vt.,on  the  12th 
of  December,  1839.  His  parents,  Peter  and  Rosalia 
(Terrien)  Tart,  were  born  near  Montreal,  Canada, 
and  were  of  French  descent.  The  fatlicr  was  a 
participant  in  the  so-called  Rebellion  in  Canada, 
and  on  its  failure  was  obliged  to  abandon  his  na- 
tive countr3-.  He  crossed  into  the  United  States 
and  settled  in  Grand  Isle  County,  Vt.,  where  lie 
was  soon  followed  by  his  wife  and  family.  It  was 
after  that  event  that  our  subject  was  born  with 
all  tiie  privileges  of  a  native  son  of  the  United 
States.  In  1849  Mr.  Tart,  Sr.,  with  his  family, 
emigrated  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Bourbonnais 
Grove,  Kankakee  County,  on  the  17th  of  June  of 
that  year.  He  eng.iged  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
and  there  maintained  his  residence  until  1867, 
when  he  removed  to  Kankakee,  where  he  made  his 
home  until  his  death,  in  1880.  His  wife  had  died 
some  two  years  previously. 

Stephen  Tart  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  received 
common-school  advantages  in  the  district  schools. 
He  came  to  Kankakee  in  18u4,  and  was  employed 
in  a  hotel  until  the  22d  of  February,  1862,  when  he 
enlisted  in  the  defense  of  his  country,  becoming  a 
member  of  Company  I,  First  Illinois  Light  Ar- 
tillery. He  was  afterward  promoted  to  be  Second 
Lieutenant,  and  was  veteranized  on  the  17th  of 
March,  1864,  He  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Shiloh,  Russell,  siege  of  Corinth,  capture  of  Vicks- 
burg  and  the  battles  of  Jackson,  Miss.,  Chatta- 
nooga and  Nashville,  besides  numerous  minor  en- 
gagements. He  received  an  honorable  discharge 
on  the  25th  of  July,  1865,  after  the  close  of  the 


war.  He  was  a  faithful  soldier,  ever  found  at  the 
post  of  duty,  and  one  on  whom  his  superior  otti- 
cers  could  rel^'. 

On  leaving  the  army  Mr.  Tart  returned  to  Kan- 
kakee and  resumed  his  former  occupation.  On 
the  6th  of  December,  1870,  he  married  Miss  Nettie 
Hughes,  who  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  Henry  Hughes.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tart 
are  the  parents  of  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daugh- 
ter, Arthur  T.  and  Belle  Augusta. 

Tiie  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  stanch  supporter 
of  the  Republican  party  and  principles,  and  has 
served  his  fellow-citizens  for  ten  years  as  Alder- 
man from  the  Third  Ward  of  Kankakee.  Socially, 
he  is  a  member  of  Howard  Lodge  No.  218,1.  O.  O.  F., 
where  he  passed  all  the  chairs,  and  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  AVhippJe  Post  No.  414,  G.  A.  R.  Mrs.  Tart 
holds  membership  with  tlie  Episcopal  Church  of 
this  cily.  Our  subject  is  a  respected  citizen  of 
this  section,  and  is  well  and  favorably  known  in 
this  vicinity,  which  he  has  made  his  home  for  a 
period  of  about  forty  years. 


^^ 


^ 


r^sDWARD  C.  LAMPORT  carries  on  a  far 
ituated  on  section  31,  Moraence  Township. 

He  is  a  native  of    Illinois,  born    in  Ganier 

Township,  Kankakee  County,  on  the  15th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1855.  He  was  the  30ungest  child  of  a  family  of 
five  sons  and  five  daughters  born  to  Benjamin 
and  Mary  (Force)  Lamport,  a  sketch  of  whom  will 
be  found  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 

The  entire  life  of  our  subject  has  been  spent  in 
this  county,  and  since  his  boyhood  days  his  atten- 
tion has  been  turned  to  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
worked  upon  his  father's  farm  during  the  summer 
season,  attending  school  during  the  winter  months. 
On  arriving  at  maturity,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Jesssie  Alexander,  their  union  be- 
ing celebrated  on  the  19th  of  December,  1877. 
Mrs.  Lamport  is  the  daughter  of  James  H.  and 
Elizabeth  (Malone)  Alexander,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  ButlerCounty,  Ohio,  and  located  in  this 
county  in  1857.     The  father  died  on  the   24th  ol 


I 


LIBRARY 

OP   THE 

liNIVERSIiV  Of  ILLINOIS 


^  ^   /€^    (^au^y^^^^^^ 


1^ 


..^iVji^TSroi'i^^T^   '■- 


'C"'^ 


':^3.,^VJS' 


^ 


? 

P 


^ 


usaARV 

OF  THE 


Fw^ar  •^■^•J  . 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPEUCAL  RECORD. 


589 


February',  1884,  at  which  time  he  was  sixty-four 
years  of  age.  Tlie  mother,  who  was  born  December 
IC,  1820,  is  still  living  at  the  lipc  old  age  of 
seventy-one  and  makes  her  home  with  her  daugh- 
ter, Jlrs.  Lamport.  Two  daughters  grace  the  un- 
ion of  our  subject  and  iiis  wife.  They  are  Stella 
and  Georgia,  aged  respectively  thirteen  and  eleven 
years. 

Mr.  Lami)ort  has  served  his  fellow-citizens  as 
Highway  Commissioner  o!  his  district  and  uses 
Ills  right  of  franchise  in  favor  of  the  Republican 
party.  Socially  he  holds  membership  with  the 
Royal  Arcanum  Lodge  No.  897,  of  Jlomence.  His 
farm,  which  consists  of  two  hundred  acres,  is  one 
of  the  best  improved  in  the  township  of  Moraence 
and  is  situated  but  two  and  a-half  miles  south  of 
the  city  of  that  name.  His  property  is  a  model  of 
neatness  and  thrift,  and  shows  on  every  hand  the 
care  and  attention  of  its  owner.  As  an  agricul- 
turist he  has  been  veiy  successful  and  uses  the 
most  improved  methods  to  cany  on  his  farm  work. 


'/OHN  R.  EASTON,  a  prominent  resident  of 
Buckingham,  111.,  well  deserves  represen- 
tation in  this  volume.  J.  G.  Holland  has 
^  said  that  the  history  of  a  nation  is  best  told 
in  the  lives  of  its  citizens,  so  the  history  of  this 
county  is  best  given  in  a  record  of  its  leading  men. 
Mr.  Easton  is  a  native  of  Trumbull  County,  Ohio. 
He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Mesopotamia,  October 
26,  1823,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Sophia  (Dens- 
more)  Ka>:ton.  The  father  was  born  in  Hawley, 
Franklin  Count}-,  Mass.,  December  8,  1790,  and 
died  December  3,  1875.  He  was  reared  to  man- 
hood in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  and 
his  early  training  developed  habits  of  industry 
and  enterprise  that  have  |)roved  of  incalculable 
benefit  to  him  in  his  later  years.  His  educational 
advantages  were  those  afforded  by  the  common 
schools.  In  March,  1815,  he  married  Sophia  Dens- 
more,  also  of  Hawley,  JIass.,  and  unto  them  were 
born  live  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  whom  six  are 

27 


yet  living,  namely:  Laura,  widow  of  Job  Griflln, 
who  was  a  farmer  of  IJloomfield,  Ohio.  Sophia, 
wife  of  Joseph  Wilcox,  of  AVisconsiu.  .lulin  R., 
whose  name  heads  this  record.  Adin,  a  resident  of 
Petoskey,  Mich.  Mary,  wife  of  Isaac  Lepper,  of 
Hloomfield,  Ohio;  and  Lunian,  also  a  resident  of 
the  Buckeye  State. 

The  fatlier  of  this  familj-  began  life  in  humble 
circumstances,  but  b}'  good  management  and  well- 
directed  efforts  he  acquired  a  comfortable  compe- 
tence, and  was  the  owner  of  two  liundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  valuable  land  in  the  township  of 
Mesopotamia,  Ohio.  He  was  a  prominent  and  in-  . 
Iluential  citizen,  and  w,as  honoied  with  various 
offices  of  trust  in  this  township.  In  politics  he 
was  a  Republican,  and  himself  and  wife  were  both 
consistent  members  of  the  ilethodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Their  two  sons,  Adin  and  Liiman,  were 
both  soldiers  in  th.e  Union  armv.  The  former 
served  in  many  hard-fought  battles,  but  both  re- 
turned to  their  homes  and  are  now  respected  citi- 
zens. 

The  boyhood  and  3'outli  of  our  subject  were 
spent  in  the  Buckeye  State.  His  education  was 
acquired  in  the  district  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, which  he  attended  during  the  winter  sea- 
son, while  in  the  summer  months  he  aided  in  the 
labors  of  the  farm.  lie  began  work  in  the  fields, 
and  gave  his  father  the  benefit  of  his  services  until 
he  attained  his  majority.  The  home  of  the  Flistons 
was  a  log  cabin,  and  the  family  lived  in  true  pio- 
neer style.  Although  they  had  to  enduie  the 
hardships  of  the  frontier,  those  were  liapp}-  daj-s, 
fraught  with  oldtime  pleasures. 

On  attaining  man 's  estate,  Mr.  Easton  bade  adieu 
to  home  and  friends,  and  started  for  the  West, 
having  determined  to  tiy  his  fortune  upon  its 
broad  prairies.  It  was  in  the  fall  of  1815  that  he 
made  a  location  upon  the  Onion  River  in  Sheboy- 
gan Count}',  Wis.  The  journey'  was  made  by  way 
of  the  (4reat  Lakes  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  from 
there  to  Milwaukee.  The  Badger  State  was  then 
quite  unsettled,  and  the  Indians  were  far  more  nu- 
merous than  the  white  men  in  most  localities 
Mr.  Easton  began  life  era[)ty-handed,  but  though 
he  had  no  capital,  he  possessed  a  strong  deter- 
mination   to    win    success.     He   spent  three  years 


590 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  Wisconsin,  and  then  returned  to  liis  native 
State,  where  he  engaged  in  farming, 

On  his  return  to  Ohio,  Mr.  Easton  was  married 
to  Miss  Esther  A.  Belden,  a  native  of  Farmington, 
Ohio.  They  were  married  about  1847,  and  lived 
liappily  together  for  five  years,  when  death  separ- 
ated them.  On  the  30th  of  December,  1857,  Mr. 
Easton  was  married  in  Lenox,  Oliio,  to  Miss 
Gracia  I.  Southwell.  A  native  of  New  Yorli,  she 
was  born  June  28,  1828.  She  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  became  a  successful  teacher. 
Her  father  was  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1802,  and 
died  in  1875.  Her  mother  was  a  native  of  the 
Green  Mountain  State.  Botii  were  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  By  the  union 
of  our  subject  and  his  wife  was  born  one  son, 
Ransford  Perrin,  a  resident  of  Herscher,  whose 
sketch    appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

In  1869,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Easton  left  Ohio  for 
Lockport,  Will  County,  111.,  and  there  our  subject 
engaged  in  tiie  grocer}-  business  for  three  years. 
On  account  of  ill-health,  he  sold  out,  and  went 
to  Rogers  Township,  Ford  County,  locating  at 
Eldridgeville,  where  he  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  partially  improved  land.  The 
succeeding  nine  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in  its 
cultivation,  after  which  he  removed  six  miles  east 
of  his  old  home,  where  he  purchased  a  half-section 
of  land.  He  also  there  resided  for  nine  years,  and 
then  came  to  Buckingham.  Here  he  erected  a 
beautiful  residence,  and  has  since  made  it  his 
home.  He  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land  near  Leon,  Kan.,  together  with  good  prop- 
erty in  Kankakee,  and  some  real  estate  in  Nebraska. 

In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Easton  was  an  old- 
line  Whig  from  the  time  when  he  cast  his  first 
vote  for  Gen.  Scutt  until  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party,  when  he  joined  its  ranks.  He 
has  frequently  been  called  to  serve  in  offices  of 
trust,  but  has  usually  declined.  The  few  times  he 
has  done  so,  however,  he  has  discharged  his  du- 
ties with  such  promptness  and  fidelity  that  he  has 
won  the  commendiition  of  all  concerned.  An 
honorable,  upright  man,  his  fair  dealings  in  all  the 
relations  of  life  have  won-  him  universal  confi- 
dence, and  his  word  is  considered  as  good  as  his 
bond.     Himself  and  wife  are    held  in  the   highest 


esteem  throughout  the  community,  and  their  cir- 
cle of  friends  and  acquaintance  is  indeed  large. 
Their  home  is  the  abode  of  hospitality,  and  its 
doors  are  ever  open  for  the  reception  of  their 
man}'  friends. 


AVID  LAVERY,  who  for  almost  his  en- 
tire life  has  lived  in  Kankakee  and  the 
vicinity,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Cork, 
Ireland,  September  25,  1852.  He  is  a  son 
of  Richard  and  Elizabeth  (Barry)  Laver}-,  both 
natives  of  the  Emerald  Isle.  They  emigrated  to 
America  in  1854,  locating  in  Kankakee,  where  the 
father  entered  the  employ  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  Company  as  freight  agent,  and  remained 
in  their  service  for  twent^'-eight  j-ears.  He  has 
been  a  popular  man  in  the  community  and  has 
been  called  upon  to  fill  various  positions  of  trust 
and  honor.  He  has  served  as  Mayor  of  the  city 
tiiree  different  times  and  for  a  numlier  of  j-eara 
was  Alderman.  He  has  also  served  many  years  as 
a  member  of  the  School  Board.  He  has  led  an  ac- 
tive and  industrious  life  and  for  some  years  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business.  About  the  year 
1888  he  retired  from  the  active  cares  of  business 
life  and  is  passing  his  remaining  days  in  quiet  and 
rest.  He  owns  a  comfortable  home  on  the  corner 
of  Merchant  and  Washington  Avenues.  Though 
well  advanced  in  life  he  is  well  preserved  and  ac- 
tive, physically  and  mentally.  Politically,  he  is  a 
Democrat,  and  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership 
with  the  Catholic  Church. 

The  family  circle  of  four  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters is  still  unbroken.  The  three  eldest  children 
were  born  in  Ireland  and  the  others  claim  Kanka- 
kee as  their  birthplace.  Richard  married  Miss 
Petie,  of  Vandalia,  where  they  reside,  he  having 
been  in  the  employ  of  the  Illinois  Central  and 
Vandalia  Railroad  Companies  for  about  eighteen 
years.  They  have  five  chihlren.  .John  married  a 
Chicago  lady,  and  to  them  have  been  born  four 
children.  He  is  engaged  in  the  plumbing  busi- 
ness in  that  city;  George  is  the  next  in  order  of 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


591 


birtb;  Nora  is  tlie  fifth  child;  Mary  became  the 
wife  of  George  Carson,  of  Kankakee,  and  now  re- 
sides in  Cliicago,  where  her  liusband  is  engaged  in 
keeping  books  for  Ilisser  &  Warden;  Elizabeth 
and  Annie  complete  the  family. 

On  the  2oth  of  October,  1877,  David  Lavery,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Loretta,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Ellen  (Gal- 
laher)  Mortelle,  of  Chicago,  and  to  them  have  been 
born  four  daughters:  Mary,  Nellie,  Clara  and 
Bernadette. 

In  1866  Mr.  Laver3'  began  working  for  the  Illi- 
nois Central  Railroad  Company  as  messenger  and 
errand  boy,  also  assisting  in  the  warehouse  and  in 
the  yards  as  switchman.  In  July.  1876,  he  was 
appointed  to  the  position  of  station  agent  at  Che- 
banse,  which  he  filled  for  six  years.  In  1882  he 
was  made  station  agent  at  Kankakee,  which  situa- 
tion he  held  continuoush^  until  the  27th  of  October, 
1M»2.  He  h.as  ever  been  most  faithful  and  clHeient 
in  tlie  discharge  of  his  duties,  and  that  his  services 
have  been  appreciated  as  those  of  a  steady  and 
reliable  man,  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  he  has  been 
continuously  employed  by  one  company  for  a 
period  of  twenty-six  years,  in  fact  since  his  boy- 
hood, and  resigned  his  position  on  account  of  his 
health  failing  at  that  time. 

1  I\rr.  and  Mrs.  Lavery  are  members  of  the  Cath- 
)lic  Church.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Cath- 
ilie  Order  of  Foresters,  Court  No.  76,  of  Kanka- 
iee.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party,  but 
aas  never  held  any  political  oUice.  He  is  also  a 
nember  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  fraternity, 
!liver  View  Lodge,  of  Kankakee.  Mr.  Lavery  is 
andidate  for  postmaster  at  Kankakee.  It  is  not 
generally  known  that  through  his  efforts  Kanka- 
kee got  its  fame  as  a  summer  resort.  It  was  through 
'lis  influence  that  the  General  Passensrer  Aoent 
[onsented  to  advertise  Kankakee  as  a  summer  re- 
port. Mr.  Lavery  was  also  first  consulted  in  con- 
kection  with  the  industries  located  at  North  Kanka- 
kee. The  otlicials  of  the  Illinois  Central  consulted 
lim  as  to  the  standing  and  the  character  of  the 
^orth  Kankakee  promoters.  Mr.  Lavery,  having 
he  interest  of  the  city  at  heart,  without  much 
jffort  convinced  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
rompany  of  the  responsibility  of  the  North  Kan- 


kakee Syndicate.    We  can  say  that  Mr.  David  Lav- 
ery has  done  much  in  a  quiet  way  to  advance  the 
prosperity  of  Kankakee,  and  these  little  instances 
will  be  news  to  many  of  the  citizens  of  Kankakee 
City  and  vicinity,  who  may  well  be  proud  of  such 
a  citizen.     Had  Mr.  Lavery  thrown  cold   water  on 
this   enterprise,  and  said    it    was    simply   a    land 
scheme,  where  would  the  progress  of  this  city  have 
been?     AVe  can   say   that  he    is  entitled   to   more 
credit  for  the  growth  of  Kankakee  than  people  are 
aware  of,  as  his  good  judgment  shows  in  the  ad- 
vance of  property  and  population,  and  the  city  of 
Kankakee  is  now  one  of  the  most  progressive  in  the 
State. 


*^®_ 

'^^S" 


"        ANNIBAL  AVORCESTER,  for  nearly  forty 
years  a  resident  of  JLjmence,  is  a    banker 


and  influential  citizen  of  this  place.  His 
(^  birth  occurred  in  Clarendon,  Vl.,  on  the 
9th  of  May,  1829.  His  paternal  grandfather  was 
drowned  many  years  ago,  leaving  a  wife,  who 
lived  to  be  very  aged  and  resided  upon  the  same 
farm  which  was  owned  by  her  son  for  years  after- 
wards. His  maternal  grandfather,  Zachariah  John- 
son, was  a  farmer  in  Vermont  in  the  same  neigh- 
borhood with  the  other  members  of  our  subject's 
ancestois. 

Hannibal  is  the  son  of  John  B.  ami  Eunice 
(Johnson)  Worcester,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  the  Green  Mountain  State.  The  father  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  made  his  home  in  Ver- 
mont until  his  death  in  1842,  being  in  the  prime 
of  life.  His  wife  died  in  Momence,  in  1872,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  In  their  family  were 
nine  children,  seven  sons  and  two  daughters:  Hen- 
riette,  Maria,  Albert,  Horace,  Hannibal,  Horatio, 
Wallace,  Julius,  and  Ezra,  who  died  in  infancy. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were  passed 
in  the  place  of  his  birth,  where  he  received  a 
good  common-school  education.  When  about  nine- 
teen years  of  age  he  began  learning  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  which  occupation  he  followed  for 
about  four  years,  when  he  commenced  clerking  in 
a  store,  and  from  that  time    turned    his   attention 


592 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


to  mercantile  pursuits.  He  had  two  uncles,  Phillip 
Worcester  and  Rollins  C.  Hunter,  who  came  to 
Momence  in  1834,  at  which  time  it  was  the  first 
town  south  of  Chicago.  In  the  fall  of  1855  our 
subject  joined  his  uncle  in  Momence,  desiring  to 
view  the  countr_y  and  prospects.  The  same  year 
he  returned  to  his  home,  and  in  March,  1856, 
came  again  to  Momence,  where  he  opened  a  gen- 
eral store  in  partnership  with  his  uncle,  Franklin 
Worcester,  and  Dr.  M.  O.  Clark,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Worcester,  Clark  it  Co.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  one  year.  Dr.  Clark  retired,  and  the  busi- 
ness was  coutiuued  under  the  firm  name  of  H.  & 
F.  Worcester.  In  18G0  a  new  firm  was  formed, 
under  the  style  of  Worcester,  Brayton  &  Co., 
which  partnership  consisted  of  F.  Worcester,  Lj-- 
man  Wooster,  Stephen  Wheeler,  Zeno  C.  Brayton 
and  H.  Worcester.  They  ran  a  distiller3'  in  con- 
nection with  their  mercantile  business  until  they 
were  forced  to  abandon  it  on  account  of  the  tax 
of  twenty  cents  per  gallon  which  was  assessed. 
The  partnership  continued  until  January,  1863, 
when  they  sold  out  their  entire    stock  of  goods. 

Our  subject,  in  company  with  Mr.  Brayton,  en- 
gaged in  tlie  stock  business,  buying  and  shipping 
all  kinds  of  stock  for  the  two  years  succeeding. 
They  then  opened  another  general  merchandise 
store  and  continued  together  until  the  fall  of 
1872,  when  they  added  banking  to  their  business, 
and  carried  on  both  branches  until  the  death  of 
Mr.  Brayton  on  the  25th  of  January,  1875.  Mr. 
Worcester  then  purchased  his  partner's  interest 
from  the  heirs  and  associated  witli  him  in  both 
branches  his  brother-in-law,  T.  H.  Stratton,  and 
together  they  carried  on  the  business  until  1878. 
Mr.  Worcester  then  sold  his  interest  iu  the  gen- 
eral store  to  his  partner  and  became  sole  proprie- 
tor of  the  bank,  which  he  has  kept  until  the  pres- 
ent time,  it  being  known  as  the  Exchange  Bank. 

On  the  24th  of  January,  1859,  Mr.  AVorcester 
and  Miss  Ellen  Stratton  were  united  in  marriage. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  William  J.  and  Margaret 
E.  (Patrick)  Stratton,  and  b}'  her  marriage  has 
become  the  mother  of  two  children.  Cora  was  mar- 
ried in  the  year  1882  to  U.  B.  Hall,  Jr.,  and  died 
in  1885,  leaving  a  daughter  a  year  old,  who  bears 
the  name  of  her  mothei',  Cora  E.     William  P.  is  in 


the  employ  of  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Rail- 
road at  Momence.     Mrs.  Worcester  is  a  member  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  her  hus- 
band, though  not  a  member,  is   a  regular   attend 
ant,  and  to  which  he  gives  his  support. 

In  politics  Mr.  Worcester  has  always  been  iden- 
tified with  the  Republican  party  since  its  organiz- 
tion.  Until  that  time  he  voted  the  Whig  ticket, 
easting  his  first  ballot  in  1852  for  Gen.  Scott.  He 
has  served  as  a  delegate  to  both  county  and  State 
conventions,  and  though  he  has  never  been  an  of- 
fice-seeker, has  been  called  upon  to  fill  the  office  of 
Supervisor  twice.  He  has  ever  taken  an  active 
part  in  all  measures  tending  to  the  growth  and 
progress  of  Momence  and  the  surrounding  vicin- 
ity, and  has  been  a  witness  of  much  of  its  growth. 


^^'  BRAM  EVERITT  owns  and  operates  a  farm 
®Oi  on  section  8,  Otto  Township.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Ilhnois,  and  was  born  on  the  7th 
of  May,  1844,  in  McIIenry  Countj-.  His 
father,  David  Everitt,  was  born  in  the  Empire 
State,  his  birth  occurring  in  Steuben  County  in 
February,  1799.  Upon  arriving  at  man's  estate 
he  married  Miss  AVealthy  Madole,  a  daughter' 
of  Hugh  Madole,  also  a  native  of  Steuben  County. 
Mr.  Everitt  for  a  few  3'ears  after  his  marriage 
engaged  in  farming  in  New  York,  and  about  the 
j'ear  1839  emigrated  Westward.  He  settled  first 
in  McHenry  County,  111.,  where  he  opened  up 
a  farm,  and  lived  for  several  years.  In  the  year 
1851  he  came  to  what  is  now  Kankakee  County, 
and  located  upon  the  identical  farm  where  his  son 
now  resides.  He  entered  a  tract  consisting  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres,  which  he  proceeded  to 
develop  and  improve.  He  went  to  Chicago, 
bought  lumber  and  hauled  it  to  the  present  site  of 
the  house,  which  he  proceeded  to  erect,  and  where 
his  son  now  dwells.  For  many  years  Mr.  Everitt 
was  actively  employed  as  an  agriculturist,  and 
when  he  had  secured  a  competency  for  his  remain- 
ing years  he  retired,  going  to  live  in  Chebanse 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


593 


where  he  resided  until  his  death  in  1884.  His 
wife  had  died  many  years  previous,  about  the 
year  1872. 

Abram  Everitt  is  one  of  a  family  of  twelve  chil- 
dren who  lived  to  maturit}-.  His  eldest  brother, 
Walter,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican  War,  and 
died  in  the  service  of  his  countr3%  Of  the  large 
familj',  four  brothers  and  two  sisters  are  the  only 
survivors.  Our  subject  passed  his  early  j'ears  en- 
gaged in  the  usual  occupations  of  farmer  boys. 
His  school  advantages  were  good,  and  have  been 
supplemented  by  study  and  reading  in  later  3'ears. 
He  remained  with  his  father  for  several  years  after 
reaching  his  majority,  relieving  him  of  much  of 
the  care  and  labor  of  carrying  on  the  home  farm. 

In  1872,  our  subject  went  to  Kansas,  where  he 
purchased  four  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Montgom- 
ery C'ountv.  He  remained  there  for  two  years, 
and  during  that  time  much  improved  that  property', 
and  among  other  things  set  out  live  miles  of  hedge. 
He  then  sold  the  land  and  returned  to  Illinois, 
soon  afterwards  going  to  Indiana,  where  he  located 
upon  land  in  Benton  County,  which  he  operated 
for  aliout  two  years.  Returning  to  Illinois,  he 
bought  eighty  acres  of  unimproved  prairie,  and 
made  of  it  a  good  farm.  In  1878  he  returned  to 
the  homestead  in  Kankakee  County,  and  has  since 
been  actively  engaged  in  its  further  development. 
He  now  has  eighty  acres  of  his  father's  original 
farm,  which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  is  a  valuable  piece  of  property.  As  an  agri- 
culturist, Mr.  Everitt  has  been  eminenth'  success- 
ful, and  has  overcome  all  discouragements  with 
perseverance  and  courage. 

In  Watseka,  111.,  on  the  5th  of  October,  1875, 
Mr.  Everitt  mai'ried  Miss  Leona  Ladux,  who  was 
liiirn  in  Kankakee  County.  She  died,  leaving  one 
son,  Frank  Jlclvin.  Our  subject  was  again  mar- 
ried, in  Kankakee,  on  the  26th  of  April,  188G,  at 
which  time  Miss  Anna  Lettia  Britton  became  his 
wife.  Mrs.  Everitt  is  a  native  of  Canada,  her  birth 
occurring  near  the  city  of  Montreal,  and  there  she 
was  reared  and  educated.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
James  E.  Britton,  of  Canada. 

The  Republican  party  has  always  received  the 
support  of  Mr.  Everitt  since  he  became  a  voter. 
His  first    ballot    was    cast    for   Gen.  U.  S.  (irant. 


Thougii  never  desiring  or  aspiring  to  hold  official 
positions,  he  has  several  times  been  prevailed  upon 
to  accept  the  same.  The  cause  of  education  finds 
in  him  a  warm  friend  and  supporter,  and  he  has 
served  several  years  .as  a  member  of  the  School 
Board.  Since  a  child,  Mrs.  Everitt  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  to  which  she  still 
belongs.  Our  subject  has  spent  almost  his  entire 
life  in  Otto  Township,  and  is  well  and  favorably 
known  throughout  this  conimunitj'.  In  Ins  per- 
sonal character  he  is  upright  and  honorable,  and 
wins  the  confidence  and  friendship  of  all. 


-^^- 


;  OHN  CLARENCE  BLiRT  has  been  business 
manager  of  the  Illinois  Eastern  Hospital 
for  the  Insane  since  March,  1885,  and  an 
employe  of  that  institution  since  March, 
1880.  His  birth  occurred  on  the  9th  of  September, 
1856,  at  Lake  Geneva,  Wis.  His  parents,  Roswell 
and  Uoxalana  (Mathews)  Burt,  were  both  natives  of 
Essex  and  Elizabethtown,  N.  Y.,  respectively,  and 
emigrated  to  the  Territory  of  Wisconsin  in  1838. 
They  were  numbered  among  the  early  settlers  and 
pioneers  of  Walworth  County.  The  father  was  a 
soldier  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  and  a  member 
of  Company  F,  Fortieth  Regiment  Wisconsin  Vol- 
unteers, and  died  in  1872.  The  mother  survives, 
and  makes  her  home  in  L.ake  Geneva,  Wis.;  she 
has  two  ciiildien  living:  Mary  E.  Burt,  prominent 
as  an  author  and  teacher  of  literature,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  tiie  Board  of  Education  of  Chicago;  and 
John  C.  Burt,  of  Kankakee.  The  latter  attended 
the  public  schools  in  Wisconsin,  and  when  pre- 
pared, entered  the  University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann 
Arbor,  and  graduated  in  tlie  Class  of  '75  from 
the  deiinrtmentsof  science,  literature  and  the  arts, 
receiving  the  degree  of  Ph.  C.  After  this  he  en- 
gaged in  the  drug  business  at  Elgin,  III.,  until  Sep- 
tember, 1879,  when  he  married  and  removed  to 
Chicago,  where  he  attended  Rush  Medical  College 
until  tiie  6th  of  March,  1880,  when  he  accepted  a 
position  at  the  Illinois  Eastern  Hospital  as  phar- 
macist and  supervisor,  which  office  he  Qiled  to  the 


594 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


satisfaction  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  was  ac- 
cordingly promoted  in  Marcli,  1885,  to  the  posi- 
tion of  business  manager,  and  from  1891  to  1893 
had  charge  of  construction  worlv  as  building  su- 
perintendent. 

Mr.  Burt  was  married  in  Janesville,  Wis.,  on  the 
24th  of  September,  1879,  to  Miss  Minnie  R.  Otis, 
who  is  a  native  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  Seldon  E.  Otis,  of  Janesville,  Wis. 
Politieallj-,  Mr.  Burt  casts  his  ballot  in  favor  of 
the  principles  of  tlie  Republican  party.  He  is 
a  Master  Mason,  holding  membership  with  Kanka- 
kee Lodge  No.  389,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  In  the  busi- 
ness management  of  the  hospital  Mr.  Burt  has 
demonstrated  that  public  business  can  be  managed 
on  business  principles,  and  has  enjoyed  the  dis- 
tinction of  holding  the  onlj'  ofHce  of  the  kind  in 
Illinois,  an  office  demanding  detailed  knowledge  of 
the  care  of  the  insane,  as  well  as  thorough  infor- 
mation of  the  duties  of  employes  of  the  various 
working  departments,  keeping  all  in  harmony,  and 
winning  for  himself  many  warm  friends  in  the  in- 
stitution and  in  Kankakee. 


-^^E 


a  HESTER  METCALF,  who  carries  on  a  farm 
-  on  section  26,  Ganier  Township,  was  born 
'  on  the  same  farm  on  which  he  now  resides 
on  the  5th  of  February,  1847,  and  is  a  son  of 
Silas  Metcalf,  a  native  of  Ontario  County,  N.  Y., 
where  his  birth  occurred  on  the  15th  of  February, 
1813.  The  father  was  of  English  descent  and 
married  Sarah  Irvin,  who  was  of  Irish  extraction 
and  was  born  on  the  3  Ist  of  September,  1819,  in 
Muskingum  County,  Ohio.  Eleven  children  were 
born  of  this  union:  Mary  E.,  who  died  October 
24,  1861;  Irvin,  a  plumber  by  trade,  who  resides 
in  Grand  Island,  Neb.;  our  subject,  Chester;  Al- 
mira,  who  departed  this  life  March  16,  1866;  Cora, 
the  wife  of  Solomon  Kenrich,  now  residing  in  Mo- 
mence;  Orris,  living  upon  the  old  homestead;  Jes- 
sie, the  wife  of  Eugene  Babcock,  of  Nebraska;  Silas, 
who  died  July  29,  1859;  Paul,  a  carpenter  of  Ne- 
braska; Edwin,  a  resident  of  Oil iowa,  Neb.;  and  Jen- 


nie, who  departed  thislife  March  24, 1876.  The  fa- 
ther of  this  family  was  largely-  self-educated  and  be- 
gan life  by  working  as  a  farm  hand.  In  the  fall  of 
1838,  he  came  to  Illinois,  making  the  trip  West- 
ward alone  on  horseback.  lie  came  in  order  to 
view  the  country  and  to  make  preparations  for 
his  family.  He  located  in  what  was  then  Iroquois, 
but  is  now  Kankakee  County,  purchasing  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Momence  Township. 
The  land  contained  a  few  acres  whicli  were  broken 
and  a  log  house.  About  1840,  Mr.  Metcalf  went 
to  Chicago  and  engaged  in  general  merchandising 
for  about  eighteen  months.  He  purchased  the 
farm  on  which  his  son,  our  subject,  now  lives,  of 
the  Government.  This  tract  consisted  of  eighty 
acres  on  section  26,  Ganier  Townsliip,  for  which  he 
paid  $1.25  per  acre.  He  moved  upon  this  farm  and 
built  a  small  frame  house,  in  which  he  spent  the 
most  of  his  remaining  da3's.  The  Indians  had  not 
left  for  their  western  reservation  when  he  first  lo- 
cated in  this  vicinity.  ]\Ir.  Metcalf  was  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics  and  helped  to  organize  that  party 
in  Kankakee  County.  He  held  the  offices  of  .Su- 
pervisor, Highway  Commissioner,  School  Director 
and  .School  Trustee  and  was  prominent  in  all  local 
affairs.  His  death  occurred  on  the  29th  of  March, 
1875,  and  his  remains  are  interred  in  the  Mt.  Airy 
Cemetery. 

As  before  mentioned,  our  subject  passed  his 
boyhood  days  on  the  farm  which  he  now  operates. 
His  educational  privileges  were  those  afforded  by 
the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  which  he 
attended  during  the  winter  terms  until  twenty 
years  of  age.  Two  years  later  he  commenced  his 
career  as  a  teacher,  which  occupation  he  followed 
for  nineteen  consecutive  years.  During  this  time 
he  taught  school  in  Iowa,  Indiana  and  Nebraska, 
but  most  of  the  time  in  Kankakee  County.  In 
1889,  Mr.  Metcalf  settled  down  upon  the  old 
homestead  and  has  since  devoted  himself  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  partnership  with  his  brother 
Orris.  They  are  engaged  in  fruit-growing  and 
gardening  in  addition  to  general  farming.  The 
place,  which  is  well  improved,  consists  of  eighty 
acres.  Our  subject  also  own  forty  acres  adjoining. 
His  mother  is  still  living  and  makes  her  home 
with  her  son  Orris. 


u 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


595 


On  the  16th  of  November,  1892,  Mr.  Metcalf 
wedded  Mrs.  Eva  Perkins,  nee  Stoner,  daughter  of 
John  Stoner,  of  Lake,  Ind.  I'olitk'ally.  Mr.  ISIet- 
calf  casts  his  ballot  in  favor  of  the  nominees 
of  the  Kepublican  party.  He  has  served  in  vari- 
ous local  positions  of  trust  and  honor,  among 
them  those  of  School  Director  and  School  Trustee. 
Having  been  so  long  a  teacher  he  has  always  taken 
a  lively  interest  in  the  cause  of  education  and  is  a 
firm  believer  in  the  grand  public  school  system  of 
our  counlry. 


A^  HARLES  BIGALOW,  who  is  engaged  in 
[l(  farming  on    section    26,    Salina  Township, 

^^^7  .and  is  the  owner  of  a  broom  factory  in 
this  neighborhood,  claims  New  York  as  the  State 
of  his  birtli,  which  occurred  in  Essex  County,  the 
date  being  August  25,  1825.  His  parents,  Clark 
and  Ruby  (Sherman)  Bigalow,  had  a  family  of 
thirteen  children,  of  whom  our  subject  is  third  in 
order  of  biitli.  The  days  of  his  bo3'hood  and 
youth  were  spent  upon  his  father's  farm  in  the 
usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  and  the  public 
schools  of  his  neighborhood  afforded  him  his  edu- 
cational privileges.  However,  by  reading,  exper- 
ience and  observation  he  has  made  himself  a  well- 
informed  man.  He  remained  with  his  parents  un- 
til twent}-  years  of  age,  when  he  left  home  and 
learned  the  m.ason's  trade.  He  then  worked  at 
that  occupation  at  various  times  in  the  Empire 
State,  where  he  remained  until  1853.  That  year 
witnessed  his  emigration  Westward. 

Ere  his  removal  from  New  York,  however,  Mr. 
Bigalow  was  married.  It  was  in  1850  that  he  was 
imarried  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Reynolds,  who  sur- 
iVived  her  marriage,  however,  onl}'  a  short  time, 
dying  in  1852,  leaving  one  child,  a  daughter. 
The  following  year,  Mr.  Bigalow  removed  to  Illi- 
nois, taking  up  his  residence  in  Joliet,  where  the 
succeeding  nine  years  of  his  life  were  passed. 
During  that  period  he  was  engaged  in  working  at 
|.he  mason's  trade.  It  was  also  during  that  inter- 
V&\   that   he   was  again  married,    in    1855,  being 


united  with  Miss  Isabella  Skinner.  Six  children 
have  been  born  of  this  union,  Ijut  three  are  now  de- 
ceased: Oscar,  the  eldest;  Ida,  the  third,  and  Mary, 
the  fifth  child.  The  others  are  Ella;  Charles,  who 
married  Miss  Mary  Armstrong  August  5,  1891,  a 
daughter  of  .John  and  Mary  (Golding)  Armstrong, 
and  a  native  of  Illinois,  who  was  born  Eebruary 
22,  1873;  and  Nora.  One  little  son,  P^arl,  has 
blessed  the  union  of  Charles  and  his  wife. 

On  coming  to  Kankakee  County  in  1862,  Mr. 
Bigalow  located  in  Aroma  Township,  where  he 
rented  land  for  two  years.  He  then  removed  to 
the  farm  which  is  still  his  home,  having  purchased 
forty  acres  of  improved  land  on  section  26,  Salina 
Township.  Here  he  carries  on  general  farming 
with  the  aid  of  his  son,  and  he  also  owns  a  broom 
f.actory,  which  is  now  operated  by  Charles.  He  is 
a  man  of  good  business  ability  and  enterpiising. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  in 
politics  is  a  supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  but 
has  never  been  an  office-seeker.  In  the  commun- 
ity where  he  has  now  resided  for  almost  a  third 
of  a  century  he  h.as  many  friends  who  hold  him  in 
high  esteem  for  his  sterling  worth. 


Wi  OEL  B.  LEWIS  is  one  of  the  old  settlers  and 
prominent  men  of  Kankakee  County,  and  he 
h.as  been  one  of  the  leading  politicians  and 
public-spirited  men  of  this  locality.  For 
over  forty  years  he  has  owned  and  carried  on  a 
farm  on  section  22,  Yellowhead  Township.  His 
birth  occurred  June  21,  1826,  in  Fabius,  Onon- 
daga County,  N.  Y.  He  is  a  son  of  Milo  and 
Emma  (Merrill)  Lewis,  to  whom  were  born  seven 
children,  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  The 
father  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and  was  of 
Welsh  origin.  He  removed  to  Sheboygan  Count}', 
AVis.,  in  1851,  w.as  a  prosperous  farmer,  and  de- 
parted this  life  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years. 
The  mother  w.as  a  native  of  New  York,  and  of 
German  descent. 

Our  subject  spent  his  early  bo3'hood  and  3'outh 
on  his  father's  farm  in  the  Empire  State,  where  he 


596 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


received  a  good  education  for  that  day.  He  left 
the  parental  roof  on  attaining  bis  majorit}-,  and 
started  out  in  the  world  to  make  his  fortune.  On 
the  6th  of  May,  1847,  he  married  Miss  Maria 
Shedd,  who  was  also  a  native  of  the  Klmpne  State. 
One  child,  a  son,  was  born  of  their  union,  Her- 
bert, who  is  .in  enterprising  farmer  of  Yellowhead 
Township.  Mrs.  Lewis  died  on  the  8th  of  October, 
1888,  and  her  last  resting-place  is  in  Union  Cor- 
ners Cemetery. 

For  five  years  subsequent  to  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Lewis  engaged  in  teaching  school  and  also  farmed 
some  in  his  native  State.  The  3'ear  1852  witnessed 
his  arrival  in  Yellowhead  Townsliip,  where  he  pur- 
chased an  eighty-acre  tract  of  wild  land.  There 
were  very  few  inhabitants  of  this  locality  at  that 
time,  and  he  was  subject  to  the  man}'  incon- 
veniences and  hardships  of  pioneer  life.  He  taught 
school  in  this  district  during  the  earl}'  d.ays  for 
two  terms,  but  has  since  devoted  himself  exclu- 
sively to  the  improvement  of  his  farm.  He  now 
possesses  one  hundred  .and  seventy  acres,  making 
in  every  respect  a  fine  farm,  wliich  is  situated 
three  miles  east  of  Grant  Park.  He  has  a  pleasant 
residence,  and  on  every  hand  may  be  seen  the 
marks  of  the  owner's  care  and  attention. 

Mr.  Lewis  and  Miss  Carrie  O.,  daughter  of  Or- 
rington  and  Clarissa  (Blanchaid)  Lewis,  were 
united  in  marriage  on  the  21st  of  January.  1892. 
The  lady  was  born  May  8,  1856,  in  Onondaga 
County,  N.  Y.,  received  her  education  at  Hamil- 
ton, N.  Y.,  and  h^.s  spent  the  greater  portion  of 
her  life  in  that  State.  Slie  too  was  a  teacher  for 
many  j'ears. 

During  the  early  years  of  his  residence  here,  Mr. 
Lewis  was  Assessor  of  the  township  for  five  years, 
and  at  that  time  was  acquainted  with  almost  every 
one  in  it.  For  the  same  length  of  time  he  served 
as  Township  Supervisor,  and  has  held  most  of  the 
local  olhces.  With  Messrs.  Alonzo  Curtis  and 
Reuben  Richardson,  he  was  the  means  of  getting 
the  Chicago  &.  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  to  put 
their  line  through  this  county.  Mr.  Lewis  was  ap- 
pointed census-taker  of  the  township  in  1880,  and 
in  all  local  affairs  has  been  one  of  the  most  active 
and  progressive.  lie  is  intelligent  and  well  posted 
on  the  leading  issues  and  topics  of  the   day.     He 


holds  membership  with  Grant  Park  Lodge  No.  740, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.  Politically,  he  is  a  supporter  of  the 
Democratic  party.  IMrs.  Lewis  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  Clnirch. 


EV.  .JOHN  T.  RICHARDSON,  deceased, 
was  born  on  the  21st  of  February,  1812,1 
in  Circlevillc,  Ohio,  and  was  one  of  four! 
^  children  born  to  .John  and  R.achel  (Trigot)j 
Richardson.  His  father  was  of  English  descentJ 
while  his  mother  was  of  French  extraction.  Ellen| 
T.,  wife  of  Daniel  T.  Van  Meter,  is  the  only  sur^i 
viving  member  of  the  family. 

The    boyhood    daj-s   of    Mr.    Richardson    were 
passed  in  his  native  village,  where  he  also  received 
his  education,  and  where,  in  1834,  he  wedded  Mis^ 
Jane  B.  McDougall.    Iler  father,  .James  McDougallJ 
was    of  English  origin,  and  served  as  a  soldier  in 
the  War  of  1812.     Nine  children  graced  the  uniot 
of  our  subject  and  wife,  five  of  whom  yet  survived 
John  Homer  married  Miss  Sarah  Glaze,  and  theiij 
family    comprises   six   children:    Clara   J.,    Lunajj 
Charles,   Verner,    Frank  and  Alfred.     Ellen   F.  is" 
the  wife  of   Milo  R.   Peters,  whose  sketch  is  give.n 
elsewhere  in  this   work.     Joseph  A.   wedded  Miss 
Mary  Hazelton,  and  their  home  is  Burch,  S.  Dak.; 
the}'  have  six  children:    Charles,  Eva,  Clara,  Min- 
nie, Mamie  and   George.     Ada,  wife  of  Joseph  A. 
Davis,  resides  near  Paris,  in  southern  California. 
Clara  A.  J.   married  J.   Howard   Shingle,   now   of 
Glenmore,  Pa.,  and  to  them  have  been  born   three 
children:    Lester,  Cl.yde  and  Margerie. 

Mr.  Richardson  was  a  minister  of  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  one  of  the  pioneer  circuit-riders.  Af- 
ter his  marriage  he  left  Circleville,  Ohio,  and  lo- 
cated in  Noblesville,  Ind.,  where  he  lived  for 
nearl}'  ten  years,  during  which  time  he  operated  a 
bakery  and  preached  also.  In  1849  he  came  to 
Kankakee  County,  and  after  remaining  a  sliorL 
time  in  Bourbonnais,  settled  in  Rockville  Town4 
ship,  where  he  bought  farms,  improved  and  then| 
sold  them.  In  1869,  he  located  in  Manteno,  rieat] 
which  he  operated  a  small  farm,  and  still  continued 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

MWIVEfiSiry  OF  ILLINOIS 


i>  / 


■^tl^fyv^  °     ?>^V' 


J)r0:^d^>^ 


<^lp  OI-''>-^/- 


of.  J^a-i^ 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

HNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPtnCAL  RECORD. 


601 


his  preaching.  His  services  as  a  minister  were 
given  freelv,  and  with  the  exception  of  a  sliort 
..ime  when  lie  was  located  on  a  regular  charge,  he 
never  received  any  pecuniary  recompense.  On  the 
15th  of  March,  1872,  he  was  called  from  this  life, 
being  then  about  sixty  3'ears  of  age.  His  wife 
survived  him  a  number  of  years  and  passed  away 
on  the  loth  of  November,  1884,  aged  seventy-two 
j'ears.  They  were  among  the  very  early  settlers 
of  Rockville  Township,  and  were  ever  held  in  the 
highest  regai'd  by  many  friends  and  fellow-citi- 
zens. Mr.  Richardson  was  active  in  the  cause  of 
the  Master,  and  was  conscientious  and  upright  to 
the  highest  degree.  He  boie  the  hardships  and 
ditliculties  of  pioneer  life  with  fortitude  and  cour- 
age, and  his  entire  life  was  an  open  book  to  all. 


-*— -^r^-^-i-^- 


%^ANIEL  W.  DOLE,  a  dealer  in  hardware 
and  agricultural  implements  in  Manteno, 
is  one  of  the  honored  earij'  settlei-s  of  this 
count}',  which  has  been  his  iiome  since  1852.  He 
was  horn  in  Shelburne  Township,  Franklin  County, 
Mass.,  on  the  4th  of  April,  1829,  and  is  one  of 
eight  children  born  to  Orrin  and  Lucinda  (Kemp) 
Dole,  who  were  both  natives  of  Massachusetts. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  F^noch 
Dole,  was  a  farmer  in  the  Bay  State,  reared  a 
large  family,  and  lived  to  be  quite  advanced  in 
years.  He  was  three  times  married  and  had  two 
children  by  each  marriage,  but  only  one  is  living, 
Mrs.  .Tulia  Edwards,  of  Wisconsin.  Orrin  Dole  in 
his  younger  days  was  a  cooper  by  trade,  but  soon 
gave  up  that  occupation  and  devoted  nearly  all 
his  life  to  farming.  He  left  M.assachu,setts  and 
removed  to  Ohio  in  1843,  where  he  made  a  settle- 
ment in  Lyme  Township,  Huron  County,  which 
was  his  home  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
IJoth  he  and  his  wife  are  now  deceased,  and  of 
their  five  sons  and  three  daughters  but  five  are 
living:  Daniel  W.  is  the  eldest;  George  S.  and  Ed- 
win reside  in  Bellevue,  Ohio;  Orrin  lives  in  Elyria; 
aiHl  .Tulia  is  the  wife  of  .Tames  Stocking,  a  Con- 
gregational minister  of  Colorado. 


Mr.  Dole,  whose  name  Iieads  this  sketch,  was 
reared  on  his  father's  farms  in  Massachusetts  and 
Ohio,  and  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until 
he  was  twenty-three  3-ears  of  age.  His  school 
jirivilegcs  were  as  good  as  could  be  obtained  in 
the  common  schools  of  that  early  day.  On  the 
23d  of  February,  1854,  he  was  united  in  nuarriage 
with  Miss  Mary  Samantlia  Smith.  Her  parents, 
who  were  both  natives  of  Rutland,  Vt.,  were  Ira 
W.  and  Lois  (Beckwith)  Smith.  Mrs.  Dole  was 
born  in  Lorain  County,  Ohio,  January  1,  1836, 
and  when  seven  years  of  age  came  with  her  parents 
to  what  is  now  Kankakee  County.  She  is  the  sec- 
ond in  order  of  birth  of  six  children,  of  whom 
four  are  still  living.  Her  mother  died  June  7, 
1847,  and  later  her  father  married  again.  By  his 
second  wife  he  had  a  family  of  nine  children, 
though  only  three  of  them  are  living.  l)Oth  of 
Mrs.  Dole's  parents  were  active  workers  in  the 
Baptist  Church.  Mr.  Smith  was  a  prominent  man 
in  his  township  and  among  his  best  friends  were 
many  of  the  leading  men  of  the  county.  As  he 
was  an  extensive  sheep-raiser,  and  as  there  were 
several  Smiths  in  the  vicinity,  he  was  widely  known 
as  "Sheep  Smith." 

Four  sons  and  three  daughters  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dole.  Walter  K.,  who  follows  the  trade 
of  a  carpenter  in  Teotone,  111.,  married  Miss  Jennie 
Stvles,  and  they  have  an  adopted  daughter.  May. 
Lois  N.  is  the  second  child.  Ira  B.  died  May  28, 
1888,  leaving  a  wife,  who  w.as  formerly  Miss  Izetta 
Bernard,  and  two  children,  Clarence  and  Ira.  Lu- 
cinda resides  at  home.  Ilattie  C.  became  the  wife 
of  William  Lownes,  who  owns  and  carries  on  a 
farm  in  Rockville  Township.  Their  family  com- 
prises a  son  and  three  daughters:  Carrie,  Elmer, 
Bertha  and  Margery.  Henry  D.  and  Frederick 
complete  the  number. 

In  1852  Mr.  Dole  came  directly  West  from  Ohio 
to  Illinois,  where,  after  working  for  some  two  years, 
he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  Rockville  Township,  this  county.  After 
cultivating  this  tr.act  and  living  upon  it  for  three 
years,  he  sold  it  and  purchased  two  hundred 
and  thirty-flve  acres  on  section  7.  After  thir- 
teen years  devoted  to  the  improvement  of  this 
farm,  he,  in  1873,  sold  it  to  his  father's  estate  and 


602 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


held  his  interest  as  an  heir  to  his  father's  prop- 
erty. Then  removing  to  Manteno,  he  bought  the 
hardware  store  of  Spring  Bros.,  which  is  still  in 
his  possession,  and  which  business  he  has  con- 
ducted for  nineteen  years.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  was  largely  engaged  in  raising  sheep,  and  on 
one  occasion  during  the  war  sold  one  load  of  wool 
which  brought  him  $1,000.  He  afterward,  how- 
ever, found  that  sheep-raising  was  unprofitable  in 
this  locality,  on  account  of  the  numerous  fatal  dis- 
eases that  from  time  to  time  carried  the  sheep  off 
b}^  the  score.  He  therefore  turned  his  attention 
strictly  to  farming.  At  the  time  of  his  settlement 
in  this  locality  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  was 
staked  out,  but  no  other  work  had  been  done  upon 
it.  He  sometimes  walked  the  entire  distance  to 
Chicago,  because  he  could  make  better  time  tiian 
the  slow-going  stage  of  those  early  days. 

Mr.  Dole  has  never  cared  to  hold  office,  but  was 
Assessor  for  one  year.  Politically,  he  is  a  Repub- 
lican. Both  lie  and  his  wife  hold  membership 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he 
is  at  the  present  time  one  of  the  Trustees,  which 
office  he  has  held  for  many  j'ears,  and  has  also  a 
number  of  times  served  as  Steward.  He  is  held  in 
the  highest  esteem  by  many  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances who  know  his  true  worth. 


-^^ 


(V       JilLLIAM  F. 

\J/    ''  «"«^  of  tl 
Wi     He  is  a  ns 


ILLIAM  F.  STRUNK,  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
the  early  settlers  of  this  county, 
ative  of  the  Empire  State,  his 
birth  occurring  in  Olean,  Cattaraugus  County,  on 
the  19th  of  July,  18.36.  His  paternal  grandfather 
carried  on  agriculture  in  New  York  and  was  quite 
an  extensive  stock-raisei-.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the 
"War  of  1812,  and  died  in  1856,  at  t!ie  age  of 
eighty-one  years.  The  maternal  grandfather  of 
our  subject  was  a  miller  and  millwright  in  the 
East  and  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Illinois, 
coming  to  this  State  as  early  as  1837  with  John 
Strunk,  the  father  of  our  subject,  both  of  them 
bringing  their  families  and  settling  near  Wilming- 
ton, where  they   purchased  land  and    lived  for  a 


number  of  years.     The  father  ran  a  mill,  which  was 
swept  away  by  floating  ice  in  the  winter  of  1848- 
49.     Our   subject   is  a  son  of  John  and   Martha 
(Forbes)  Strunk,  both  natives  of  the  State  of  NewJ 
York,  where  the  father  for  many  years  ran  a  flour,? 
ing-mill  at  Jamestown.  In  their  family  were  three! 
children,  two  daughters  and  a  son:    Mary,  whol 
died  when  about    twenty    years  of   age;  William,! 
and  Helen,    who    became    the    wife   of  Horatio  Y),\ 
Worcester,  of  Momonce,  whose  death  occurred  inJ 
1880.      Mrs.    Worcester   afterward    wedded    Rev.) 
George  Moore,    who   is    the   present  rector  of  the 
Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd   of  Momence.     Ii 
1849  the  father  came  to   Momence,  and  bought  i 
third    interest    in   the    flouring-mill    of    Chatfield 
Todd,  which   business  he  continued  in  until  1855J 
when,  on  the  12th  of  July,  he  died  with  the  dread 
disease,  cholera. 

Mr.  Strunk,  the  subject  of  this  sketcL,  in  his 
boyhood  and  youth  worked  in  his  father's  millsJ 
and  after  the  latter's  death  he  continued  to  carrj 
on  the  business.  In  July,  1861,  he  became  a  mem-, 
ber  of  Company'  D, Forty-second  Illinois  InfantryJ 
and  bravely  fought  for  the  stars  and  stripes  untiB 
October,  1864,  at  which  time  he  was  mustered  oni 
of  service.  He  was  wounded  in  the  battles  of 
Chickamauga  and  Stone  River  and  participated  inl 
many  of  the  hard-fought  engagements  of  the  war,! 
serving  all  through  the  Atlanta  campaign.  After 
returning  from  the  war  he  again  went  to  work 
the  old  mill  in  the  employ  of  Patterson  &  Hamil- 
ton, and  about  two  j'ears  later,  entering  into 
partnership  with  Henry  Miller,  he  rented  the 
mill,  buying  the  lease  of  Patterson  &  Hamilton, 
and  together  they  continued  in  business  until 
1875,  when  the  property  was  sold  to  Gen.  Cass, 
who  tore  the  old  mill  down  a  few  years  later.  On 
the  2.3d  of  October,  1872,  Mr.  Strunk  was  married 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  Gilmore,  of  Momence,  whose 
parents  were  natives  of  Canada,  but  came  to  Chi- 
cago and  there  died  in  1854  of  cholera. 

Our  subject  owns  a  number  of  houses  and  lots  in 
Momence,  over  which  he  keeps  a  careful  supervi- 
sion, but  lias  not  been  actively  engaged  in  business 
life  since  selling  the  mill  property.  In  1884,  he 
was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  which  office  he 
still    holds,   and  is  also  now  serving   as   one   of 


J 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


603 


the  Citj'  Aldermen,  which  position  he  has  held 
almost  since  the  incorporation  of  tiie  town. 
For  three  terms  he  was  the  Mayor  of  Momence, 
an<l  in  all  public  capacities  has  proved  etHcient 
and  trustworthy.  AVhile  not  a  member  of  any 
churcli,  Air.  Strunk  contributes  to  the  support  of 
the  various  churches  of  Momence.  His  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  .Socially,  our 
subject  is  a  member  of  Momence  Lodge  No.  481, 
A.  F.  it  A.  M.,  with  which  he  united  about  1866, 
and  also  of  Ivanhoe  Commander^'  No.  33,  K.  T.,  of 
Kankakee.  He  uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  sup- 
port of  the  Republican  parly,  of  which  he  is  a 
stanch  adherent.  He  is  one  of  the  very  earliest  set- 
tlers of  Momence,  having  come  here  forty-two  years 
ago,  when  fences  were  not  to  be  seen  and  there 
were  not  more  than  a  dozen  houses  in  the  vicin- 
itj',  two  or  three  of  them  being  log  cabins.  AV^ild 
animals  and  game  of  all  kinds  still  roamed  over  the 
prairies,  which  in  their  barren  and  wild  state 
gave  little  promise  of  what  was  to  be  in  the  com- 
ing years.  In  his  personal  appearance  our  subject 
is  a  tall,  rugged  looking  man  of  modest  mien  and 
kindly  disposition,  and  is  highly  respected  in  the 
community.  His  mother,  who  is  now  very  old, 
is  still  living  and  makes  her  home  with  our  sub- 
ject on  what  is  known  as  the  "Island,"  situated 
near  one  of  the  main  streets  between  the  two 
branches  of  the  Kankakee  River. 


J  I  ACOB   E.   WILLMAN,  a  leading  citizen  of 
Kankakee,  has  the  honor  of  being  a  native 
I    of    this   county    and  is  a  representative  of 
'    one  of    its    pioneer    families.     His    father, 

Carl  Willraan,  is  a  native  of  Germany.  Having 
crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  to  America,  he  came  to 
Illinois  in  1854,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  the  city 
of  Kankakee,  where  he  yet  makes  his  home.  He  is 
numbered  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  com- 
munity and  has  witnessed  much  of  its  growth  and 
upbuilding.  His  wife,  the  mother  of  our  subject, 
I  died  many  years  ago. 

The  Willman   family  numbered  seven  children. 


three  sons  and  four  daughters.  Amelia,  the  eldest 
of  the  family,  is  now  the  wife  of  Philip  Sclinable, 
and  a  resident  of  Geneseo,  Henry  County,  111. 
Minnie  is  the  wife  of  F.  Erzinger,  who  makes  his 
home  in  Iloopcstown,  111.  .Tulia  married  Christian 
Mire,  of  San  Luis,  Cal.,  where  they  now  reside. 
Charles  G.,  the  eldest  of  the  brothers,  is  a  resident 
of  Fillmore,  Cal.  Jacob  E.,  of  this  sketch,  is  the 
next  younger.  Carrie,  wife  of  Sigle  Green,  resides 
in  Plattsmouth,  Neb.;  and  John  L.,who  completes 
the  family,  is  now  located  in  Idaho. 

Mr.  Willman,  our  subject,  was  born  in  Kankakee 
on  the  3d  of  April,  185;"),  and  his  entire  life  has 
been  passed  in  the  city  of  his  birth.  As  to  his 
business,  he  has  generally  followed  the  occupation 
of  farming,  and  for  a  period  of  five  years,  from 
1883  until  1888,  he  held  the  position  of  .Superin- 
tendent of  the  Kankakee  County  Poor  Farm.  His 
management  of  the  county  property  was  most  sat- 
isfactory and  acceptable  to  the  people,  as  his  long 
continuance  in  that  ofiice  gives  evidence. 

February'  8,  1876,  Mr.  Willman  was  united  in 
marri.age  to  Miss  Maiy  McLane,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Her  father,  Enos  McLane,  emigrated  to 
this  county  in  1865,  accompanied  by  his  family, 
but  he  w.as  not  long  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new 
home,  for  soon  after  his  arrival  he  was  acccidentally 
drowned  in  the  Kankakee  River.  Mrs.  McLane 
also  passed  awa3-  several  years  ago.  Their  family 
numbered  seven  children.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Willman  have  been  born  four  children,  all  sons, as 
follows:  Arthur  Charles,  .Jerome  E.,  Herman  P. 
and  Clarence  Walter.  All  the  family  are  members 
of  the  German  Evangelical  Association  of  Kan- 
kakee. 

Mr.  Willman  is  also  numbered  among  the  early 
settlers  of  the  county,  for  his  residence  here  cov- 
ers a  period  of  more  than  thirty-seven  3'ears.  He 
has  witnessed  much  of  its  growth  and  upbuilding 
aud  has  borne  a  part  in  its  development  and  ad- 
vancement. He  takes  a  commendable  interest  in 
all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  community 
and  gives  his  support  to  those  enterprises  calcula- 
lated  to  prove  of  public  benefit.  He  exercises  his 
right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  Republican 
party  but  has  never  been  a  politician  in  the  sense 
of  office-seeking.     In  December,  1892,  he  assumed 


604 


POiiTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  duties  of  the  oflice  of  Coroner,  which  position 
he  still  liolds.  He  is  a  well-known  and  highly  re- 
spected citizen,  whose  sterling  worth  and  man}' 
excellencies  of  character  have  won  him  universal 
esteem.  Mr.  Willnian  has  been  quite  successful  in 
his  business  undertakings,  as  starting  with  nothing, 
he  has  accumulated  valuable  property. 


3xxixjj^ 


?REDERICK  POLLMANN,  of  Kankakee, 
has  been  a  resident  of  tliis  county  since  1864. 
At  that  time  he  settled  upon  a  new  farm 
in  Pilot  Township,  on  section  o.  He  purcliased 
his  original  farm  of  eighty  acres  for  16  per  acre 
and  afterward  increased  his  possessions  to  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres.  He  erected  good  build- 
ings and  made  other  improvements,  making  of  liis 
place  one  of  the  best  farms  in  that  portion  of  the 
township. 

Our  subject  is  a  native  of  Germany,  his  birth 
having  occurred  October  23,  1824,  in  Lippe-Det- 
mold.  His  father,  Henry  Pollmann,  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation,  and  his  family  consisted  of  three 
sons  and  three  daughters.  Two  of  the  brothers 
and  sisters  are  all  who  ever  left  the  Fatherland  to 
take  up  their  abode  in  America.  Tiie  first  to  leave 
the  parental  roof  was  our  subject,  who  crossed  the 
briny  deep  in  1848,  and  upon  his  arrival  in  New 
York  Citj'  went  at  once  to  St.  Louis.  There  he 
continued  for  some  time,  when,  going  to  Pekin, 
111.,  he  made  that  city  his  home  for  a  number  of 
years. 

Mr.  Pollmann  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Louise  Kumlehn  on  the  22d  of  February,  1852,  in 
St.  Louis,  Mo.  The  lady  was  born  in  Brunswick, 
Germanjr,  August  13,  1827,  and  emigrated  to 
America  about  the  year  1850.  Her  parents  never 
left  the  Fatherland,  but  died  in  the  State  of  their 
nativity  while  Mrs.  Pollmann  was  quite  a  young 
girl.  Our  subject  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  wife,  who  passed  away  April  10,  1891. 
They  had  journc^'ed  through  life  together  for 
nearlj'  forty  years.  Their  union  was  blessed  by 
two   daughters,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Mary,  is  the 


wife  of  Jacob  Gocker,  of  Essex  Township,  Kanka- 
kee County.  Louise  resides  with  her  father  in 
their  pleasant  home  in  Kankakee. 

Mr.  Pollmann  removed  with  his  family  to  Kan- 
kakee in  1884,  wliicli  he  has  made  his  liome  up  to 
the  present  time.  He,  however,  continued  to  own 
his  farm  property  until  1892,  at  which  time  he 
sold  the  same  and,  wholl}'  retired  from  active  bus- 
iness cares,  now  enjoys  the  rest  he  has  so  well 
earned  by  his  j'ears  of  toil  and  industry.  Mr.  Poll- 
mann h.as  ever  been  esteemed  a  worthy  and  rep- 
resentative citizen.  Settling  as  he  did  upon  a  new 
farm  which  he  improved  and  made  a  valuable 
place,  he  thus  contributed  to  tiie  material  growth 
and  development  of  the  county.  He  and  his  daugh- 
ter are  attendants  at  St.  John's  Evangelical  Church 
of  Kankakee.  Politically,  Mr.  Pollmann  is  a  Re- 
publican, though  never  an  aspirant  for  public 
office. 


_~-<bT 


>^^<m^ 


yl-lLLlAAl  VL 
'    ieroftheK 
\J^^      pany,   was 


|;;ILLIAM  CLEGHORN, Secretary  and  Cash- 
Kankakee  Stone  and  Lime  Com- 
born  in  Port  Hope,  county  of 
Durham,  Province  of  Ontario,  Canada,  August  1, 
1839,  and  is  a  son  of  John  W.  and  Artemisia 
(Burnham)  Cleghorn,  who  were  from  Ogdensburgh, 
N.  Y.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  and 
educated  in  his  native  county,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1865  he  came  to  Kankakee,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed as  agent  of  the  American  Express  Company 
for  five  years.  Afterward,  he  was  engaged  in  the 
grocerj'  business  for  four  years,  then  accepting  the 
position  he  now  holds  with  the  Kankakee  Stone 
and  Lime  Company,  which  position  he  has  filled 
to  the  satisfaction  of  the  companj'  since  1872,  or 
for  a  period  of  twenty  years. 

On  the  30th  of  January,  1874,  Mr.  Cleghorn 
wedded  Miss  Martha  J.  Perry,  a  native  of  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  James  C.  Perry. 
Two  children,  a  son  and  daughter,  grace  their  un- 
ion: Leila  Belle  and  Duane  Perry. 

Mr.  Cleghorn  uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  favor 
of  the  Democratic  party.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  St.  Paul's  Episcopal  Church  at  Kanka- 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

»i"'vtiiiiiry  Of  ILLIIVOIS 


/P-^ce^i/^.^^    ^'^- 


^u^-^ 


■v.^*. ,       ^»,f*^"-''^i^,. 


v^f^';:. 


^-^ 


■MVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


605 


1       kee.     Mr.  Clegliorn  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason,  a 

member  of  Kankakee  Lodge  No.  389,  A.  F.  it  A.  M.; 

I       a  charter   member  of    Kankakee    Cliaiitor    No.  78, 

'       R.  A.  M.;  and  of    Ivan  hoe  Commandery  No.  33, 

K.  T. 


P        ENRY  S.  BLOOM,  one  of  the  few  snrviving 
pioneers  of   Kankakee   County   who  came 

*W^    in  the  '30s,  is  now  a  resident  of  Kanlx.akee. 

(^J  He  was  born  in  Bradford  County,  Pa.,  on 
the  5th  of  August,  1820,  and  is  a  son  of  David 
and  Polly  (Rutty)  Bloom.  He  emigrated  to  Illi- 
nois with  his  parents  in  1834,  and  settled  on  sec- 
tion 23,  Rockville  Township,  Kankakee  County-, 
in  1837.  There  were  tiien  living  in  that  portion 
of  the  county  onl^'  Noel  Le  Vasseur,  Dr.  Todd, 
William  Rantz  and  Samuel  Davis.  The  first  mill- 
ing was  done  at  Green's  Mills,  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Fox  River,  some  forty  miles  away,  and  in  those 
.daj-s  a  week's  journey.  Supplies  were  obtained 
from  Wabash  County,  Ind.,  and  on  one  occasion 
Mr.  Bloom  was  obliged  to  go  to  Bourbonnais 
Grove,  six  miles  distant  froTn  his  home,  to  borrow 
fire,  which  he  brought  in  a  brass  kettle,  at  that 
time  lucifor  matches  being  unknown  in  that  wild 
region. 

In  Wilmington,  Will  Countv,  on  the  11th  of 
December,  1844,  occurred  the  wedding  of  Mr. 
Bloom  and  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Kearns,  who  was 
born  in  Montgomery  County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  Mo- 
hawk. She  is  a  daughter  of  .John  and  Margaret 
Kearns.  To  our  subject  and  his  wife  were  born 
the  following  children,  of  whom  eleven  are  now 
living.  Gu3'  married  .Jane  Noble  and  resides 
in  Joliet;  Edith  is  at  home;  Hilda  is  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Monty;  iNIaj-  is  now  deceased;  Inez  is  with 
her  parents;  Ivan  married  Fannie  Zanes;  David 
wedded  Henrietta  Davis  and  resides  in  St.  Louis, 
Mo.;  IJnda  is  the  wife  of  Enoch  Loving,  of  Yuma, 
Cal.;  Victor  died  at  Leadville,  Colo.,  aged  twenty 
years;  Osburga  is  at  home;  Thomas  D.  is  now  in 
California;  Maggie  and  Belle  are  at  home,  and 
Harry  Lee  resides  in  the  city  of  Mexico,  Mo. 
Mr.  Bloom  has  alw.ays    engaged   in  agricultural 


pursuits  until  1876,  when  he  removed  to  Kankakee, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  In  early  life  he  was  a 
Democrat  but  is  now  a  Prohibitionist.  He  was 
one  of  the  commissioners  who  organized  Kanka- 
kee County  in  1853,  and  has  a  number  of  times 
been  honored  by  his  fellow-citizens  in  the  election 
or  appointment  to  various  local  offices.  He  was 
elected  Justice  of  the  Peace  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty-two  and  occupied  that  position  for  four- 
teen years.  At  some  time  or  other  he  has  also 
filled  all  of  the  township  offices,  with  the  sole  ex- 
ception of  Collector.  He  was  appointed  Post- 
master of  Rockville  b}^  President  Pierce.  Among 
other  responsible  duties,  Mr.  Bloom  has  been  serv- 
ing as  the  eflicient  Secretary  of  the  Ivankakee  Ag- 
ricultural and  Horticultural  Society.  In  all  of  the 
responsible  positions  which  he  has  filled,  our  sub- 
ject has  acquitted  himself  creditably.  He  has  been 
associated  with  the  Grange  of  Illinois,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Rockville  Grange,  also  of  the  Kan- 
kakee Grange,  of  which  he  was  Jlaster.  The  lat- 
ter is  now  non-alliliated.  Mr.  Bloom  possesses  a 
rich  fund  of  information  and  is  an  entertaining 
talker;  especially  pleasing  is  his  relation  of  the 
early  incidents  and  settlement  of  Kankakee  County, 
where  he  has  passed  fifty-five  years  of  his  life. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  of  Kankakee. 


JOSEPH  LKGRIS.  Conspicuous  among  the 
early  pioneers  of  Ivankakee  County  of 
French-Canadian  birth,  who  distinguished 
_  themselves  by  their  financial  success  in  their 
new  homes,  was  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He 
was  born  in  St.  Leon,  Province  of  (Quebec,  Canada, 
on  the  7th  of  September,  1827,  and  was  a  son  of 
Moses  and  Sylvia  (Flageole)  Lcgris,  who  were  also 
nati\es  of  Canada  and  were  of  French  extraction. 
They  came  to  what  is  now  Kankakee  County,  III., 
in  1843,  and  settled  in  Bourbonnais,  where  they 
were  joined  the  following^'ear  by  their  son  Joseph, 
who  made  his  home  in  that  town. 


606 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Our  subject  was  married  on  the  10th  of  May, 
1857,  in  Bourbonnais,  to  Miss  Cleophe  Sylvester, 
who  was  born  on  the  17th  of  February,  1841,  at 
Cape  St.  Ignace,  Province  of  Quebec,  and  came  to 
Illinois  with  her  parents  in  1848.  Eight  children 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Legris,  as  follows: 
Rev.  Gerasime  Legris,  A.  M.,  professor  of  philoso- 
phy of  history  at  St.  Viateur's  College,  Kanitakee, 
111.;  Frederick  E.,  wlio  married  Miss  Mary  Joubert 
and  is  a  resident  of  Kankakee,  doing  a  brokerage 
business  and  having  charge  of  his  father's  es- 
tate; Alphonso  E.,  a  law  student,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  twent}'-one  3'ears;  Maria,  deceased;  Harvey 
J.,  who  married  Miss  Louise  Granger,  and  is  en- 
gaged in  the  real-estate  business  in  Kankakee; 
Mary,  who  resides  with  her  mother  in  Bourbonnais; 
Louisa,  who  died  when  two  years  of  age;  and 
Thomas  A.,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  now  a  stu- 
dent at  St.  Viateur's  College. 

In  1853  Mr.  Legris  went  to  California,  where  he 
spent  three  and  a-half  years  in  gold-mining,  and 
was  quite  successful,  as  he  returned  with  about 
$7,000  in  gold.  His  father  had  preceded  him  to 
California  on  the  first  breaking  out  of  the  gold 
fever  in  1849,  and  returned  about  1852.  Joseph, 
being  the  eldest  of  the  children,  remained  in 
charge  of  the  family  during  his  father's  absence. 
In  1853  the  father  and  our  subject  went  to  Cali- 
fornia together,  and  the  former  made  several  jour- 
neys to  and  from  California  during  several  years. 
In  the  course  of  his  travels  he  had  various  inter- 
esting adventures  and  experiences,  as  did  also  our 
subject.  They  made  the  trip  to  California  by  way 
of  New  York  and  the  ocean  route,  and  returned 
the  same  way. 

INIr.  Legtis  received  a  fair  education  in  his  na- 
tive tongue,  and  spent  nearly  two  j'ears  in  college 
in  Canada.  At  manhood  he  began  life  poor,  but 
was  possessed  of  indomitable  energy,  frugal  habits 
and  rare  business  sagacity.  On  his  return  from 
California  he  invested  his  money  in  land,  which 
he  made  productive,  and  as  his  capital  accumulated 
he  continued  to  invest  in  real  estate,  mostly  in 
good  farming  land,  when  property  of  that  class 
was  cheap.  He  bought  and  sold,  and  accumulated 
a  large  landed  estate,  which  at  his  death,  on  the 
30th  of  March,  1888,  amounted  to  nearly  a  half- 


million  dollars  in  value.  Considering  the  circum- 
stances in  early  life,  Mr.  Legris  made  a  grand  suc- 
cess of  his  opportunities,  and  developed  remarka- 
ble financial  abilit}'.  At  his  death  he  left  a  large 
fortune  to  be  divided  among  his  family,  notwitli- 
standing  he  began  as  a  day  laborer,  working  in 
the  harvest  field  for  fifty  cents  per  day.  He  was 
a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the  Cath- 
olic Church.  His  wife,  who  survives  him,  and 
their  children  are  also  of  the  same  faith.  The 
family  has  contributed  liberally  to  St.  Viateur's 
College.  Mr.  Legris  was  widely  known  through- 
out the  county,  and  commanded  the  respect  of  all 
his  fellow-citizens. 


ZENAS  STEVENS  is  an  honored  pioneer  of 
this  county,  and  is  now  living  a  retired  life 
in  Manteno.  He  was  born  in  the  township 
of  Hamburg,  near  Buffalo,  Erie  County,  N.  Y.,  on 
the  5th  of  April,  1829,  and  is  a  son  of  Ansel  and 
Marilla  (Foster)  Stevens.  The  paternal  grand- 
father, Abner  Stevens,  owned  and  operated  a  farm 
in  Vermont,  in  which  State  his  death  occurred  in 
1848.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject  on  his 
mother's  side  bore  the  name  of  Stukely  Foster,  and 
was  also  a  Vermont  agriculturist.  He  participated 
in  the  War  of  1812,  and  his  father  was  a  general 
under  Washington  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 
Ansel  Stevens  w.as  born  on  the  30th  of  June, 
1800,  and  is  now  in  his  ninety-third  year.  His 
wife  died  in  August,  1868,  at  theageof  sixty-four 
years,  her  birthday  being  on  the  29th  of  June,  the 
day  before  that  of  her  husband,  who  was  six  years 
her  senior.  When  sixteen  years  of  age  he  left 
Vermont,  having  received  a  good  education  in  his 
native  town,  Rutland,  which  was  also  the  birthplace 
of  his  wife.  From  the  Green  Mountain  State  he 
went  to  New  Y'oik,  where  he  followed  agriculture 
for  some  twent^'-eight  3'ears.  He  was  married 
October  16,  1825.  In  1844  he  moved  Westward 
to  Illinois  and  located  north  of  Lockport,  Will 
County,  where  he  lived  for  five  years,  after  which 
he   came   into  Rockville   Township,   of  the  same 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRArHICAL   RECORD. 


607 


county,  but  now  Manteno  Township,  Kankakee 
County,  and  in  partnei>lii|)  \Yith  his  son  Zenas 
boughtone  hundred  andsixt^y  acres  of  Government 
land.  On  this  farm  thev  lived  until  186'),  when 
they  returned  to  Rockville  Township  and  there 
lived  until  March,  1888.  At  that  time  they  finally 
retired  from  farming  and  now  live  in  JNIanteno. 
Four  sons  and  four  daughters  were  born  to  Ansel 
Stevens  and  his  wife,  their  first  child  being  a  daugli- 
ter,  the  second  a  son,  and  thus  alternating  to  the 
last.  Only  two  are  now  living:  Zenas, and  Abner 
T.,  of  Goodland,  Ind.,  who  is  alsoa  retired  farmer. 
AVilli  the  exception  of  ten  years  after  his  mar- 
riage, our  subject  and  his  father  have  always  lived 
together.  At  that  time  their  lioraes  were  only 
about  fort}-  rods  apart.  The  main  part  of  the  edu- 
cation of  Mr.  Stevens  was  acquired  in  New  York. 
On  the  Gth  of  September,  1855,  were  married  Zenas 
Stevens  and  Amanda  Ilaughn.  Her  parents,  who 
were  both  natives  of  Mrginia,  were  John  and  Eliza 
Jane  (Stewart)  Ilaughn.  A  sun  and  five  daughters 
have  been  born  of  this  union.  The  son  died  in 
infancy  but  the  otiiers  are  still  living.  In  order 
of  birth  they  are  Maiilla  Jane,  wife  of  Warren  L. 
IMann,  a  farmer  of  Rockville  Township,  and  their 
family  consists  of  five  children:  Archie,  Howard, 
Edith,  Elsie  and  Jane.  Dimmis  Eliza  became  the 
wife  of  Edgar  E.  Grimes,  who  also  operates  a  farm 
in  Rockville  Township.  They  have  four  children: 
Bernard,  Laura,  Claude  and  Hazel  A.  Effie  Elvira 
wedded  Joseph  Gruber,  an  agriculturist  of  Rock- 
ville Townsliip.  Elsie  Amelia,  wife  of  Walter  S. 
Grimes,  has  three  children:  Harold,  Rexford  and 
Charles.  Mr.  Grimes  is  engaged  in  farming  in 
I  Rockville  Township.  Lavina  Ann  is  the  wife  of 
Walter  S.  Mann,  a  carpenter  of  Rockville.  Their 
union  has  been  graced  by  three  children:  Beatrice, 
Ansel  and  Clayton. 
j  When  Jlr.  Stevens  came  to  what  is  now  Kanka- 
kee Count}'  in  1844,  there  was  not  a  house  or  tree 
I  in  Manteno  Township,  and  he  used  to  hunt  all 
'  over  the  wilderness  either  on  foot  or  horseback. 
'  The  Indians  had  nearly  all  departed  for  their  West- 
ern reservations,  however,  and  those  that  remained 
I  were  principally  lialf-brceds.  Wolves  and  wild 
j  game  of  all  kinds  abounded  and  Mr.  Stevens  lias 
j  often  seen  as  many  asthirt3or  forty  deer  in  a  herd. 


and  once  saw  a  drove  of  fully  a  hundred.  He  and 
Mr.  Tubbs  hauled  the  first  two  carloads  of  lumber 
into  Kankakee  County,  having  to  unload  it  at 
Rock  Creek  as  the  I  llinois  Central  Railroad  had  not 
yet  been  Iniilt  to  Kankakee.  Since  March,  1888, 
he  has  been  a  resident  of  Manteno,  where  he  owns 
a  comfortable  home  and  carries  on  a  livery.  He 
owned  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in 
Rockville  Township,  but  of  this  has  sold  sixty-five 
acres.  The  remainder  he  rents,  having  retired  from 
farm  labor. 

Though  not  a  member  of  any  religious  denomi- 
nation, Mr.  Stevens  attends  the  Methodist  Church, 
of  which  his  wife  is  a  member  and  to  which  he 
gives  his  sui)port.  He  has  filled  nearly  every  office 
in  the  township  and  has  also  served  for  two  years 
as  Village  Trustee.  Since  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party  he  has  been  one  of  its  loyal  ad- 
vocates and  has  ever  voted  that  ticket.  lie  helped 
to  organize  Manteno  Township  and  as  there  were 
not  enough  men  in  the  township  eligible  to  hold 
the  offices,  some  were  given  two  offices,  namely 
that  of  Constable  and  Collector.  Mr.  Stevens  has 
witnessed  the  entire  growth  of  this  county,  and 
has  ever  borne  his  part  as  a  faithful  citizen. 


^^1@@©I^I*^^ 


■^fJAMES  S.  NICHOLS  has  one  of  the  finest 
improved  farms  in  this  county  and  is  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  general  stock-raising 
on  section  8,  (ianier  Township.  He  has 
the  honor  of  being  a  native  of  this  county,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Momence  Township  on 
the  3d  of  April,  1848.  lie  is  a  son  of  James  and 
Melinda  (Prather)  Nichols.  The  father  was  one 
of  the  old  pioneers  of  this  count}'  and  was  a 
highly  respected  citizen.  His  family  consisted  of 
eight  children,  of  whom  all  are  living  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  eldest.  The  father  of  this  family 
died  in  1857,  but  his  wife  is  still  living. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were  passed 
upon  the  farm  on  which  he  was  born.  He  received 
the  privileges  of  the  district  schools,  which  he  at- 
tended during  a  portion  of  the   year  until  seven- 


608 


PORTRAIT  AJSTD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


teen  j'ears  of  age.  He  remained  at  home  with  his 
parents,  assisting  his  father  in  carrjing  on  the 
farm,  until  the  j'ear  1871,  when  he  married  Miss 
Lena  II.  Crawford,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Ebenezer 
and  Nanc}'  V.  Crawford.  Cue  eliild  has  Ijeen 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nichols,  a  son,  Albert  C, 
seventeen  years  of  age,  now  attending  school  In 
Moraenee. 

At  the  present  time,  our  subject,  in  partnership 
with  his  elder  brother,  William  G.,  is  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock-raising.  He  operates  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  8,  which 
is  one  of  the  finest  tracts  in  this  county.  They 
raise  mostlj'  Hereford  cattle. 

Mr.  Nichols  uses  his  riglit  of  franchise  in  favor 
of  the  Republican  party  and  has  served  his  town- 
ship acceptably  as  School  Director  and  Road  Com- 
missioner. He  always  assists  all  public  enterprises, 
and  is  a  good  citizen  and  a  successful  farmer.  He 
has  resided  in  this  county  during  his  whole  life  and 
has  won  the  friendship  and  respect  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  resides. 


AMUEL  SHRONTZ,  an  honored  veteran  of 
the  late  war,  is  now  carrying  on  agricul- 
tural pursuits  on  section  28,  Momence 
Township,  where  he  owns  an  excellent 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He  was 
born  on  the  28th  of  June,  1843,  in  Paris,  Portage 
County,  Ohio  and  is  a  son  of  John  Shrontz.  His  fa- 
ther was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  was  of 
German  lineage.  In  his  youth  he  went  to  the 
Buckeye  State,  where  he  became  acquainted  with 
and  married  Mrs.  Magdelcna  Ken  rich,  who  was  a 
native  of  Ohio.  For  a  number  of  years  they  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  that  State,  the  year  1850  wit- 
nessing their  arrival  in  Illinois.  They  took  up 
their  residence  in  this  county,  locating  upon  a 
farm  of  partially  improved  land,  where  Mr.  Shrontz 
continued  to  engage  in  agricultural  pursuits  until 
1889,  when  he  returned  to  Ohio.  In  the  family 
were  five  children,  three   sons  and  two  daughters. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  the  eldest  of 
the  family',  spent  the  da3'S  of  his  boyhood  in  his 
parents'  home,  his  time  being  passed  in  attendance 
at  the  common  district  schools,  where  he  acquired 
his  education,  or  at  work  in  the  fields.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen  he  left  home  to  offer  his  services  to 
the  Government.  The  war  had  broken  out  and 
the  North  had  found  that  the  rebellious  States 
were  not  so  soon  to  be  brought  under  subjection 
as  had  been  anticipated.  More  men  were  needed, 
and,  prompted  by  patriotic  impulses,  Mr.  Shrontz 
responded  to  the  call  for  troops  and  on  the  6th  of 
August,  1862,  enlisted  as  a  member  of  Companj'  H, 
Seventy-sixth  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  in  the  ser- 
vice for  about  three  years  and  participated  in 
a  number  of  important  engagements.  At  the  bat- 
tle of  Ft.  Blakely  he  was  wounded,  and  on  the  9th 
of  April  1865,  was  taken  to  the  hospital  in  New 
Orleans,  where  he  was  confined  for  about  four 
weeks.  The  wound  was  a  gunshot  wound  in  his 
right  shoulder.  When  he  was  suflflciently  recov- 
ered to  return  home  he  received  an  honorable  dis- 
charge, on  the  31st  of  May,  1865,  and  made  his 
way  to  the  North. 

AVhen  Mr.  Shrontz  again  reached  Kankakee 
Count}^  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  which 
pursuit  he  has  since  followed.  He  was  then  only 
about  twenty-one  j'ears  of  age — a  young  man  with- 
out capital.  On  the  22d  of  February,  1866,  he  se- 
cured as  a  helpmate  and  companion  on  life's  jour- 
ney Miss  Sarah  Carpenter,  who  was  born  in  New 
York,  October  14,  1841,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Nicholas  and  Julia  (Rowly)  Carpenter.  Her  par- 
ents were  also  natives  of  the  Empire  State,  and 
both  came  of  old  English  families.  In  an  early 
day,  when  Mrs.  Shrontz  was  quite  a  small  child, 
her  parents  emigrated  Westward  to  this  county 
and  here  spent  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Unto 
our  subject  and  his  wife  were  born  three  children,of 
whom  two  are  yet  living.  John,  born  December 
11,  1866,  died  in  infancj';  Clara,  who  was  born 
June  4,  1868,  is  a  well-educated  young  lady;  and 
Mack,  born  August  17,  1873,  completes  the  family. 

As  before  stated,  Mr.  Shrontz'  farm  comprises 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  valuable  laud, 
which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
well  improved.     It   is   located    about    three  miles 


i 


ii 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

w'Vfinsny  Of  liUHOis 


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,  ,  "iSiiiMi:^      1^ 


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I 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

MMIVEF.SITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


* 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAMIlCiVL   RECORD. 


613 


southeast  of  Momence,  and  thus  the  advantages  of 
city  life  are  easily  attainable.  He  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  substantial  and  prominent  agriculturists 
of  the  coninumity,  and  is  also  a  self-made  man. 
In  his  political  views,  he  is  a  Republican  and 
warmly  supports  the  principles  of  that  party,  in 
whose  success  he  manifests  a  deep  interest,  3'et  he 
hfis  never  sought  or  desired  public  office,  preferring 
to  devote  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  his 
business,  in  which  he  has  met  a  well-deserved  suc- 
cess. Sociall3',  he  is  a  member  of  Worcester  Post, 
No.  627,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Grant  Park.  In  his  country's 
hour  of  peril  he  proved  one  of  her  able  defenders, 
and  in  the  da3-8  of  peace  he  is  alike  true  as  one  of 
her  faithful  citizens,  manifesting  a  commendable 
interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  his 
town  and  county. 


-^-^+^[ 


it?       UTHER  B.  BRATTON  is  a  leading  and  in- 


I  (p,  fluential  farmer  of  Limestone  Township. 
il'—^V,  He  resides  on  section  27,  where  he  has 
made  his  home  for  a  number  of  years.  His  landed 
possessions  now  comprise  five  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  all  situated  in  this  township,  and  his 
home  farm  is  one  of  the  best  improved  in  this  lo- 
cality. We  there  see  well-lilled  fields,  whose  great 
fertility  indicates  the  care  and  supervision  of  a 
thrift\owner,  while  the  many  improvements  on  the 
place  indicate  his  progressive  spirit.  A  desirable 
farm  is  the  home  of  our  subject. 

Mr.  Bratton  was  born  on  the  5th  of  August, 
1833,  in  Daviess  County,  Ind.,and  comes  of  anold 
New  England  family.  His  father,  John  L.  Brat- 
ton, was  born  in  Lexington,  Ky.,  in  1794,  but  his 
ancestors  lived  in  the  East.  He  became  one  of 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  Hoosier  State,  and  there 
spent  his  remaining  days,  his  death  occurring  in 
1841,  at  the  age  of  forty-seven  3-ears.  His  wife, 
Mary  Bratton,  was  also  a  native  of  Kentucky,  born 
of  New  England  parentage,  and  died  in  this 
county  at  the  age  of  about  sixt3'-five  years.  Their 
family  numbered  six  children,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters,  of  whom  Luther  was  the  fifth  in  order 
Of  birth. 

28 


We  now  take  up  our  subject's  personal  his- 
tory, knowing  that  it  will  prove  of  interest  to 
man3'  of  our  readers,  for  he  is  widel3'  and  favor- 
ably known  in  this  county.  Under  the  parental 
roof  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  were 
passed,  and  the  educational  privileges  he  received 
were  those  afforded  by  the  common  schools.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-three  he  left  home,  and  since 
that  time  has  been  dependent  upon  his  own  re- 
sources, so  that  whatever  success  he  has  achieved 
in  life  is  due  to  his  own  efforts.  He  had  quite 
a  small  capital,  ^1  for  each  year  that  he  had 
lived.  He  first  went  to  Minnesota  and  took  up  a 
homestead  near  Mankato,  upon  which  he  resided 
for  about  a  year.  He  then  left  that  place,  and  in 
1859  came  to  Kankakee  County,  where  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  partially 
improved  land. 

On  the  12th  of  Jauuar3-  of  the  following  year, 
when  t wen t3'- five  years  of  age,  Mr.  Bratton  mar- 
ried Miss  Ursula  E.  Bowdle,  who  was  then  living 
in  Kankakee  Count3'.  She  was  born,  however,  in 
Allen  County,  Ohio,  August  25,  1836,  and  was  the 
only  daughter  of  Henry  W.  and  Catherine  A. 
(  Rust )  Bowdle,  although  they  had  two  sons. 
Her  parents  were  both  natives  of  the  Buckeye 
State,  but  their  ancestors  had  lived  in  New  Eng- 
land for  several  generations.  Mr.  Bowdle  came 
with  his  family  to  Kankakee  County  in  an  early 
day,  and  the  daughter  received  a  good  education 
in  the  public  schools.  She  is  a  lady  of  many  ex- 
cellencies of  character,  and  is  held  in  high  esteem. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bratton  have  been  born  nine 
children,  as  follows:  Katie  May;  Jessie  B.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years;  Grace  E., 
wife  of  Edgar  J.  Smith,  a  prosperous  farmer  of 
this  county;  Ruby;  Cora  E.,  now  Mrs.  Michael 
Falter  (see  Mr.  George  Falter's  biography) ;  Luther 
B.,  who  is  now  attending  the  Normal  College  of 
Valparaiso,  Ind.;  AValter  G.,  Henry  Ray  and 
Maudie  E. 

In  his  social  relations,  Mr.  Bratton  is  a  Mason, 
holding  membership  with  Kankakee  Lodge  No. 
389,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  In  politics,  he  has  been  a  Re- 
publican since  the  birth  of  that  party.  His  first 
Presidential  vote  was  cast  for  Millard  Fillmore. 
For  three  years  he  filled  the  office  of  Road  Com- 


614 


i-ORTRAlT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


missioner,  and  for  the  long  period  ot  twenty-two 
years  lias  been  a  School  Director.  Tlie  cause  of  ed- 
ucation finds  in  him  a  warm  friend,  and  he  does 
all  in  his  power  for  the  schools  and  their  advance- 
ment. He  is  recognized  as  a  valued  citizen  of  the 
community,  for  he.  has  ever  m.anifested  a  com- 
mendable interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  wel- 
fare of  the  town  and  county,  and  his  aid  has  never 
been  withheld  from  any  worthy  enterprise  calcu- 
lated to  promote  the  general  welfare. 


IDC.AR  EUGENE  HOTCIIKISS,  the  senior 
photographic  artist  of  Kankakee,  was  born 
on  the  6th  of  November,  1843,  in  Birming- 
ham, Conn.  His  father,  Aaron  T.  Hotchkiss,  was 
a  native  of  Bethany,  Conn.,  and  his  ancestors 
were  of  Puritan  stock,  having  located  in  tiie  Con- 
necticut colony  prior  to  the  War  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Harriet  Cook  Yale.  She  is  a  native  of 
Yalesville,  Conn.,  which  town  was  named  in  honor 
of  her  father.  Harriet  Yale  was  descended  from  a 
brother  of  Gov.  Yale,  the  noted  founder  of  Yale 
College.  Her  grandfather  was  a  Captain  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  and  her  father  was  a  man  of 
prominence  in  the  community  in  which  he  made 
his  home. 

Aaron  T.  Hotchkiss,  upon  his  father's  death,  re- 
ceived $1,000,  with  which  he  established  himself 
in  business  as  a  wholesale  dealer  in  books  and 
periodicals  in  Boston.  Success  crowned  his  ef- 
forts and  he  became,  for  that  day,  wealtliy.  Sub- 
sequently, by  endorsing  and  trusting  too  much  to 
others,  he  was  financially  ruined.  About  1855,  he 
removed  to  New  York  City  and  there  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  daj's,  passing  away  when  some 
sixty-eight  years  of  age.  Politically,  he  was  a 
Whig  and  later  a  Republican.  His  widow  is  still 
living  and  resides  with  a  daughter  in  Fairfield, 
Conn.  Their  family  numbered  three  children,  a 
son  and  two  daughters,  all  yet  living. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  eldest.  Prior 
to  his  sixteenth  year  he  received  good  educational 


advantages.  In  1861,  he  began  the  study  of  pho- 
tography in  Ne'R'  York.  Two  years  later,  in  1863, 
having  determined  to  try  his  fortune  in  the  West, 
he  came  to  Kankakee,  111.,  and  has  since  carried  on 
business  at  this  place  continuously,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  two  years  spent  in  Chicago.  After 
having  got  nicely  established  in  business,  he  was 
burned  out  in  1871,  losing  heavily. 

On  the  16th  of  November,  1866,  Mr.  Hotchkiss 
was  united  in  marri.age  with  Miss  Tillie  Wright,  a 
native  of  Dearborn  County,  Ind.  Their  union  has 
been  blessed  with  a  family  of  six  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Annie  Lee  (who  is  now  the  wife  of  M.  L. 
Sheffler),  Charles  Stanley,  Louise,  Duane,  Isabel 
and  Ruth. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Hotchkiss  is  a 
Democrat.  For  the  past  twenty  years  he  has  been 
prominently  connected  with  St.  Paul's  Episcopal 
Church  of  Kankakee  and  is  now  Vestryman  and 
Choirmaster.  Mrs.  Hotchkiss  is  also  an  active 
worker  in  the  same  church.  Our  subject  is  an 
agreeable  and  affable  gentleman,  who  will  go  as  far 
as  any  man  to  accommodate  another  or  do  a  kind 
act. 


/  ♦^♦i 


'^  AMES  DEEBANK,  a  prominent  contractor 
and  builder  of  Kankakee,  resides  at  No. 
345  Rosewood  Avenue.  He  has  been  a 
(^//  resident  of  this  city  since  1881,  and  in  the 
years  which  have  since  come  and  gone  he  has  built 
up  an  excellent  trade,  securing  a  liber.al  patronage, 
of  which  he  is  well -deserving. 

Mr.  De'eb.ank  is  a  native  of  England,  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  that  country  in  1860.  His 
parents  were  .James  and  Ellen  (Plartland)  Dee- 
bank,  also  natives  of  England.  The  father  is  now 
deceased,  but  the  mother  is  still  living  and  yet 
makes  her  home  in  the  land  of  her  birth.  The 
Deebauk  family  numbered  eleven  children,  but 
only  three  are  now  residents  of  this  country. 
James,  of  this  sketch,  was  the  first  to  come  to 
America.  George,  who  is  now  a  resident  of  the 
city  of  New  York,  was  the   second   of   the  family 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


615 


to  leave  the  native  land,  and  the  third  to  cross 
the  briny  deep  was  Frank  Deebank,  who  came  to 
the  United  States  in  1890.  An  uncle  of  our  sub- 
ject, William  A.  Deebank,  is  a  prominent  resident 
of  Kankakee.  He  was  born  in  England  in  1828, 
and  remained  in  his  native  land  until  twcnt\'-four 
years  of  age,  when,  in  1852,  he  emigrated  to  this 
countr3'.  Three  j'ears  later  he  came  to  Kankakee, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  is  a  brick  mason 
by  trade,  but  for  a  number  of  years  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  brick  and  tile,  and  is 
a  leading  business  man  of  this  place. 

James  Deebank,  our  subject,  spent  the  days  of 
his  boyhood  and  j-outh  in  his  native  land,  and  ac- 
quired his  education  in  its  public  schools.  He 
also  there  learned  the  trade  of  carpentering,  which 
he  has  made  his  life  work.  He  is  a  wide-awake 
and  enterprising  business  man,  and  is  regarded  as 
one  of  the  leading  contractors  and  builders  of  this 
city.  His  work  is  alw.ays  done  in  a  prompt  and 
elHcient  manner,  and  his  part  of  the  contract  is  al- 
wa3S  faithfully  fulfilled. 

Mr.  Deebank  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Clara  Ileatlev,  a  native  of  England,  where  her 
parents  still  reside.  The  marriage  ceremony  was 
performed  in  Kankakee,  and  b}'  the  union  of  the 
young  couple  has  been  born  one  child,  a  son, 
Harry.  The  parents  have  many  friends  through- 
out this  community.  Mr.  Deebank  is  a  public- 
spirited  citizen  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  all 
that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  community. 
He  is  esteemed  for  his  integrity  and  sterling  worth, 
and  possesses  the  regard  and  contidence  of  his 
fellow-townsmen. 


(^tZ^IIE  City  National  Bank  of  Kankakee  was 
(IM^.  incorporated  on  the  11th  of  .Tune,  1890, 
%^J  with  a  capital  of  5<10(i.()0()  and  additional 
liability  of  ^100,000.  Solon  Knight  was  made 
President,  R.  G.  Risser  Vice-president,  and  H.  M. 
Stone  Cashier.  The  P>oard  of  Directors  is  com- 
posed of  the  following-named  responsible  citizens 
of   Kankakee:  Solon  Knight,  R.  G.  Risser,  James 


Lillie,  II.  K.  Wheeler,  John  H.  Shaffer,  Lawrence 
Babst,  H.  A.  Magruder,  H.  M.  Stone  and  A.  D. 
Ehrick.  Tliis  bank  has  done  a  prosperous  and 
increasing  business  from  the  day  it  lirst  opened  its 
doors  to  the  present  time,  and  the  well-known  high 
financial  standing  and  responsibility  of  its  founders 
and  managers  are  a  safe  guarantee  for  its  depositors 
and  customers.  It  takes  rank  among  the  leading 
financial  institutions  in  eastern  Illinois. 


^>-^^<m 


'RANCIS  S.  CAMPBELL  is  a  well-to-do 
1  farmer  residing  on  section  28,  Yelluwhead 
Townsiiip.  His  birth  occurred  August  5, 
1828,  in  Licking  County,  Ohio.  He  is  a  son  of 
Chauncey  and  Caroline  (Piatt)  Campbell,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Rutland  County,  Vt.  During  his 
entire  life  the  father  devoted  himself  to  agricul- 
ture and  kindred  i)ursuits.  In  1827  he  emigrated 
to  Ohio,  where  he  resided  for  five  years.  He  then 
went  to  Chicago  and  after  a  short  time  took  up  a 
claim  twenty-four  miles  north  of  that  city,  and 
two  miles  from  Buffalo  Grove,  Lake  County,  111. 
At  that  time  there  were  but  few  settlers  and  after 
holding  his  land  for  two  ^-ears  he  sold  the  claim 
and  went  to  Tippecanoe  County,  Ind.  lie  pur- 
chased a  farm,  where  he  remained  for  eight  3'ears. 
Coming  to  Kankakee  County  in  June,  1843,  he 
next  purchased  a  farm  in  the  Yellowhead  Indian 
Reservation,  now  comprised  in  Yellowhead  Town- 
ship. His  death  occurred  two  years  later,  in  June, 
1845.  He  was  of  Scotch  descent  and  an  industri- 
ous and  honorable  man.  The  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject was  born  in  Rutland  County,  Vt.,  in  1807, 
and  though  now  eighty-five  years  o'f  age  enjoys 
good  health.  She  is  also  of  Scotch  ancestry  and 
now  makes  her  home  with  her  children. 

From  his  earliest  years  Francis'  Campbell  has 
been  accustomed  to  farm  life.  He  lived  with  his 
parents  until  coming  of  age  and  acquired  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools.  His  father's  death 
occurring  when  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  he 
inherited  §1,000  from  the  estate,  which  enabled 
him  to  make  a  fair  start  in  life. 


616 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD, 


In  this  countj',  on  the  loth  of  September,  1853, 
Mr.  Campbell  married  "Miss  Janet  Morrison,  who 
was  born  in  Delaware  County,  N.  Y.,  August  15, 
1830,  and  whose  parents,  Archibald  and  Elizabeth 
(Ellis)  IMorrison,  settled  in  this  county  as  early  as 
1837.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell  have  four  children, 
who  are  all  living.  Mary  became  the  wife  of  Ed- 
win Gamble,  the  pajing  teller  in  the  Merchants' 
National  Bank,  of  Chicago.  Horace  and  Lew  J. 
are  prosperous  and  well-known  farmers  of  Yellow- 
head  Township.  Emma  resides  with  her  parents. 
They  have  all  received  good  educations  and  are 
respected  members  of  society. 

Mr.  Campbell  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  best 
improved  farms  in  Yellovvhead  Township  and  lias 
a  beautiful  home  residence.  The  property  consists 
of  two  hundred  acres,  which  are  situated  two  and 
a-half  miles  southeast  of  Grant  Park.  For  a  num- 
ber of  years  our  subject  has  served  in  the  various 
offices  of  the  township  and  lias  been  Supervisor 
for  the  past  four  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order,  belonging  to  Grant  Park  Lodge 
No.  740,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  Mrs.  Campbell  is  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  to  which 
her  husband  contributes  liberally.  Politically  he 
is  a  stanch  Republican,  having  cast  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  Gen.  Scott  while  in  California, 
and  his  last  vote  for  the  illustrious  grandson  of 
"Old  Tippecanoe." 


I  >i    |i  ^  1  >■  ^ 


ENOS  M.  VAN  KIRK,  a   retired   farmer,    is 
one  of  the  respected  early  pioneers  of  Kan- 
,r  kakee  County.    His  birth  occurred  in  Tyler 

County,  Ya.,  on  the  1st  of  October,  1826.  His 
parents,  Joseph  and  Margaret  (Watson)  Van  Kirk, 
were  also  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion.  The 
father  was  of  T)utch  descent,  and  the  mother  was 
of  English  origin.  Joseph  Van  Kirk  followed 
tlie  occupation  of  a  farmer  in  Virginia,  near  Mor- 
gantown,  and  about  the  year  1829  removed  to 
Ohio,  where  he  remained  but  one  year.  Deciding 
to  go  further  Westward,  he  emigrated  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Vermilion  County,  111.,  and  spent    the   win- 


ter with  an  old  Virginian  friend,  Ackless  Mor- 
gan, on  a  farm  near  Georgetown. 

In  the  spring  of  1831  Mr.  Van  Kirk  entered 
eighty  acres  of  land,  situated  six  miles  southeast 
of  Danville,  where  he  resided  for  a  number  of 
years  and  reared  his  family.  In  1832  he  enlisted 
in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  and  served  until  its 
close.  At  one  time,  while  in  the  service,  his  horse 
was  stolen,  and  he  was  obliged  to  walk  all  the 
distance  to  his  home,  carrying  his  saddle.  He  was 
born  in  1795,  served  for  a  short  time  in  the  War 
of  1812,  and  received  a  grant  of  laud  from  the 
Government.  His  father  was  from  Pennsylvania, 
but  little  is  definitely  known  of  his  life  work.  He 
married  a  Miss  Jacobs,  and  they  both  lived  to  a 
ripe  old  age.  In  1847  the  father  of  our  subject 
removed  to  Kankakee  County  and  bought  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  forty-six  acres  about  a  mile 
east  of  Momenee,  on  the  old  Chicago  and  Dan- 
ville trail,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising  until  1867,  when  he  passed  away  in  his 
seventy-third  year,  his  wife  being  called  to  the 
home  bej'ond  in  the  fall  of  1865.  She  was  a  faith- 
ful and  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  until  her  death.  They  were  num- 
bered among  the  early  pioneer  settlers  of  Kanka- 
kee Count}',  coming  here  when  there  was  scared}- 
a  house  or  fence  to  be  seen  in  anj^  direction.  The 
country  was  wild  and  barren,  and  the  nearest 
neighbors  lived  at  a  long  distance  from  them. 
Their  family  consisted  of  ten  children,  six  sons 
and  four  daughters,  six  of  whom  are  now  living, 
as  follow:  Sarah,  Rebecca,  Enos  M.,  Susanna,  John 
and  William  C. 

Our  subject  was  early  inured  to  farm  life,  with 
all  the  disadvantages  and  privations  incident  to 
living  in  a  new  country.  His  educational  privi- 
leges were  necessarily  quite  limited,  as  in  the  early 
daj'S  of  Illinois  they  first  formed  select  schools, 
and  later  the  primitive  district  school  was  es- 
tablished. August  26,  1849,  Mr.  Van  Kirk  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Catherine,  daughter  of 
William  H.  and  Elna  (Decker)  Carrithers,  of  Deck- 
erville,  N.  J.  The  mother  was  of  Dutch  and  the 
father  of  Scotch  descent.  Four  children  have 
been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Kirk,  a  son  and 
three  daughters.      Margaret   Ann  became  the  wife 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


617 


of  Thomas  J.  Buntain,  the  present  postmaster  of 
Momence,  and  to  tliem  have  been  born  two  chil- 
dren. Mary  Jane  married  Elba  Lamboru  and  re- 
moved to  Allamakee  Country,  Iowa,  where  she 
died  in  Jul3-,  1890;  three  children  graced  tlieir 
union:  Belle,  Harrj' V.  and  Don  E.  Eleanor  and 
Henry  C,  the  younger  members  of  the  family, 
arc  at  home.  On  the  2d  of  January,  1881,  Mrs. 
Van  Kirk  departed  this  life,  greatly  mourned  by 
a  wide  circle  of  friends. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  Illinois  in 
1854  from  Five  Mile  Point,  Ind.,  which  had  been 
his  home  for  four  years,  and  located  on  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  seventeen  acres  situated  two 
miles  to  the  northeast  of  Momence.  He  was  quite 
successful  as  an  agriculturist  from  the  first,  and 
soon  added  eight}'  acres  more. to  his  original  pur- 
chase. He  engaged  in  cultivating  and  improving  his 
farm  until  18G5,  when  he  removed  to  Momence, 
which  lias  since  been  his  home.  Soon  afterward 
lie  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  selling  tiie  same  amount  from  his  old  farm. 
Mr.  Van  Kirk  lias  since  that  time  purchased  other 
IMoperty,  and  his  present  possessions  amount  to 
about  six  hundred  acres  of  fine  farm  land,  in 
addition  to  his  home  in  Momence. 

Our  subject  has  never  been  an  offlce-.seeker,  but 
is  a  firm  lieliever  in  the  Democratic  party.  His 
first  ballot  was  cast  for  Lewis  Cass,  and  he  has  voted 
the  Democratic  ticket  up  to  tiie  present  time.  He 
went  through  this  portion  of  the  countr_y  when 
there  were  only  three  or  four  houses  between  old 
Bunkum  and  Chicago.  Indians  were  numerous 
in  this  section  and  the  country  was  infested  by 
large  packs  of  wolves.  Deei-  and  all  kinds  of  wild 
game  were  in  abundance.  Mr.  Van  Kirk  has  been 
a  witness  of  the  county's  development  from  a 
vast  unimproved  prairie  to  a  thickly  populated 
country,  settled  with  a  prosperous  and  highly  in- 
telligent class  of  people.  He  is  to-d.ay  recognized 
as  one  of  the  substantial  and  reliable  citizens  of 
the  count}'. 

In  1882  Mr.  Van  Kirk  became  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of 
Lodge  No.  481,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  was  one  of  its 
charier  members.  In  December,  1886,  our  subject 
went  to  California,  and  made  a  very  pleasant  and 


|)rofitable  visit  in  Mexico  and  tiie  AVestern  States. 
He  also  went  to  Florida  and  traveled  up  the  St. 
John's  River  as  far  as  Enterprise,  siiending  con- 
siderable time  in  Tallah.assee  in  the  winter  of 
1882-83.  Like  manj'  patriotic  citizens,  Mr.  Van 
Kirk  was  more  anxious  to  see  the  beauties  and 
wonders  of  his  own  country  and  continent  than  the 
Old  World,  and  feels  well  repaid  for  the  time  he 
thus  devoted  to  travel. 


^^=>D 


OHN  BENNETT,  now  living  a  retired  life 
at  his  home  on  section  21,  has  been  for 
many  years  a  prominent  and  prosperous 
farmer  of  Yellowhead  Township.  He  is  a 
native  of  the  Empire  State,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  Greenwich,  Washington  County,  May  12, 
1822.  He  is  the  seventh  in  order  of  birth  in  a 
family  of  eight  children,  six  sons  and  two  daugii- 
ters,  who  were  born  to  Johnson  andPlia-be  (Cran- 
dall)  Bennett.  Both  parents  were  of  German  de- 
scent, and  were  born  in  New  England.  The  father 
was  a  farmer  and  blacksmith  by  trade. 

When  our  subject  was  quite  young,  he  was  left 
an  orphan,  and  the  family  circle  was  broken.  At 
the  age  of  thirteen  years  he  was  adopted  by  David 
Barber,  who  w.as  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  and 
stock-raisers  of  White  Creek,  Washington  County, 
N.  Y.  AVith  him,  Mr.  Bennett  lived  until  reaching 
his  majority.  His  educational  privileges  were  of 
the  most  limited  description,  as  he  was  only  al- 
lowed to  attend  school  for  two  months  of  the  year 
during  tlic  winter  term.  He  was  of  a  studious  dis- 
position, and  was  determined  to  have  a  good  educa- 
tion, and  though  over  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and 
without  means,  he  was  undaunted,  and  for  two 
terms  attended  the  academj'  at  Cambridge,  N.  Y. 
working  by  the  month  on  a  farm  to  pay  his  tui- 
tion. His  preceptor  was  Lieut.-Gov.  Beveridge,  of 
Illinois.  After  finishing  his  course  in  the  academy, 
Mr.  Bennett  taught  school  during  the  winter  term, 
and  during  the  summer  months  worked  upon  a 
farm  until  he  was  twent^'-eight  years  old. 


618 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRArHICAL  RECORD. 


In  1850,  out  subject  determined  to  seek  his  for- 
tune in  the  West.  Coming  to  what  is  now  Kanka- 
kee County,  he  purchased  three  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  wild  prairie  land  on  easy  terms  and  long 
time,  and  began  the  work  of  its  improvement. 
For  one  term  during  the  winter  he  taught  school, 
in  Momence,  and  on  the  11th  of  February,  1851 
wedded  Miss  Cordelia  A.  Curtis,  who  was  a  daugh 
ter  of  Solomon  and  Pha?be  (Slocum)  Curtis,  of 
White  Creek,  N.  Y.,  who  came  to  Kankakee 
Count}' in  18.')4,  settling  in  Momence.  The  father 
was  a  retired  farmer,  and  was  called  from  this  life 
at  the  age  of  sixty-five  j'ears  in  Momence,  on  the 
24th  of  June,  1865.  His  wife  died  at  the  residence 
of  our  subject  near  Grant  Park,  February  20,  1885, 
when  nearl}'  eighty-four  years  of  age.  She  was  a 
native  of  the  Empire  State,  and  was  of  German 
descent,  while  her  husband  was  of  English  extrac- 
tion. Two  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bennett.  A  daughter,  born  June  15,  1857,  died 
in  infancy;  and  George  M.,  born  May  15,  1852, 
carries  on  the  old  homestead,  and  deals  quite  ex- 
tensively in  real  estate  and  cattle.  He  is  one  of 
the  wide-awake  and  prosperous  business  men  of 
the  county.  In  1874,  he  wedded  Miss  Lizzie 
Price,  of  Yellowhead  Township,  and  by  their  union 
have  been  born  three  children:  Nellie  C,  who  is 
now  about  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  is  a  student 
in  the  university  at  Evanston,  III.;  Coralee  H.,  who 
is  thirteen  years  of  agf,;  and  Georgie  J.,  a  bright 
little  girl  of  six  summers. 

Mr.  Bennett  and  son  are  now  owners  of  nine 
hundred  acres  of  land  in  Yellowhead  Township, 
all  of  which,  except  forty  acres,  is  under  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  His  home,  which  is  located 
one  mile  east  of  Grant  Park,  is  one  of  the  finest 
residences  in  the  county.  He  came  to  this  county 
without  a  dollar,  and  has  worked  his  way  steadily 
upward  to  his  present  position  of  affluence  and  in- 
fluence. He  has  always  been  possessed  of  ambition 
and  a  strong  desire  to  succeed  in  his  business  un- 
dertakings, which  qualities  have  enabled  him  to 
overcome  all  obstacles  in  his  pathwa}'.  Until  1888 
he  advocated  the  principles  of  the  Republican 
party,  since  which  time  he  has  supported  the  Pro- 
hibition party.  He  has  held  nearl.y  all  the  town- 
ship offices,  and  has   made  an  efficient  and    trust- 


worthy officer.  For  about  eight  }'cars  he  has  been 
Deacon  of  the  Baptist  Church  of  Grant  Park,  and 
is  very  active  in  church  work.  On  the  10th  of 
September,  1891,  he  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  wife,  who  was  sixty-nine  years  of  age 
when  called  to  her  final  rest.  She  was  a  member 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  was  much  beloved  by 
all  who  knew  her. 


D 


=^ 


"if' AMES  H.  DENNISON  is  one  of  the  early 
settlers  and  hardy  pioneers  of  this  section, 
as  he  located  in  this  county  in  the  early 
part  of  the  '50s.  He  is  a  native  of  Canada, 
and  was  born  near  IMontreal,  on  the  3d  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1837,  being  a  son  of  John  and  Margaret 
(Andei'son)  Dennison,  who  were  of  Scotch-Irish 
parentage,  and  settled  in  Canada  about  the  year 
1830.  John  Dennison  emigrated  to  Illinois  in 
1854,  and  first  settled  on  Fox  River,  Kane  County. 
After  residing  there  for  a  few  jears,  he  removed 
to  this  count}'  in  the  spring  of  1856,  and  becamea 
resident  of  what  is  now  Ganier  Township,  where 
he  opened  up  a  farm  and  spent  the  remaining 
years  of  his  life.  His  death  occurred  in  18G9,and 
that  of  his  wife  August  24,  1880. 

Mr.  Dennison,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  is 
the  first  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  three  sons 
and  five  daughters,  who  arrived  at  mature  years. 
•Jane  married  and  settled  in  Canada,  but  is  now 
deceased;  Mary  Ann,  also  deceased,  was  married 
and  made  her  home  in  Canada;  Eliza  was  married 
in  Indiana,  and  li.as  since  passed  away;  Elmira  was 
married  and  died  in  Michigan;  Matilda  is  the  wife 
of  W.  Harrison,  and  resides  in  Trego  Count}',  Kan.; 
William  D.  is  a  farmer  of  Ganier  Township;  John 
is  engaged  in  farming  with  his  brother. 

Our  subject  came  to  this  county  when  a  youth 
of  seventeen,  and  had  received  but  limited  ad- 
vantages in  education  before  coming  here.  He  has 
largely  educated  himself  since  arriving  at  man's 
estate.  He  remained  with  his  father,  assisting  in 
the  work  of  the  farm,  until  he  had  reached  his  ma- 
jority.    On   the   9th  of  August,  1862,  Mr.  Denni- 


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LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

HMIVEfiSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


G19 


son  enlisted  in  the  defense  of  llic  Union,  becom- 
ing a  member  of  Companj-  K,  One  Hundred  .ind 
Tliirleenth  Illinois  Infantry.  His  bravery  ;>nd 
fidelity  were  rewarded  by  liis  being  promoted  first 
to  the  rank  of  Corporal,  and  afterward  to  that  of 
Sergeant.  With  his  regiment  he  participated  in 
many  of  the  battles  and  engagements  of  the  war; 
among  these  we  mention  Arkansas  Post,  the  long 
siege  and  capture  of  Vicksburg,  and  Guntown, 
Miss.,  when,  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Sturges, 
he  was  taken  prisoner,  and  wns  held  for  about  nine 
months  at  Andersonville  Prison.  From  there  lie 
was  taken  to  Libby  Prison,  but  was  fortunately 
held  there  but  a  short  time,  being  exchanged  on 
the  9th  of  May,  186.1.  He  received  his  honorable 
discharge  from  the  service  on  the  29th  of  June,  of 
that  .year,  and  at  once  returned  to  his  home. 
Though  he  was  never  wounded,  he  received  severe 
internal  injuries  after  the  battle  of  Guntown, 
while  riding  rapidly  during  an  enforced  march. 
He  was  valiant  in  the  defense  of  his  country,  and 
as  a  prisoner  in  that  blot  on  our  modern  civiliza- 
tion, Andersonville  and  Lil)by  Prisons,  he  was 
courageous  and  hopeful  during  his  long  confine- 
ment. 

In  the  fall  of  180'."),  Mr.  Dennison  bought  a  tract 
of  l'ort3'  acres  in  this  county,  which  was  little  im- 
proved. The  following  year  he  engaged  actively 
in  developing  and  cultivating  his  farm,  and  a  few 
years  later,  as  his  means  increased,  lie  was  enabled 
to  purchase  adjoining  land,  his  farm  now  consist- 
ing of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  arable 
and  well-tilled  land,  which  is  located  about  five 
miles  from  Kankakee  on  section  29,  Otto  Town- 
ship. He  has  a  jileas.aut  and  substantial  residence, 
good  barns  and  other  farm  Iniildings,  and  is  to-day 
accounted  one  of  the  thrift^'  and  progressive  farm- 
ers of  this  township. 

Mr.  Dennison  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Anna  E.  Harrison,  a  native  of  England,  on  the  9th 
of  February,  18G0.  She  came  to  the  I'nited  States 
with  lior  father,  John  Harrison,  when  in  her  early 
womanliood,  and  became  a  icsidentof  this  county. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dennison  have  been  born  the  fol- 
lowing children,  who  are  still  living:  John  W.,  who 
resides  at  home,  and  helps  to  carry  on  the  work 
of   the  farm;  Albert    E.,    now  a  student  m  Rush 


Medical  College  of  Chicago;  and  Almira  B.,  who 
received  a  good  education,  and  is  still  under  the 
parental  roof.  Several  children  died  in  infancy 
and  early  childhood. 

Mr.  Dennison  has  been  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party  since  becoming  a  voter,  his  first 
ballot  being  cast  for  Hon.  Abraham  Lincoln.  He 
has  voted  for  every  nominee  of  his  party  since 
that  time  with  the  exception  of  the  year  1861, 
when  he  was  a  prisoner  in  Andersonville.  Mr. 
Dennison  has  held  a  number  of  local  positions  of 
responsibility,  and  is  now  serving  his  third  year  as 
Road  Commissioner.  He  has  also  served  as  mem- 
ber of  the  School  Board,  and  was  one  of  the  Town- 
ship Trustees.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  Jlr.  Denni- 
son holds  membership  with  Whipple  Post  No.  414, 
G.  A.  R.,  at  Kankakee.  As  one  of  the  pioneer  set- 
tlers of  this  section,  he  has  assisted  greatlj-  in 
its  present  prosperity  and  success.  Personal!}',  he 
is  a  man  who  is  generally  liked,  and  has  won  many 
friends  in  this  community  by  his  integrity-  and  up- 
right walk  in  life. 


♦^^1 


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MASA    HOLCOMB,    one    of    Kankakee's 
well-known   citizens,  has  been  a  resicjent 
of    this    ])lace   since    1869.      jMany    years 
ffg^  previous,  however,  he  came  to  the  county, 

being  numbered  among  its  early  settlers,  for  the 
date  of  his  arrival  was  the  spring  of  18.")5.  Thus  for 
thirty-seven  3'ears  he  has  been  an  eye-witness  of 
the  progress  and  advancement  of  the  county  and 
has  also  borne  his  part  in  its  growth  and  develo])- 
ment,  so  that  with  its  history  he  is  prominently 
connected. 

Amasa  Ilolcomb,  Sr.,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  the  family 
being  early  settlers  of  that  commonwealth,  in  fact, 
the  ancestors  came  to  this  country'  during  Colonial 
days.  The  father  of  our  subject,  Bidwell  Hol- 
comb,  was  also  born  in  the  Nutmeg  State,  was 
there  reared  to  manhood,  and  after  attaining  to 
mature  3'ears  wedded  Hannah  Butlcs,  daughter  of 


620 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Enoch  Butles.  Mr.  Holcomb  was  a  farmer  bj^  oc- 
cupation and  followed  that  business  throughout  bis 
entire  life.  He  resided  in  his  native  State  until 
called  to  his  final  rest,  his  death  occurring  in  1844. 
After  the  death  of  her  husband,  ISIrs.  Holcomb  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  and  subsequently  she  became  a 
resident  of  Kankakee,  111.,  but  finall}'  she  returned 
to  Connecticut  and  died  at  the  home  of  her  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Barnard,  in  the  town  of  Bloomfield,  in 
her  native  State.  She  attained  to  the  very  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety  years,  having  been  born  in 
1800.  Unto  the  parents  of  our  subject  were  born 
nine  children,  three  sons  and  six  daughters,  all  of 
whom  are  yet  living  at  this  writing,  in  1892.  They 
are  scattered,  however,  over  various  States  of  the 
Union. 

Amasa  Holcomb,  whoso  name  heads  this  record, 
was  born  in  Granby,  Hartford  County,  Conn., 
July  17,  1822,  and  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  his  native  State,  being  reared  to 
manhood  under  the  parental  roof.  Connecticut 
has  ever  been  celebrated  for  the  manufacture  of 
clocks,  and  in  the  years  gone  by  many  of  her 
young  men  traveled  throughout  various  States  of 
tlie  Union  engaged  in  the  sale  of  this  most  useful 
article,  the  famous  Connecticut  clock.  Wishing  to 
earn  his  own  livelihood,  at  the  age  of  twenty 
years  the  subject  of  this  sketch  started  out  in  this 
most  commendable  enterprise  and  since  that  time 
he  has  been  dei)endent  upon  his  own  resources. 
His  field  of  labor  was  in  the  States  of  Georgia,  Al- 
abama and  Florida.  He  was  engaged  in  this  busi- 
ness for  six  years,  and  the  fact  of  his  long  contin- 
uance in  that  line  of  work  indicates  his  success 
therein.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  re- 
turned to  Connecticut. 

Not  long  after  he  had  again  arrived  in  his  na- 
tive State,  Mr.  Holcomb  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Janette  R.  Dickinson,  their  wedding  be- 
ing celeorated  June  30,  1847.  The  lady  is  a 
daughter  of  Lewis  and  Lavilla  (Case)  Dickinson, 
who  were  also  natives  of  Connecticut.  Mrs.  Hol- 
comb was  born  in  the  town  of  Simsbury,  Hartford 
County,  Conn.,  February  11,  1827.  Soon  after 
their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holcomb,  accompan- 
ied by  Mr.  Dickinson  and  his  family,  removed  to 
Trumbull  Count}',  Ohio,  locating  on   the  famous 


Western  Reserve,  and  after  a  residence  there  of 
some  years,  all  came  to  Kankakee  County  in  1855, 
settling  in  the  township  of  Rockville.  Mr.  and 
Mi-s.  Dickinson  passed  the  last  years  of  their  lives 
in  the  home  of  their  daughter,  Mrs.  Holcomb,  the 
former  passing  away  in  1876.  The  mother,  who 
was  born  in  1800,  died  in  1887,  at  the  ripe  old  age 
of  eighty -seven  years.  This  worthy  couple  were 
the  parents  of  a  family  of  five  children,  two  sons 
and  thiee  daughters,  all  of  whom  grew  to  mature 
years.  All  are  residents  of  Illinois  but  the  young- 
est sister,  who  is  now  living  in  Nebraska.  Two 
members  of  the  family  died  in  childhood. 

On  coming  to  Kankakee  County,  Mr.  Holcomb 
bought  a  farm  in  Rockville  Township.  It  com- 
prised a  tract  of  wild  land  totall}'  unimproved, 
but  he  at  once  began  its  development  and  cultiva- 
tion and  transformed  it  into  rich  and  fertile  fields. 
He  there  continued  to  reside  until  1861),  when  he 
came  to  Kankakee.  For  many  years  he  owned 
and  operated  the  principal  livery  stable  in  the 
city,  doing  a  large  and  lucrative  business,  but  re- 
cently he  has  disposed  of  his  stock.  He  still  owns 
the  stables,  however,  which  are  situated  at  No.  312 
Schuyler  Avenue.  In  connection  with  his  other 
business  JNIr.  Holcomb  has  also  dealt  largely  in  the 
purchase  and  sale  of  horses  and  this  has  added  not 
a  little  to  his  income,  for  he  is  an  excellent  judge 
of  horses. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holcomb  have  never  had  an^'  chil- 
dren of  their  own  but  have  reared  two  from  about 
four  years  of  age.  The  elder,  William,  is  now  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Kankakee  Township.  The 
other,  Cora,  is  at  home.  The  family  are  now 
pleasantly  located  in  Kankakee,  where  they  have 
a  wide  acquaintance  and  manj'  friends.  Mr.  Hol- 
comb has  been  very  successful  in  his  business  deal- 
ings, and  by  his  well-directed  efforts,  his  industry 
and  perseverance  he  has  acquired  a  good  property, 
which  numbers  him  among  the  substantial  citizens 
of  Kankakee  and  enables  him  to  live  a  retired 
life,  resting  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of  his 
former  toil.  In  politics,  he  affiliates  with  the 
Democratic  part}',  but  has  never  been  an  ofiice- 
seeker,  and  socially  he  is  a  worthy  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  of  this  citj-.  He  is  a  public- 
spirited  and  progressive  citizen  and   is  respected 


I 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

mmmY  OF  ILLI!^OIS 


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LlSiiARY 

OF  THE 

HWIV&RSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


625 


and  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him.  He  and  his 
wife  are  nienihers  of  the  IJaptist  Church,  with 
which  they  have  been  connected  for  some  thirty 
years. 


^OHN  GILKERSON  retired  from  farming  in 
1874,  and  has  made  his  home  for  the  past 
eighteen  years  in  Manteno.  His  birth  oc- 
^^  curred  in  the  Green  iNIountain  State,  on  the 
11th  of  July,  1809,  iu  Barnet,  Caledonia  Count3\ 
His  father,  Thomas  Gilkerson,  was  a  native  of 
Aberdeen,  Scotland,  while  his  mother,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Marion  Somers,  was  born  in  Bar- 
uet,  Vt.,  but  was  also  of  Scotch  descent.  The  pa- 
ternal grandfather  of  oik-  subject,  John  Gilkerson, 
was  born  in  .Scotland,  and  came  to  America  in 
1784,  locating  in  Barnet  He  was  a  stone-mason 
by  trade,  and  brought  with  him  from  Scotland  a 
saw,  with  which  he  sawea  logs  in  Vermont  for  a 
number  of  buildings.  Ke  afterward  became  a 
farmer,  and  lived  to  be  ovu-  niaetj'  years  of  age. 
He  reared  a  family  of  five  thildren.  On  the  ma- 
ternal side,  the  grandfather,Bartholomew  Somers, 
also  a  native  of  Scotland,  emgrated  to  tiie  United 
States  about  1784,  and  for  mSfiy  3'ears  enitaofed  in 
agricultural  pursuits  in  Vermoit.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  C'hurih,  and  attained  a 
great  age. 

Thomas  Gilkerson,  like  his  f.th.er,  engaged  in 
farming  in  the  Green  Moiuitaii  State,  where  his 
death  occurred  in  1843.  He  m|is  alwa^^s,  promi- 
nent in  church  work,  being  an  iider  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  To  him  and  hh  wife  were  born 
eleven  children,  only  five  of  wh«ra  j'et  survive. 
Of  these  our  subject  is  the  eldest.  Robert  and 
Uavid  are  next.  Janet  is  the  nie'owof  Robert  Gib- 
son, who  died  in  June,  189C,  aged  sevcnty-si.K 
years;  she  now  lives  in  Remington,  Ind.  Marian 
is  the  widow  of  James  Shaw,  anl  now  resides  in 
Missouri. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  Jlr.  Gilkerson,  of 
this  sketch,  were  passed  on  his  fa'.her's  farm.  He 
received    his    education    in   the   common  district 


schools,  and  for  some  time  attended  subscription 
schools  in  the  houses  of  various  neighbors.  (Ju 
arriving  at  mature  years,  he  engaged  in  farming 
on  his  own  account,  and  from  1833  until  1864 
operated  a  farm  in  Vermont.  In  December  of  that 
latter  year  he  removed  Westward  and  made  a  set- 
tlement in  Kankakee  County.  For  about  ten  }-ears 
he  carried  on  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
acres,  situated  in  the  northwest  portion  of  Manteno 
Township.  For  the  past  eighteen  years  he  has 
been  living  a  retired  life  in  the  village  of  that 
name,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  former  labors. 
While  he,  resided  in  Vermont  he  was  Captain  of 
the  militia,  the  law  requiring  men  to  train  in  those 
days. 

On  the  28th  of  February,  1833,  Mr.  Gilkerson 
and  Miss  Agnes  G.  Warden  were  united  in  mar- 
riage. She  was  born  in  Barnet,  Vt.,  September  28, 
1815.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Scotland,  and 
were  .James  and  Elizabeth  (Gibson)  Warden,  who 
resided  at  Barnet,  Vt.  Their  family  comprised 
twelve  children:  Isabel,  William,  Margaret,  Eliza- 
beth, Jane,  Agnes  G.,  Jane  L.,  Emily,  Andrew, 
Marion,  James  and  Robert.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gil- 
kerson were  born  ten  children,  one  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  The  others  are  Thomas  G.,  who 
was  a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  being  a  member  of 
Company  F,  Fifteenth  Vermont  Infantry.  He  died 
while  in  the  hospital  at  Richmond,  Va.,  of  typhoid 
fever,  February  9,  1863.  Janet  E.  is  the  second 
in  order  of  birth.  Milo  J.  married  Miss  Lydia 
Thomas,  of  Remington,  Ind.,  and  the}-  now  make 
tlieir  home  on  a  farm  near  Manteno,  111.  They 
have  three  children:  John,  Birdie  A.  and  Leslie  H. 
Emma  M.  is  the  wife  of  Rufus  Perry,  who  carries 
on  a  farm  two  and  a-half  miles  from  Manteno. 
Two  daughters,  Lizzie  N.  and  Aggie  J.,  have  graced 
their  union.  Horace  is  now  deceased.  Isabel  N. 
is  the  wife  of  Leonard  Smith,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  near  Manteno;  their  family  comprises  ten 
children:  George  L.,  Laura  L.,  Jlary  I.,  Lizzie  N., 
Frank  E.,  Carrie  E.,  Florence  J.,  Charles  H.,  Fred- 
die J.  and  the  baby.  Alexander  J.  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Carrie  Edison,  and  resides  in 
Oneida,  Kan.;  three  children  have  been  born  to 
them:  Arthur,  Leila  and  Effie.  Henry  A.,  who  lives 
in   Manteno  Township,  married  Miss   Lucy  Reod, 


626 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRATHICAL  RECORD. 


and  of  their  union  have  been  born  three  children: 
Cora  E.,  Aggie  J.  and  Elsie.  Maggie  J.  completes 
the  family.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilkerson  have  a  great- 
grandchild, Emma  McEwan. 

In  his  political  views  our  subject  was  a.  stalwart 
Wliig  until  the  rise  of  the  Republican  part3-,  with 
which  he  has  since  been  identified.  He  cast  his 
first  vote  for  Henry  Clay,  and  bis  last  for  the  il- 
lustrious grandson  of  old  Tippecanoe.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  hold  membership  with  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  They  have  many  warm  friends  in 
this  section,  and  have  for  long  years  occupied  a 
high  position  in  local  circles. 


|=n 


"SJ 


^^ 


1^=1 


(|  lilLLIAM  L.  THURBER  owns  and  operates 
\rJ//  a  farm  on  section  26,  Sumner  Township. 
W'^  He  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Oneida  County  on  tlie 
24th  of  Septemlrer,  18;J0.  He  is  a  son  of  Lyndon 
S.  and  Mary  L.  (Brownell)  Thurber,  the  former  a 
native  of  Franklin  County,  Mass.,  born  March  21, 
1821.  The  father  was  born  and  reared  upon  a 
farm  in  the  Bay  State  and  removed  to  New'York 
in  1831.  When  about  sixteen  3'ears  of  age  he 
started  to  make  his  fortune,  and  for  a  short  time 
was  emplo^'ed  on  a  steamer  plying  the  Lakes.  He 
next  worked  upon  a  farm  in  New  York  for  some 
time,  but  in  1854  started  "Westward.  He  located 
in  Kankakee  County,  111.,  where,  in  Sumner  Town- 
ship, he  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land,  which  was 
slightl3'  improved.  P'rom  that  time  forward  he 
devoted  himself  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  the  possessor  of  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres.  He  was  a  verj'  public-spir- 
ited man  and  held  various  township  offices  to  the 
satisfaction  of  his  fellow-citizens.  Politically,  he 
used  his  right  of  franchise  for  the  Republican  party, 
and  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  He  was  called  to  his  final  reward  on  the 
22d  of  September,  1875,  and  is  buried  in  the  LTn- 
ion  Corners  Cemeterj'.  The  mother  is  still  living 
and  has  reached  the  age  of  seventy-three  years. 
She  vvas    born    in    Manlius    Township,  Onondaga 


County,  N.  Y.,  June  6,  1819.  In  their  family 
were  seven  children,  of  whom  four  are  living. 

When  our  subject  was  only  four  years  of  age 
his  father  removed  to  Illinois.  His  education  was 
acquired  in  the  district  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood. He  remained  with  his  father  on  the  old 
homestead  until  the  death  of  the  Latter,  and  then 
for  the  following  two  years  widi  his  brother 
Frank  be  carried  on  the  farm.  Since  that  time 
he  has  taken  entire  charge  of  tvi'O  hundred  and 
sixteen  acres  of  the  old  homestead,  of  which  he 
owns  one  iuindred  and  tiiirly-six  acres,  which  are 
very  fertile  and  under  gooc'  cultivation.  Mr. 
Thurber  has  alwaj^s  devoted  hiraself  to  the  pursuits 
of  an  agriculturist  and  has  been  very  successful  in 
general  farming  and  stock-raising. 

On  New  Year's  day  of  1877  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Tliurber  and  MissElizabetii  E.  Snede- 
ker.  Six  children  grace  their  union  and  the  fam- 
ily circle  is  still  unbroken  They  are  as  follows: 
Nettie  V.,  Emma  E.,  Luceia  M.,  Charles  W.,  Mary 
15.  and  Hazel  I. 

Mr.  Thurber  has  neve'  been  an  office-seeker  in 
the  remotest  degree  butinslead  has  given  his  time 
and  study  to  the  manigement  of  his  farm  and  its 
improvement.  .In  poltical  sentiment  he  is  an  ad- 
herent of  the  Republi;an  party  and  casts  his  ballot 
in  favor  of  the  priniiples  and  nominees  of  that 
party.  Both  he  and  his  wife  have  long  held  mem- 
bership with  the  Methodist  Church.  He  is  known 
throughout  the  conmunity  as  a  man  of  honor,  in 
whom  it  is  safe  to  place  the  fullest  confidence. 


V  OC ~\»/C7^— ^'^  vi    t^  ^'— S^S.^*/*" 


.x> 


5o~ 


-J 

— \ 


,ip^  IMPSON  SWIHART  is  one  of  the  early 
^^^  settlers  of  Sumner  Township,  and  still 
lv^_3)  o^'^^  '"^'^  (;a.rries  on  the  farm  on  section 
9,  where  life  first  located  on  coming  to  this 
community.  He  /vas  born  in  Tuscarawas  County, 
Ohio,  on  the  4th  lof  Xovember,  1840.  His  pater- 
nal grandfather,  /Frederick  Swihart,  was  of  Ger- 
man descent,  anrt  oije  of  the  eai'ly  pioneers  of 
Ohio.  Our  subject  b  a  son  of  David  and  Chris- 
tina (PoUans)  Swi'iarl.     The  father  was  a   farmer 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIHCAL  RECORD. 


627 


tliioiighout  lifo  in  Ohio,  wiiere  he  was  born,  and 
was  very  successful  as  an  agi-icultuiist.  .  Both  he 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church.  The  death  of  the  father  occurred  in  1875, 
and  tliat  of  the  mother  in  1891.  Their  children  were 
Klijaii,  who  died  in  1855;  Caroline,  the  wife  of  .1. 
J.  Xeff;  Sarah,  who  became  the  wife  of  J.  Iloopin- 
garner;  .Salome,  wife  of  Prof.  L.  F.  Wright;  Ann, 
wife  of  Thomas  Putt;  Sophia,  wife  of  Joseph  Per- 
shing; Amanda,  now  the  wife  of  Joseph  C'asebeer; 
Emma,  tlie  wife  of  Frank  Fislier;  David,  Simpson 
and  Isaac,  who  complete  the  family. 

Tlie  boyhood  da3-s  of  Simpson  Swihart  were 
passed  upon  the  farm  where  he  was  born,  and  his 
education  was  such  as  was  afforded  b3'  the  district 
schools,  which  he  attended  more  or  less  until 
nineteen  3'ears  of  age.  Until  a  year  past  his  maj- 
ority he  remained  under  the  parental  roof,  and 
then  started  forth  to  make  his  own  way  in  the 
world.  He  rented  laud  in  Ohio  for  one  .year,  but 
in  1863  decided  to  go  further  AVest,  therefore, 
coming  to  Illinois,  he  located  in  Kankakee  County. 
For  about  two  years  he  reiitecl  land  in  Ganier 
Township,  after  which  he  purchased  the  farm  on 
which  he  has  resided  continuously-  since.  This 
consisted  of  one  hundred  and  fortj^  acres  of  wild 
prairie  land  in  Sumner  Township,  and  at  that 
time  wild  game  was  very  plentiful.  Jlr.  Swihart 
has  been  quite  successful  as  an  agriculturist,  and 
has  brought  his  farm  under  a  fine  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. 

On  New  Year's  Day  of  18G2,  Mr.  Swihart  and 
Miss  Barbara  E.  Walker,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  T. 
and  Mary  A.  (Garber)  Walker,  were  united  in 
matrimouj'.  Twelve  children  graced  their  union: 
Willie,  who  died  in  1865;  Lillie,  who  passed  away 
in  1867;  Charles  E.,  a  sciiool  teacher,  who  gradu- 
ated at  Northern  Indiana  Normal  .School,  at  Val- 
paraiso; John,  also  a  school  teacher,  now  attending 
school  at  the  same  place;  Mary,  a  successful  teacher 
and  graduate  of  the  same  school;  Simpson,  David, 
Samuel  W.,  Martin,  Myrta  and  Grace,  who  are 
still  at  home.  Mrs.  Swihart  was  born  in  Tuscarawas 
County,  Ohio,  June  12,  1844.  Iler  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Ohio,  where  they  were  married, 
and  made  their  home  on  a  farm.  Both  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church.     The  father  died  in 


1881,  aged  fifty-seven  years,  but  the  mother  still 
lives  on  tiie  old  homestead  in  Ohio,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-six  years.  Mrs.  Swihart  is  the  eldest  of 
fourteen  cliildren. 

For  many  j'ears  Mr.  Swihart  was  a  Repulilican, 
and  cast  his  first  ballot  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  His 
views  have  now  changed,  and  he  is  enrolled  as 
a  supporter  of  the  Prohibition  party.  He  has 
held  the  oflice  of  Highway  Commissioner  for  six 
years,  and  has  always  done  his  share  in  the  pro- 
motion of  all  measures  calculated  to  benefit  the 
public.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swihart  are  valued  members 
of  tlie  Methodist  Episcopal  Cliurch  of  Peotone. 


/ 


•J-^-H 


Wi  OSEPII  BELISLE  is  a  well-known  farmer  of 
Ganier  Townsliip,  owning  property  on  sec- 
tion 18.  He  is  of  French  extraction  and 
was  born  in  Upper  Canada  in  1834.  His 
parents,  Jules  and  Pracils  Belisle,  emigrated  to 
the  States  in  1846  with  their  family  of  nine  chil- 
dren. The  father  died  while  on  the  boat  and  was 
buried  at  Detroit. 

Our  subject  on  landing  in  the  United  States  came 
directly  to  Kankakee  County'  with  his  mother  and 
thefamil}''.  Mrs.  Belisle  purchased  land  in  Bour- 
bonnais  Township,  and  here  Joseph  commenced 
working  for  neighboring  farmers  by  the  month. 
In  the  fall  of  1801,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in 
Company  E,  Fifty-third  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was 
mustered  into  service  at  Kankakee.  With  his  reg- 
iment he  participated  in  the  battle  of  Jackson, Miss., 
and  took  part  in  the  siege  and  capture  of  Vicksburg. 
Mr.  Belisle  was  twice  taken  prisoner,  at  one  time 
being  held  at  Richmond  for  three  months.  He 
was  a  prisoner  in  Andersonville  for  eight  months 
and  was  there  at  the  close  of  the  war.  When  he 
went  into  prison  he  weighed  about  one  hundred 
and  fortv  pounds,  and  when  he  came  out  weighed 
only  sixty  pounds. 

After  his  discharge  from  service,  Mr.  Belisle  re- 
turned to  his  home  in  Bouibonnais  Township  and 
for  fifteen  years  was  under   the  care  of  different 


I 


628 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


physicians,  all  of  whom  pronounced  him  incura- 
ble, but  he  is  now  enjoying  good  health.  He 
rented  land  for  two  years,  in  the  year  1868  pur- 
chasing the  farm  which  is  now  his  home  and  which 
consisted  of  eighty  acres  on  section  18  in  Ganier 
Township.  Here  he  has  carried  on  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-r.aising  and  has  lirought  liis  prop- 
erty under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  has 
since  added  adjoining  land,  his  farm  now  compris- 
ing one  hundred  and  sixtj'  acres,  which  are  well 
improved  and  valuable. 

Mr.  Belisle  was  united  in  marriage,  March  8, 
1868,  to  Mrs.  Caroline  M.  Fortin,  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Oralie  Lamie,  both  of  French  descent. 
By  this  union  six  children  were  horn,  as  follows: 
George  L.,  Hattie  M.,  Conrad  L.,  Felix  L.,  Cordelia 
M.  and  Lillie  J.  V.  Mrs.  Belisle,  who  was  born  in  St. 
Leon  September  11,  1840,  was  the  widow  of  Moses 
Fortin,  by  whom  she  became  the  mother  of  two 
children,  Edward  and  Lidwine  M. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Belisle  are  members  of  the  Cath- 
olic Church.  Our  subject  afliliates  with  the  Re- 
publican party,  and  both  in  peace  and  war  has 
proved  himself  a  loyal  citizen  of  his  adopted 
country.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Whipple 
Post  No.  414,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Kankakee.  Mr.  Belisle 
has  been  quite  successful,  as  he  h.as  made  all  he 
has,  aided  by  his  estimable  wife. 


tHOR  THORSON,  who  carries  on  general 
farming  on  section  6,  Pilot  Township,  and 
^p^  is  one  of  the  honored  veterans  of  the  late 
war,  is  a  Norwegian  by  birth.  His  parents  were 
both  natives  of  that  country- and  he  was  there  born 
September  17,  1840.  In  1846,  when  Thor  was  a 
lad  of  six  summers,  the  family  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica, locating  first  in  Grundy  County,  111.,  where 
they  resided  for  about  five  years.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period  they  removed  to  Kendall 
Count}',  the  mother  having  died  in  Grundy 
Count}'.  The  father  there  opened  up  a  farm  and 
has  since  been  .actively  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits, but  he  expects  soon  to  lay  aside  all  business 


cares  and  live  a  retired  life,  enjoying  the  rest 
which  he  has  so  truly  earned  and  richly  deseives. 
He  has  now  reached  the  age  of  seventy-eight,  but 
he  is  still  well  preserved,  his  years  resting  lightly 
upon  him.  Among  the  honored  pioneers  of  Ken- 
dall County,  Mr.  Thorson  is  numbered. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  manhood 
under  the  parental  roof  and  was  early  inured  to 
the  labors  of  the  field.  His  school  privileges  were 
very  limited,  indeed,  he  is  almost  wholly  self-edu- 
cated. April  2,  1861,  when  it  seemed  that  war 
with  the  South  w.as  imminent,  Mr.  Thorson  joined 
the  Home  Guards,  and  in  September  of  the  same 
year  he  joined  the  volunteer  service  of  his  country 
as  a  member  of  the  Thirty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry. 
With  the  regiment  he  then  went  to  St.  Louis  and 
on  to  the  scene  of  action.  When  his  term  had 
expired  he  veteranized  and  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  being  mustered  out  and  honorably 
discharged  in  the  spring  of  1865.  He  partici- 
pated in  a  number  of  battles,  including  the  en- 
gagements at  Pea  Ridge,  Corinth,  Perryville, 
Murfreesboro,  Chattanooga,  Chickamauga,  Mission 
Ridge,  Resaca,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Franklin,  Nash- 
ville and  many  others  of  lesser  importance.  He 
was  wounded  ))y  a  gunshot  at  Kenesaw  Mountain 
and  still  carries  the  rebel  lead.  Mr.  Thorson  was 
always  found  at  the  post  of  duty,  faithfully  de- 
fending the  Stars  and  Stripes,  the  honored  emblem 
of  our  nation. 

When  the  war  was  over  and  the  country  no 
longer  needed  his  services,  our  subject  returned  to 
Kendall  County  and  there  engaged  in  farming  for 
three  years.  During  that  time,  in  1868,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  in  Chebanse,  111.,  with  Miss 
Carrie  Nilsoti,  who  was  born  in  Kendall  County. 
Their  union  was  celebrated  on  Christmas. Day  of 
1868.  The  lady  is  a  daughter  of  Erich  Nilson,  a 
native  of  Norway  and  one  of  the  honored  pioneers 
of  Kendall  County,  who  there  located  more  than 
sixty  years  ago.  He  died  in  Chebanse  in  1878, 
and  his  wife,  who  survived  him  about  ten  years, 
passed  away  in  1888.  Both  were  buried  in  Ever- 
green Cemetery,  of  Chebanse,  where  a  suitable 
monument  marks  their  last  resting- [ilace. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thorson  have  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren, as  follows:    Mamie,  now  the  wife  of  Oliver 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


629 


James,  a  resident  of  Englewood,  111.;  George  Les- 
ter, who  aids  liis  father  in  the  oi>eration  of  liie 
liome  farm;  Nora,  at  home;  Delia,  who  is  attending 
school;  and  Lida  and  Lillian,  twins.  The  home  of 
tlie  Thorson  family  is  now  k>cated  on  section  6, 
Pilot  Township,  where  the  husband  and  father  owns 
and  operates  a  good  farm, comprising  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  valuable  land.  The  parents  and 
children  are  well  known  throughout  this  commu- 
nit}'  and  rank  high  in  the  social  circles  in  which 
they  move. 

IMr.  Thorson  came  to  Kankakee  County  in  1869 
and  has  since  been  numbered  among  its  leading 
agricultuiists.  He  at  first  had  limited  means,  but 
his  methodical  habits,  good  management  and  bus- 
iness ability  have  made  him  one  of  the  well-to-do 
farmers  of  the  community.  In  politics,  he  is  a 
Republican,  and  since  casting  his  first  Presidential 
ballot  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1864,  he  has  been 
one  of  the  stanch  advocates  of  tlie  principles  of 
that  party.  However,  he  has  never  been  an  as- 
pirant for  public  olHce,  preferring  to  devote  his 
time  and  attention  to  his  business  interests.  So- 
cially, he  is  a  member  of  Cabery  Post  No.  664, 
G.  A.  R.  In  religious  belief  he  is  a  Lutheran  but 
his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
of  Herscher.  This  worthy  couple  are  well  known 
throughout  the  community,  and  Mr.  Thorson 's 
upright  character  has  won  him  universal  confi- 
dence and  esteem. 


^m>-^-<m 


i- 


CT 


LIAS  POWELL,  of  Kankakee,  is  a  represen- 


:^      tative  of  a   well-known   pioneer  family  of 
the  county  and  is  a  son   of   James   Powell, 


who  settled  in  this  county  in  November,  1844. 
The  latter  was  born  on  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  on  the 
10th  of  April,  1810,  and  was  the  son  of  a  sea  cap- 
tain, and  belonged  to  an  old  family  of  Long 
Island.  He  grew  to  manhood  there  and  learned 
the  trade  of  wheelwright  and  blacksmith.  On  the 
5th  of  February,  1833,  he  married  Miss  Hannah 
Finger,  a  native  of  Columbia  County,  N.  Y.,  born 
September  22,  1808.     He  removed  with  his  family 


in  1841  to  Aurora,  III.,  where  he  located  on  Gov- 
ernment land  and  operated  a  sawmill  for  a  time, 
manufacturing  the  lumber  from  which  he  erected 
a  house  on  his  land.  There  his  family  resided  un- 
til November,  1814,  when,  removing  to  Kankakee 
County,  they  settled  upon  a  farm  in  what  is  now 
Limestone  Township.  Mr.  Powell  did  not  long 
survive  after  coming  to  this  county,  but  fell  a  vic- 
tim to  malarial  fever,  from  which  the  early  settlers 
suffered  so  much,  his  death  occurring  August  12, 
1846.  He  was  a  man  who  was  highl}'  esteemed, 
and  though  he  came  to  the  county  so  earl^'  and 
lived  here  but  a  short  time,  jet  he  is  remembered 
by  the  early  pioneers  as  a  man  of  industrj-  and  in- 
tegrity, possessed  of  a  genial  and  social  disposi- 
tion, and  is  well  informed,  a  ready  talker  and 
valuable  companion.  In  polities  he  was  a  Jackson 
Democrat.  In  his  family  were  three  sous  and  three 
daughters.  Ellen  was  born  May  25,  1834,  and  is 
the  wife  of  Luman  Lasher,  of  Philadelphia.  Elias 
was  born  November  23,  1837.  Laoma,  who  was 
born  March  13,  1841,  is  the  widow  of  Charles 
Moore,  and  lives  in  Kankakee.  .Tames  P.,  who  re- 
sides in  Limestone  Township,  was  born  on  the 
15th  of  Fel)ruary,  1843.  The  above  constitute 
the  surviving  members  of  the  familv,  and  those  de- 
ceased are  Mrs.  Margaret  Lasher,  and  Simon  P., 
who  was  the  youngest  member  of  the  family,  his 
birth  having  occurred  August  28,  1845.  He  en- 
tered the  service  of  his  country  in  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion  as  a  member  of  the  Twelfth  Illinois 
Cavalry,  and  died  in  1865,  just  after  the  close  of 
the  war,  while  en  route  with  his  command  from 
Alexandria,  La.,  to  Galveston,  Tex.  After  the 
death  of  Mr.  Powell  his  widow  was  twice  married 
and  now  resides  in  Kankakee. 

Elias  Powell,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Columbia  Countj',  N.  Y.,  on  the  23d  of 
November,  1837,  and  was  but  four  j-ears  of  age 
when  his  father's  family  emigrated  Westward.  He 
was  seven  when  they  came  to  this  county  and  was 
not  yet  nine  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death. 
Thus  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Kankakee  Countj' 
nearly  his  entire  life,  or  for  a  period  of  forty- 
eight  years.  On  arriving  at  mature  years,  Mr. 
Powell  married  Marilda  Ann,  daughter  of  Benja- 
min and  Belinda  (Lamb)  Hammond.     The    lady 


630 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


was  born  in  Broome  County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  25tli  of 
August,  1842,  and  removed  with  her  father's  fam- 
il3'  to  Naperville,  Du  Page  County,  111.,  and  thence 
to  Kankakee.  Mr.  Ilammoud  makes  his  home 
witli  our  subject,  but  his  wife  has  passed  to  her 
final  reward.  On  the  21st  of  May,  1888,  Mr. 
Powell  was  bereft  by  death  of  his  wife,  who  had 
attained  to  nearl3'  the  age  of  forty-six  years.  She 
was  a  most  worth}'  wife  and  mother  and  left 
a  son,  Irvin  W.,  to  mourn  her  loss.  His  birth  oc- 
curred August  12,  1865,  iu  Kankakee  County.  He 
is  now  one  of  tlie  leading  photographers  of  Kan- 
kakee City. 

Mr.  Powell  is  a  well-known  and  representative 
citizen  and  has  been  prominentl}'  connected  with 
the  growth  and  prosperity  of  Limestone  Township, 
where  he  resided  until  the  autumn  of  1887,  in 
which  year  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Kankakee.  He 
has  since  sold  his  fine  farm  in  that  township.  He 
was  one  of  tlie  promoters  and  is  manager  of  the 
North  Kankakee  Electric  Light  and  Railway  Com- 
pany. Although  he  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in  1860,  he  has  since 
aftiliated  with  the  Republican  party.  Mr.  Powell 
is  a  man  of  superior  business  ability,  and  as  an 
early  settler  and  a  valued  citizen  has  won  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens.  He  is 
an  active  member  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of 
Kankakee,  in  which  he  is  Trustee.  Mrs.  Powell 
was  also  a  member  of  the  same  church. 


.y  ^   ^h  ji  ft  p  1  f  wk^^.*M 


f     ^     I  ^^A^i^^^iiniB' 


if?  EON  II  AY,  who  operates  a  farm  on  section 
24,  Otto  Township,  was  born  in  Ottawa, 
^  La  Salle  County,  111.,  on  the  11th  of  :May, 
1864,  and  is  the  only  son  of  Simon  Hay,  who 
was  born  on  the  24th  of  December,  1827,  in  France. 
He  grew  to  manhood  and  married  in  his  native 
countr}'  Pauline  Letot.  In  1856,  he  emigrated 
to  the  New  Woild  and  upon  landing  in  the  United 
States  came  immediately  Westward  to  Illinois,  lo- 
cating in  La  Salle  County,  where  for  a  number  of 
3-ears  he  engaged  in  gardening.  In  1869,  he  came 
to    Kankakee    Count}-,    and    bu\'iug    unimproved 


land  settled  where  he  now  resides.  He  first  pur- 
cliased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  and  started 
with  characteristic  energy  to  make  of  his  property 
a  well-cultivated  and  improved  farm.  In  the 
course  of  time  success  crowned  his  efforts,  and  now 
he  has  his  place  well  improved  and  upon  it  has 
erected  a  good  residence  and  commodious  barns. 
To  his  original  purchase  he  has  added  more  land 
from  time  to  time  as  his  means  increased  and  now 
has  two  hundred  acres  in  a  body.  His  son  also  has 
an  adjoining  forty  acres,  which  was  given  him  by 
his  father.  This  place  is  located  five  miles  from 
Kankakee  and  is  a  well  cultivated  and  desirable 
farm.  Mr.  Hay  has  now  retired  from  the  active 
duties  and  labors  incident  to  farm  life  and  is  en- 
joying a  well-deserved  rest  in  his  declining  years. 

Leon  Hay  was  reared  as  a  farmer  boj-  and  was      I 
early  accustomed    to   the   duties  incident   to  the      " 
life  of  an    agriculturist.     His   primarj'  education 
was  acquired  in    the   county   schools,  after  which 
he  attended  the  High  School  of  Kankakee  and  sup-      , 
plemented  his  studies  with  one  year  at  the  State     I 
Universit}'.     In    1889,  he  spent  one  year  in  trav- 
eling abroad,  visiting  the  Exposition  at  Paris,  and 
he    also  went  through    the    great   countries   and 
cities  of   Europe.     Upon   his   return    he  took  the 
entire  charge  of  the  old  homestead,  thus  relieving 
his  father  from  all  care  and  anxiety. 

On  the  7th  of  November,  1889,  Mr.  Hay  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  M.  J.  De  Lagneau,  who  was  born  July 
12,  1864,  and  was  educated  and  reared  to  woman- 
hood in  Ottawa.  Mrs.  Hay  is  a  daughter  of  Eloi  De 
Lagneau,  of  that  city.  Two  bright  little  children, 
one  about  two  years  old,  Clair  Edward,  and  an- 
other, Simon  De  Lagneau,  grace  the  union  of  our 
subject  and  his  wife. 

Since  becoming  a  voter,  Mr.  Hay  has  used  his 
right  of  franchise  in  favor  of  the  Republican 
part}-,  casting  his  first  ballot  for  Benjamin  Harri- 
son. He  takes  an  active  part  in  local  polities  and 
has  served  his  fellow-citizens  in  several  public 
positions  of  responsibility  and  honor.  He  was 
elected  Seci-etary  of  the  Kankakee  Fair  Association, 
and  also  of  the  Ninth  Congressional  District 
Farmers'  Institutes  and  has  been  very  efficient  and 
faithful  in  his  duties  .as  a  member  of  these  organiza- 
tions.    Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hay  are  members  of    the  St. 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD 


031 


Anne  Presbyterian  Cliurcli.  Our  subject  is  an  ex- 
ample of  llie  progressive  and  enterprising  farmer  of 
tliis  last  decade  of  tlie  nineteentli  century,  and 
Ihougli  but  a  young  man  lie  lias  already  achieved 
considerable  success  as  the  reward  of  his  industry 
and  well-directed  efforts. 


'^  OIIN  KEYES  CKOSWELL,  the  present  City 
Engineer  of  Kankakee,  has  been  a  resident 
of  this  city  since  18G8.  He  is  a  native  of 
(j^/'  the  Empire  State,  born  in  Schoharie  County 
in  1828.  His  father,  Archibald  Croswell,  was  born 
in  Connecticut  and  was  descended  from  a  well- 
known  and  iniluential  Colonial  famil3'.  The  pa- 
ternal grandfather  of  our  subject  was  a  sea  cap- 
tain, and  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution  was  granted 
letters  of  marque  and  reprisal  by  the  Colonial 
Government,  and  was  captured  bj'  the  British 
while  warring  against  English  commerce  by  vir- 
tue of  that  authority',  and  for  some  time  was  de- 
tained a  prisoner  by  them. 

The  Croswell  famil}'  was  prominent  in  the 
earlier  and  later  history  of  Connecticut  and  east- 
ern New  York,  and  the  Episcopal  Church  has 
numbered  several  of  its  members  among  its  most 
able  ministers.  In  the  year  1800,  when  about 
twentj'-one  years  of  age,  Archibald  Croswell  wont 
to  New  York,  where  he  married  Hannah  Winslow 
Paige,  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Winslow  Paige,  a 
well-known  Presb3-terian  clergyman.  She  also  be- 
longed tf)  an  eminent  New  England  famil3',  and 
was  descended  in  direct  line  from  Edward  Wins- 
low, of  "Mayflower"  fame.  Her  brother,  A.  C. 
Paige,  of  Schenectady,  was  Judge  of  the  Circuit 
Court  and  Court  of  Appeals,  and  another  brother, 
Col.  John  Keyes  Paige,  served  in  the  AVar  of 
1812,  and  was  long  a  prominent  citizen  of  Al- 
bany, N.  Y.,  of  which  city  he  was  Mayor  at  one 
time,  and  also  filled  various  other  imjiortant  of- 
ficial positions.  Archibald  Croswell  was  exten- 
sively engaged  in  manufacturing  for  several  years, 
and  continued   to    make   his    home  in    Schoharie 


County  until  claimed  by  death  in  1877.  The 
wife  and  mother  had  died  many  years  previously-, 
in  1852. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  one  of  a  family 
of  five  children  who  grew  to  mature  years,  four 
sons  and  a  daughter,  one  having  died  in  infancy. 
Paige,  the  eldest  of  the.  family,  died  in  Penns3'l- 
vania  a  number  of  years  .ago;  Kellogg,  the  only 
surviving  brother  of  our  subject,  lives  in  Scho- 
harie County'  on  one  of  the  old  farms  once  owned 
by  the  father;  Mary  became  the  wife  of  AVilliam 
J.  Weeks,  of  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  and  she  was 
called  from  this  life  a  number  of  j-ears  ago;  John, 
who  is  four^-ears  the  junior  of  the  other  surviving 
brother,  is  next  in  order  of  birth;  Abel  Brace  de- 
parted this  life  in  1857. 

Mr.  Croswell,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch 
passed  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in 
his  native  county'.  His  -educational  privileges 
were  of  the  best  at  that  time,  and  for  seven  years 
he  was  a  student  in  the  Albany  Academy,  where 
he  took  a  thorough  classical  and  mathematical 
course.  Before  his  school  da^-s  were  ended  he  had 
devoted  considerable  attention  to  practical  sur- 
veying, and  in  1852  began  railroad  engineering. 
He  was  engaged  on  the  New  Y'ork  Central  Rail- 
road between  Utica  and  Schenectady  when  that 
section  of  the  now  famous  New  Y'ork  Central  Rail- 
road was  called  the  Utica  ife  Schenectad3'.  In  1 853 
he  became  connected  with  the  Detroit  &  Milwaukee 
Railroad,  in  whose  service  he  remained  some  four 
j-ears.  He  then  engaged  in  local  work  in  Paines- 
ville,  Ohio,  which  was  his  home  for  ten  years. 
From  1858  to  1860  Mr.  Croswell  had  charge  of 
the  Illinois  Southern  between  Vincennes  and 
Cairo.  During  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  and 
while  making  his  home  in  Painesville,  he  was  City 
Engineer  of  that  place,  and  also  made  surveys  in 
the  oil  regions  of  Pennsylvania.  As  stated,  he 
came  to  Kankakee  in  1868,  and  since  that  time 
has  been  Citj'  Engineer  for  the  greater  portion  of 
the  time.  However,  in  1870,  he  went  to  Iowa, 
and  for  two  years  was  engaged  on  the  Missouri, 
Iowa  &  Nebraska  Railroad.  During  the  years  that 
he  has  served  as  City  Engineer  he  has  also  done 
much  railroad  engineering,  including  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Kankakee  ct  Seneca  Railroad.    He  also 


632 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


has  been  largely  interested  in  the  drainage  busi- 
ness in  Illinois,  notably  with  the  Vermillion  Special 
Drainage  District  and  Milk's  Grove  Drainage  Dis- 
trict. For  twelve  years  Mr.  Croswell  has  also 
filled  the  office  of  County  Surve^^or  most  accept- 
ably. 

In  the  year  1858,  in  Painesville,  Ohio,  occurred 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Croswell  and  Martha  J.,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  Baker.  Mrs.  Croswell  was  born  in 
the  State  of  New  York  and  removed  with  her 
parents  to  the  Buckeye  State  when  a  child.  Our 
subject  and  his  wife  have  but  one  surviving  child, 
a  daughter,  Nellie,  who  is  the  wife  of  J.  Frank  Dale, 
of  Omaha,  Neb.,  special  agent  for  the  Ph(L'nix 
Fire  Insurance  Company.  They  have  three  daugh- 
ters. Archibald,  the  only  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Croswell,  married  Olive  Dewitt,  and  the^',  with 
their  infant  child,  were  passengers  on  the  train 
which  was  wrecked  at  Chats  worth,  1 11.,  on  the  lltli 
of  August,  1887.  The  wife  and  mother  was  in- 
stantly killed,  but  the  babe  which  she  held  in  her 
arms  was  uninjured,  and  is  still  living.  The  hus- 
band was  but  slightly  injured, but  was  called  from 
this  life  in  1889. 

Mr.  Croswell  is  one  of  the  progressive  citizens 
of  Kankakee,  and  has  alwaj'S  taken  a  commend- 
able interest  in  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  tiie 
city.  In  his  political  affiliations  he  has  been  a  life- 
long adherent  of  the  principles  of  the  Democratic 
party.  He  was  made  a  Mason  in  1849,  and  has  taken 
the  degrees  included  in  the  Blue  Lodge,  the  Chap- 
ter and  Commandery,  and  has  been  presiding  of- 
ficer of  all  the  different  bodies. 


~pfe)  I* 


:£^-    -' 


'*^  EORGE  BUTZ,  a  prosperous  and  promi- 
nent farmer,  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
'^^Jj  He  resides  on  section  26,  Limestone  Town- 
ship, and  is  a  native  of  Germany.  Baden  hav- 
ing been  the  place  of  his  birth,  which  occurred 
on  the  8th  of  October,  1839.  His  parents  were 
Michael  and  Elizabeth  (Ilich)  Butz,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Germany.  More  complete  men- 
tion   is  made  of  them  in   the   sketch   of  Michael 


G 


Butz,  Jr.,  which  appears  on  another  page  of  this 
volume.  In  18,t7  the  parents  determined  to  seek 
a  home  beyond  the  Atlantic  and  crossed  the  briny 
deep  to  America.  They  had  a  family  of  four  chil- 
dren, two  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Our  subject,  who  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth, 
spent  the  daj^s  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  in  the 
Fatherland,  and  received  a  good  education  in  its 
public  schools.  When  the  family  came  to  this 
country  Mr.  Butz  accompanied  them.  He  was 
then  a  j'oung  man  of  eighteen  \'ears.  He  at  once 
began  working  upon  a  farm  with  his  father,  and 
during  his  entire  life  has  followed  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  has  been  very  successful  in  his 
undertakings,  and  good  management,  excellent 
business  ability,  perseverance  and  industry  have 
brought  him  a  well-deserved  competence.  He 
now  owns  the  old  family  homestead,  which  com- 
prises one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  rich  land 
on  section  26,  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
and  also  two  hundred  acres  of  fine  land  on  sections 
24  and  25.  It  is  regarded  as  the  best  improved 
farm  in  the  township  and  its  neat  appearance  in- 
dicates the  supervision  of  a  careful  manager. 
There  are  good  buildings,  the  fields  are  well  tilled, 
and  the  stock  which  he  raises  is  of  good  grades. 
The  latest  improved  machinery  is  there  found  and 
none  of  the  accessories  of  a  model  farm  are  want- 
ing. 

When  twenty-nine  years  of  age,  Mr.  Butz  was 
married  to  Miss  Catherine  Heil.  Her  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Germany,  and  Mrs.  Butz  was  born 
in  Ohio  March  7,  1845,  but  at  the  time  of  her 
marriage  was  a  resident  of  this  county.  Their 
union  was  celebrated  February  23,  1869,  and 
has  been  blessed  with  a  family  of  four  children, 
three  sons  and  a  daughter:  Charles,  Amelia,  John 
and  William.  They  are  aged  respectively  twenty- 
two,  twenty-one,  twenty  and  eighteen  years.  The 
family  circle  yet  remains  unbroken  and  the  chil- 
dren are  still  under  the  parental  roof.  They  have 
been  provided  with  good  educational  advantages, 
thus  being  fitted  for  the  practical  and  responsible 
duties  of  life. 

Mr.  Butz  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  sup- 
port of  the  Republican  party,  having  been  a  warm 
advocate  of    its   principles   since    he   cast  his  first 


LIBRAHY 

OF  THE 

flNIVERSiry  OF  ILLI,W(S 


•i  -iftj*.-!*^ 


^^i^  7^^ 


^^iliififtl  ■  -  ■-■-Kia— ^. 


1 


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a.j'f 


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OAn-^yu^ 


{jL/t^-d-m^Xy 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

HWfV&RgiYY  OF  limm 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


637 


Presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  His  fel- 
low-townsmen, appreciating  his  worth  and  abilitj', 
liave  lionored  him  by  repeated  elections  to  the 
ollice  of  Road  Commissioner  of  his  district,  and  he 
has  also  represented  his  townshii)  as  Supervisor 
for  the  past  ten  years,  discharging  his  duties  with 
credit  to  himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his 
constituents,  which  fact  is  attested  by  his  long  term. 
Himself  and  family  are  all  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Lutheran  Church.  He  is  a  man  of  sterling 
worth  and  strict  integrity  and  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  acquaintances  is  held  in  the  highest 
regard. 


•^^[ 


IB/ 


■m 


jOBERT  S.  GILKERSON  has  for  about  forty 
years  resided   on   section   8,   in    Manteno 


Township.  His  parents  were  Thomas  and 
^^1  Marian  (Somers)  Gilkerson,  and  he  was 
born  in  Bamet,  Caledonia  County,  Yt.,  on  the 
18th  of  February,  1821.  His  parents  are  more 
fully  spoken  of  in  connection  with  the  sketch  of 
John  Gilkerson. 

The  education  of  Robert  Gilkerson  was  received 
in  the  district  schools  of  llarnet  Township,  where 
he  was  born,  and  under  the  tutoiship  of  the  Scotch 
minister  who  preached  in  the  neighborhood.  In 
December,  18.54,  he  came  to  Illinois  from  Vermont, 
where  he  had  engaged  in  farming  for  a  number  of 
years,  and  upon  his  arrival  in  Kankakee  County 
located  on  section  8,  in  Manteno  Township.  His 
farm  consisted  of  eighty  acres,  upon  which  he 
built  a  house  and  then  sent  for  his  family.  In  the 
following  February  the}'  arrived  safely,  and  this 
original  house  was  their  home  for  thirty-one  j-ears, 
during  which  time  it  was  enlarged  and  otherwise 
improved.  In  1885  he  built  another  house  near 
by  for  his  son,  Robert  C,  and  into  tliis  home  they 
moved  three  years  later,  their  son  liaving  removed 
to  Kankakee.  Another  son,  Frank,  now  resides  on 
the  old  homestead,  which  he  rents  of  his  father. 
I  Our  subject  was  a  thrifty  farmer,  and  as  his  re- 
:  sources  permitted  added  more  land  to  his  first 
\  purchase  until  he  was  the  possessor  of  five  hun- 
'  dred  and   forty  acres,  which  were  well  improved 

29 


and  under  good  cultivation.  A  portion  of  this  he 
h.as  since  divided  among  his  children,  but  he  re- 
serves two  hundred  an<l  eighty  acres,  which,  as 
before  mentioned,  are  rented  and  carried  on  by  his 
son. 

On  the  19th  of  February,  184C,  Mr.  Gilkerson 
married,  at  Bath,  N.  II.,  Miss  Agues  N.  Batcheldcr, 
who  was  born  in  Bath  October  28,  1823.  Her 
fatlier,  Nathan  Ratcheider,  who  was  of  English  de- 
scent, died  in  Ma}',  1892,  in  Barnet,  Vt.,  aged  nine- 
ty-four years.  .Tames  Batchclder,  the  grandfather 
of  Mrs.  Gilkerson,  entered  the  Kevolutionary  army 
as  a  soldier  boy,  served  through  the  entire  war 
and  came  out  with  the  rank  of  Capt.ain.  Mrs.  Gil- 
kerson's  brother,  David  Batchclder,  enlisted  in  the 
late  war,  sailed  with  Gen.  Banks  to  open  up  the 
Mississippi  River,  was  shot  at  Port  Hudson  and 
died  from  the  effects  of  his  wound.  Her  mother 
was  of  Scotch  descent. 

Six  sons  and  three  daughters  were  born  to  our 
worthy  subject  and  his  estimable  wife,  as  follows: 
Nathan  B.,  wlio  lives  at  Peotone,  married  Miss 
Belle  McKercher.  They  have  an  adopted  son, 
Chester  Arthur.  "  Liithor  married  Miss  Catherine 
Morris,  of  Monmouth,  111.,  who  became  the  mother 
of  seven  children,  all  of  whom  are  living.  They 
are  Laura  Belle,  Mary  A.,  Scott,  Bertha,  Ella, 
Helen  and  Robert  Sterling.  The  mother  died  in 
August,  1890.  Charles  and  .Tames  A.  are  both  de- 
ceased. Frank  married  Miss  Eva  Cowen,  and  to 
them  have  been  born  six  children,  Wilbert  W., 
Grace,  Frank  R.,  Horace,  .Tames  Otis  and  the  baby. 
Robert  C.  keeps  a  meat-market  in  Kankakee.  He 
married  Harriet  AVright,  of  Manteno,  and  they 
have  one  child,  Elnathan  W.  Laura,!,  is  the  wife 
of  Rev.  A.  W.  Morris,  a  minister  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church,  who  is  now  located  in  Green- 
wich, N.  Y.  They  have  six  children,  Agnes,  Mary 
A.,  Robert,  Bernice,  Frank  G.  and  .Janet.  Mary 
E.  is  the  widow  of  Philip  P.  Nelson,  formerly  of 
Lyman,  N.  H.  The}-  had  five  children,  Nathan, 
Annie,  Hugh,  Norman  N.  and  Robert  8.  His  death 
occurred  in  February,  1892,  in  Kankakee.  Emma 
J.  is  deceased. 

Although  seventy-one  jears  of  age,  Mr.  Gilker- 
son is  hale  and  hearty,  bidding  fair  to  live  for 
many  j-ears  to  come.     He  is  strictly   temperate  in 


638 


POiiTRAlT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


bis  habits,  as  be  has  not  used  a  glass  of  intoxicat- 
ing liquors  for  forty  years.  He  and  bis  wife  arc 
members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church,  in 
which  he  has  occupied  the  office  of  Elder  for 
thirty-seven  years.  Politically,  he  is  a  Republican, 
and  has  held  the  office  of  Road  Commissioner  and 
that  of  Supervisor  for  one  year.  He  has  been  a 
witness  of  vast  changes  in  this  locality,  and 
well  remembers  when  wolves  and  deer  were  very 
plentiful,  and  when  the  prairie  for  miles  in  every 
direction  was  covered  with  rank  grass  as  tall  as 
his  horse. 


<*  l»> ALTER  B.  CHIPMAN,  a  representative 
\/\j//  farmer  and  stock-raiser  of  Momeuce  Town- 
^^^  ship,  who  lesides  on  section  7,  where  he 
owns  and  operates  a  valuable  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres,  claims  Canada  as  the  land  of  his 
birth.  He  comes,  however,  of  an'old  New  Englaud 
family  of  English  origin,  which  was  probably 
founded  in  America  during  Colonial  days.  His 
parents,  Truman  and  Sarah  (Cowdry)  Cbipman, 
were  both  natives  of  Vermont.  The  father  was 
a  farmer  of  the  Green  Mountain  State,  from 
where  in  an  earl}'  day  he  removed  to  Canada. 
Desiring  to  better  his  financial  condition,  he  re- 
solved at  length  to  seek  a  home  in  Illinois,  and  in 
consequence  emigrated  to  this  State,  locating  in 
Moraence  Township,  Kankakee  County.  The  j-ear 
1845  witnessed  his  arrival,  and  the  Chipmans  be- 
came one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  this  com- 
munity. 

The  subject  of  this  recoid,  Walter  B.,  was  born 
on  the  9th  of  July,  1830,  and  was  the  sixth  in 
order  of  birth  in  their  faniil3'of  ten  chiiden,  num- 
bering six  sons  and  four  daughters.  His  early 
boyhood  days  were  passed  in  his  native  land  and 
at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  Illinois.  His  education  was  acquired  in  the 
common  schools  of  Canada  and  Kankakee  County, 
III.,  and  he  was  reared  under  the  parental  roof.  After 
attaining  to  years  of  maturity  he  chose  as  a  com- 


panion and  helpmate  on  life's  journey  Miss 
Caroline  Davidson,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  El- 
mira  Davidson,  who  were  pioneers  of  Kankakee 
County.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chipraan 
was  celebrated  in  1855,  but  after  three  short  years 
of  happy  wedded  life  the  young  wife  was  called  to 
her  final  rest,  passing  .away  in  1858.  One  child 
had  been  born  of  that  union,  a  daughter,  Alice, 
who  is  now  the  wife  of  Henry  Davis,  a  thrifty  and 
enterprising  farmer  residing  in  Fillmore  County, 
Neb. 

January  25,  18G2,  Mr.  Chii)nian  was  again 
married,  his  second  union  being  with  Miss  Mary 
L.  Wagoner,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Lavina 
Wagoner,  of  Momence,  who  were  also  early  set- 
tlers of  Kankakee  County,  coming  in  1845.  Mrs. 
Chipmau  was  born  near  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  May  17, 
1842.  A  family  of  six  children  has  been  born  of 
this  second  marriage,  namely:  Charlej'  B.,  a  pros- 
perous and  progressive  farmer  of  Momence  Town- 
ship, who  married  Miss  Lida  Hurley,  of  this 
county,  by  whom  he  has  four  children;  Nellie  V., 
a  well-educated  young  lady,  and  a  teacher  of  recog- 
nized abilitj'  in  the  public  schools  of  this  county; 
Cora  B.,  who  died  when  four  years  of  age;  Fannie 
May,  the  next  j'ounger;  and  Edward  E.  and  AVill- 
iam  W.,  who  complete  the  family.  The  latter  are 
twins  and  were  born  August  20,  1882.  The  elder 
children  have  received  good  educational  privileges 
which  will  also  in  due  time  be  afforded  thej'ounger 
members  of  the  family. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Chipmau  is  a 
stanch  Republican,who" warmly  advocates  the  prin- 
ciples of  that  party  and  does  what  he  can  for  its 
growth  and  success.  He  keeps  himself  well  in- 
formed on  all  issues  of  the  day,  both  political  and 
otherwise,  and  has  proved  himself  a  valued  citizen 
The  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm  frienc 
and  for  the  long  period  of  about  twenty  years  h«, 
has  served  as  School  Director  in  his  district,  during 
which  time  he  has  done  effective  service  in  theii 
interest  by  securing  competent  teachers.  His  wif< 
and  daughter  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis 
copal  Church  and  Mr.  Chipman,  though  not  holdinj 
membership,  aids  in  its  support.  His  help  is  neve 
withheld  from  any  worthy  enterprise  calculated  ti 
prove  of  public  benefit  or  from  any  worthy   chari 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   liECOUD. 


639 


table  or  benevolent  interest.  The  community  re- 
cognizes him  as  one  of  its  best  citizens.  From  a 
(in.ancial  standpoint,  also,  Mr.  Chipman's  life  has 
been  one  of  success  and  he  owns  an  excellent  farm 
comprising  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  well- 
improved  and  iiighly  cultivated  land.  It  is 
pleasantly  situated  two  miles  north  of  Momence. 
His  fields  are  well  cultivated  and  in  addition  to 
the  work  of  general  farming  he  successfully  carries 
on  stock-raising.  Honorable,  upright  dealings 
have  marked  liis  business  career,  and  the  good 
wishes  and  confidence  of  the  community  he  has 
gained  thereby. 


e^+^l 


f)n.LI  AM  P.  WATSON,  of  the  firm  of  Wat- 
son &  Cleary,  general  merchants  of  Mo- 
^^1  mence,  was  born  in  JCdgar  Count}',  111., 
near  the  town  of  Paris,  on  the  16th  of  October, 
1842.  His  ancestors  on  the  paternal  side  were 
English,  and  his  grandfather  Watson  and  a  brother 
came  to  America  at  a  very  early  da>-.  The  foimer 
was  a  merchant  and  shipper  of  all  kinds  of  produce 
by  boats  from  Cincinnati  to  New  Orleans  and  in- 
tervening points.  In  his  family  were  two  children, 
our  subject's  father  and  one  daughter.  His  death 
occurred  when  he  was  comparatively  a  young 
man. 

Our  subject  is  a  son  of  John  F.  and  Sarah  .Jane 
(Patterson)  Watson,  the  former  a  native  of  Ken- 
tuckj',  and  the  latter  of  Ohio,  of  Irish  descent. 
The  father  was  born  in  1822,  and  married  when 
quite  j'oung.  He  foUovved  the  life  of  a  farmer  in 
Kentucky,  living  at  a  place  called  Flemingsburg, 
which  was  named  after  his  grandfather.  He  re- 
moved to  Edgar  County,  111.,  about  1840,  and  set- 
tled on  a  farm  near  Paris.  In  1844,  with  his  wife 
and  son,  he  came  to  what  is  now  Kankakee  County 
and  located  on  a  farm  nine  miles  from  Momence. 
The  country  was  wild  and  unfenced,  and  the 
Government  land  was  not  yet  in  the  market.  He 
took  up  a  claim  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
which  he  improved  and  made  his  home  until  1858. 
He  tiien  purchased  a  farm  near  Wilmington,  111., 


which  he  cultivated  for  a  number  of  years.  His 
present  residence  is  in  the  city  of  Wilmington, 
where  he  lives  retired  from  active  life.  Their  chil- 
dren are  all  living  and  married  and  reside  in 
widely  scattered  States.  They  are  as  follows:  Will- 
iam P.,  Margaret  J.,  Caroline  E.,  Washington  AV., 
Edward  L.,  Charles,  Emeline,  .lohn  T.,  Mcuritt 
E.  and  George  M. 

The  l)oyhood  days  of  William  P.  Watson  were 
passed  upon  a  farm  in  this  State.  He  is  one  of 
the  oldest  settlors  of  Kankakee  County,  having 
lived  here  for  forty-eight  years,  or  ever  since 
he  w.as  two  ^ears  of  age.  He  remained  on  his  fa- 
ther's farm  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war, 
when,  on  the  lOtli  of  August,  18(il,  though  not 
nineteen  3'ears  of  age,  he  enlisted  in  Companv  I>, 
Forty-second  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  in  the 
service  for  three  years,  being  mustered  out  the 
1st  of  September,  1864.  He  was  in  the  battle  of 
Stone  River,  where  he  was  slightly  wounded,  and 
also  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  in 
which  he  received  three  wounds,  one  of  which 
broke  his  right  fore-arm,  disabling  it  for  life, 
another  broke  a  rib  in  his  right  side,  while  the 
third  wound  was  a  buck-shot  in  his  riglit  shoulder, 
which  he  still  carries.  He  also  participated  in 
many  skirmishes  and  smaller  engagements,  and 
was  ever  found  faithful  at  the  post  of  duty. 

On  the  24th  of  April,  1866,  Mr.  Watson  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Hortense  E.  Shedd,  whose 
parents,  John  and  Sylvia  (Dunham)  Shedd,  were 
from  Cortland  County,  N.  Y.  One  child  was  born 
to  our  subject  and  his  wife,  a  son,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy-. 

After  returning  from  the  war,  J\Ir.  Watson 
clerked  in  the  grocery  store  of  his  uncle,  W.  H. 
Patterson,  until  the  spring  of  1870,  at  which  time 
he  started  in  business  for  himself,  establishing  a 
small  grocery  store  on  River  Street,  which  he  car- 
ried on  for  a  couple  of  years.  He  then  associated 
with  him  Hiram  Wilber  and  moved  into  larger 
quarters  on  Front  Street,  also  considerably  increas- 
ing his  stock.  They  carried  on  business  under  the 
firm  name  of  Wilber  (k  Watson  for  three  years, 
after  which  our  subject  purchased  his  partner's  in- 
terest, and  then  took  into  partnership  his  brother, 
AVashington  W.,  and   the  firm  assumed   the   style 


640 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


of  Watson  Bros.  At  the  end  of  four  years  our 
subject  purchased  bis  brother's  interest  and  con- 
tinued alone  until  1885,  when  Patrick  J.  Cleary, 
who  had  been  in  his  employ  for  seven  years, 
bought  an  interest  in  the  business,  which  has  since 
been  carried  on  under  the  firm  name  of  Watson 
&  Cleary.  From  a  small  beginning  our  subject 
has  seen  a  steady  increase  until  now  his  business 
has  assumed  large  proportions,  and  his  sales  extend 
in  all  directions  in  the  vicinity  of  Moraence.  His 
business  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  substantial 
enterprises  of  the  county. 

Though  not  a  member  of  an3'  church  organiza- 
tion, Mr.  Watson  contributes  of  his  means  to  the 
suppoit  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  his  wife 
is  a  member.  Socially,  he  is  a  Knight  Templar, 
holding  membership  with  Ivanhoe  Commandery 
No.  33,  of  Kankakee.  He  is  a  ciiartcr  member  of 
Momence  Lodge  No.  181,  A.  F.  it  A.  M.,  which 
was  organized  in  18GC.  He  is  at  present  Super- 
pervisor  of  Momence  Township,  and  has  held 
various  other  offices  of  honor  and  trust.  He  is  a 
thorough  business  man  and  is  public-spirited,  al- 
ways being  alive  to  the  welfare  of  the  city  and- 
county.  In  polities  he  is  a  Republican  and  has 
always  voted  that  ticket,  having  cast  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln. 


^fiiiM^i'^i-i^sl^ 


UTLLIAM  P.  BARBER,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  on  section  4,  Limestone  Town- 
^^^  ship,  where  he  owns  a  comfortable  home, 
pleasantly  situated  within  five  miles  of  Kankakee, 
is  a  native  of  Illinois.  He  was  born  on  the  loth 
of  April,  1857,  in  De  Kalb,  Be  Kalb  County,  111., 
and  is  the  youngest  child  and  the  only  son  in  a  fam- 
ily of  three  children.  His  father,  Rosswell  Barber, 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  born  May  25,  1819, 
and  his  parents  were  also  natives  of  New  England. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Mary  A.  Franklin.  She  too  was  born  in  the 
old  Bay  State,  the  date  being  September  14,  1828, 
and  was  of  English  extraction.  It  was  in  1857  that 
the  parents  of  our  subject  emigrated  Westward  to 


Illinois,  becoming  residents  of  De  Kalb  County, 
where  Mr.  Barber  purchased  a  farm.  He  there  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits  until  1871,  when 
with  his  family  he  removed  to  Chicago,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  real-estate  business.  He  was  in 
that  city  at  the  time  of  the  big  fire  which  broke 
out  on  the  9th  of  October,  1871.  Buildings  were 
destroj'ed  to  within  half  a  block  of  him,  but  at 
that  place  they  at  length  gained  control  over  the 
fire  and  Mr.  Barber's  propertj'  was  thus  saved. 
He  remained  in  Chicago,  carrying  on  business,  for 
a  period  of  eight  years  and  then  came  to  Kankakee 
County,  purchasing  a  farm  in  Limestone  Town- 
ship. Locating  thereon,  the  remainder  of  his  days 
were  there  passed  and  his  death  occurred  Febru- 
arj'  13,  1892.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church  and  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  strict  in- 
tegrit}^  Though  he  had  resided  in  this  county 
for  only  about  thirteen  years,  he  had  made  many 
friends  and  his  death  was  deeply  regretted. 

I'nder  the  parental  roof  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  reared  to  manhood,  and  being  the  only 
son  of  the  family  he  remained  at  home  and  when 
he  had  attained  his  majority  was  taken  into  part- 
nership with  his  father.  He  had  received  a  good 
education  in  the  common  schools  and  was  thus 
fitted  for  a  practical  business  life.  As  a  compan- 
ion and  helpmate  on  life's  journey,  Mr.  Barber 
chose  Miss  Ulista  Hawkins,  who  has  the  honor  of 
being  a  native  of  Kankakee.  She  was  born  in 
that  city  on  tlie  15th  of  November,  1862,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  Alanson  and  Abia  (Vaughn)  Haw- 
kins. Her  fatlier  was  one  of  the  very  first  settlers 
in  tlie  counl3',  the  date  of  his  arrival  here  being 
1832.  The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barber  was 
celebrated  November  25,  1890,  and  unto  them 
has  been  born  one  child,  a  son,  William  H.,  born 
Septemlier  2,  1891.  The  jiarents  of  Jlrs.  Barber 
are  both  dead.  Her  father  died  October  22,  18G9, 
and  her  mother  died  November  10, 1886. 

Our  subject  continued  to  engage  in  business 
with  his  father  until  the  lattcr's  deatii.  He  now 
owns  and  operates  a  good  farm,  comprising  forty 
acres  of  well-improved  land.  It  is  all  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  the  neat  appeaninoe 
of  the  place  indicates  the  owner  to  be  a  man  of 
practical  and  progressive  ideas. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

HNMVEnSITY  OF  ILLIMOIS 


Wji 


r*-< 


_-/■ 


^AAn(^l/nt^ 


'cn/^^ 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOaRAPHlCAL  RECORD. 


643 


In  his  iKihtic.al  alHliations,  Mr.  Barber  is  a  Ke- 
piibliean  and  cast  liis  first  rresidential  vote  foi- 
James  A.  (iarlield;  lie  has  never  sought  or  desired 
the  lionors  or  emoluments  of  jiublic  otlice,  prefer- 
ring to  devote  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  his 
business  interests.  In  religious  belief,  he  is  a 
Congregationalist  and  holds  membership  with  the 
church  of  that  denomination  in  Chicago,  and  Mrs. 
Barber  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Cliurch.  He  is  a  wide-awake,  enterprising  young 
farmer,  a  man  of  good  business  ability  and  a  val- 
ued citizen,  who  has  won  the  high  regard  of  all 
witli  wliom  he  lias  been  brought  in  contact. 


rSBIOTlIY  FORTIN,  an  early  settler  of  Kan- 
:/^^^  kakee  County,  was  born  in  Henryville 
<^'  Province  of  Quebec,  Canada,  on  the  22d  of 
.lanu.ary,  1833.  His  parents,  .Taque  Timothee  and 
p:iiza  (Cloutier)  Fortin,  were  of  Canadian  birth, 
and  of  French  descent.  Jaque  Fortin  was  a  pros- 
perous farmer  and  a  man  of  energj'and  enterprise. 
In  the  summer  of  1847,  he  made  a  trip  to  Kane 
County,  111.,  to  see  the  country,  being  the  first 
from  his  vicinity  to  visit  this  section.  Pleased 
with  the  country,  he  returned  to  Canada  and  made 
preparations  to  move.  Being  a  man  of  influence 
and  of  known  business  abilitj',  a  number  of  his 
neighbors  decided  to  cast  their  lot  with  him  in  the 
then  new  State  of  Illinois.  Fourteen  families 
from  the  same  neighborhood  joined  in  the  West- 
ward emigration. 

During  that  winter  Mr.  Fortin  left  his  family  at 
Aurora,  and  came  to  what  is  now  Kankakee  County, 
securing  two  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Bourbon- 
nais  Township.  To  this  place  he  removed  his 
family  the  following  spi'ing.  By  industry  and 
perseverance  he  added  to  his  possessions  until  he 
l)ecame  quite  an  extensive  land-holder.  He  was  a 
man  of  strict  integrity,  and  his  name  signed  to  an 
obligation  made  it  as  good  as  the  gold.  Many 
times  he  helped  his  countrymen  who  settled  here 
over  financial  troubles.    Politically,  be  was  a  warm 


advocate  of  the  principles  of  Democracy,  but  never 
sought  office  for  himself.  He  died  much  lamented 
by  his  fellow-tuwnsmeii  in  April,  18U4,  at  the  age 
of  flftj'-two  years.  In  his  allegiance  to  his  adopted 
country,  he  was  unswerving.  During  the  late  war 
many  native  Americans  were  fleeing  to  Canada  to 
escape  the  draft.  Mr.  Fortin  called  his  boys  to 
hiin,  and  on  his  deathbed  urged  them  if  drafted 
not  to  run  from  duty,  but  to  fight  like  men  for 
tlieir  country.  Though  he  did  not  see  the  close  of 
the  war,  he  did  live  long  enough  to  see  that  the 
union  of  the  States  would  be  maintained.  His 
widow,  who  makes  her  home  in  Chicago,  has 
reached  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  Mr.  Fortin 
was  an  active  worker  yi  and  d  liberal  contributor 
to  the  Catholic  Church,  with  which  all  of  his  fam- 
ily hold  membership.  His  children  numbered 
seven,  as  follows:  Timothy,  of  this  sketch;  Julius, 
who  is  a  farmer  of  Bourbonnais  Township;  Alexis 
and  George,  live-stock  commission  men  of  Chicago, 
and  owners  of  farm  lands;  Alfred,  a  retired  farmer, 
of  Chicago;  Ilenriette,  wife  of  P.  Ma3'nard,  of 
Kankakee;  and  Mary,  wife  of  George  Richards, 
a  farmer  of  Bourbonnais  Township. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  Timothy 
Fortin,  who  accomi)anied  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  this  county.  He  received  a  common- 
school  education,  and  was  engaged  in  farm  work 
until  twent3'  years  of  age,  when,  on  the  23d  of 
January,  1853,  he  set  out  with  his  brother  Alexis, 
for  the  gold  fields  of  California,  going  by  way  of 
New  York  and  the  ocean  route.  Thej-  both  had 
the  fever  at  Panama,  and  on  the  way  from  that 
place  to  San  Francisco  they  lost  thirteen  of  their 
fellow-passengers  with  the  Isthmus  fever.  On 
reaching  their  destination,  they  engaged  in  min- 
ing in  Nevada  County,  on  the  Middle  Yuba. 
They  also  spent  three  months  on  Feather  K'iver, 
and  later  operated  on  New  Orleans  Flat.  In  their 
various  ventures  they  made  considerable  money, 
but  lost  it  again  through  prospecting,  and  in  the 
fall  of   1859  returned  to  their  home. 

In  the  spring  of  18C0,  Mr.  Fortin  commenced 
farming  on  land  in  Pilot  Township,  which  he  had 
bought  before  going  to  California,  and  which  his  fa- 
ther had  entered  from  the  Government.  He  made 
a  success  of  agricultural  pursuits,  and  raised  and 


644 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


dealt  in  live  stock.  He  continued  to  reside  on 
this  farm  until  1874,  when  he  removed  to  Kanka- 
kee, but  still  operates  his  land. 

On  the  26th  of  January,  1872,  in  Pilot  Town- 
ship, Mr.  Fortin  married  Miss  Philomene  Anctil, 
who  was  born  .June  20,  1847,  in  .St.  Ann  Lapoca- 
tier,  being  a  daughter  of  .Jeau  Marie  and  Mathilde 
(Iludon)  Anctil.  Mrs.  Fortin 's.  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Quebec,  Canada,  where  the3'  spent  their 
entire  lives,  reaching  an  advanced  age.  Both  were 
Catliolics  in  religious  belief.  Mr.  Anctil  was  a 
man  of  ample  means,  farming  being  his  chief  vo- 
cation. Of  his  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three 
daughters,  but  two  have  come  to  the  United  States: 
Mrs.  Timotli}'  Fortin;  and  Elmira,  wife  of  Alexis 
Fortin.  Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  were 
born  three  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infanc3^ 
Rachel  is  their  only  surviving  child. 

In  their  religious  belief,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fi)rtin  are 
Catholics,  and  in  politics,  Mr.  Fortin  is  a  Demo- 
crat. By  industry,  perseverance  and  good  business 
judgment,  he  has  worked  his  w.ay  upward  until  he 
is  accounted  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  Kan- 
kakee County.  He  has  never  been  a  si)eculator, 
but  through  the  legitimate  channels  of  business 
has  received  a  iust  reward  for  Ins  efforts. 


^M  ICriAEL  ORRECHT,  who  follows  farming 
///      iW    °'^  section  33,  Salina  Township,  is  one  of 
I       w  the  worthy  citizens  that  German 3'  has  fur- 
"'  nished  to  Kankakee  County.     He  was  born 

in  that  part  of  Germany  which  then  belonged 
to  France,  on  the  29th  of  September,  1802,  and  is 
a  son  of  Martin  and  Paulina  (Hegg)  Obrecht. 
His  father  was  twice  married,  and  by  his  first 
union  he  had  a  daughter,  Mar3'.  Eight  children 
weie  born  of  the  second  marriage,  the  eldest  of 
whom  is  our  subject,  tiie  others  being  Catlierine, 
Sallie,  Magdalena,  Jacob,  Barbara,  George  and 
Ursula. 

As  our  subject  was  the  eldest  of  the  fainil3-,  the 
|)rivileges  afforded  him  were  ver3-  me.agre,  for  he 
had  to  work  in  order  lo  help  supjiort  his  younger 


brothers  and  sisters.  Wlien  he  began  to  work  for 
himself  lie  embarked  in  farming,  which  pursuit  he 
followed  until  his  emigration  to  America.  Desir- 
ing to  try  his  fortune  in  the  New  World,  he 
crossed  the  broad  Atlantic  in  1842,  in  a  sailing- 
vessel,  whicli  dropped  anchor  in  the  harbor  of 
New  York  after  lifty-flve  da3'S.  He  then  went  to 
Buffalo,  where  he  remained  during  the  summer, 
while  in  the  autumn  he  made  his  wa3'  b3'  water  to 
Chicago.  Soon  afterward  he  located  near  Wheel- 
ing, Cook  County,  TH.,  where  he  purch.ased  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  thirteen  acres.  The  onl3'  im- 
provement upon  the  place  was  a  small  log  cabin, 
into  wiiich  he  moved,  and  then  gave  his  attention 
to  the  development  of  his  land,  which  he  operated 
for  eleven  years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  pe- 
riod, he  came  to  Kankakee  County,  in  1853,  and 
purchased  the  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixt3' 
acres  on  section  33,  .Salina  Township,  which  has 
since  l)een  his  home.  The  wliole  county-  was  then 
but  sparsel3'  settled,  there  being  onl3'  one  house 
between  his  home  and  Hickoiy  Grove.  The  land 
which  he  purchased  w.as  a  tract  of  wild  prairie, 
unadorned  by  an3'  improvements,  but  he  at  once 
began  its  development,  and  as  time  passed  the 
work  of  transformation  was  carried  forward,  until 
the  barren  tract  w.as  made  to  bloom  and  blossom 
as  the  rose. 

In  his  native  land,  Mr.  Obrecht  commenced  life 
for  himself,  and  was  married  in  1830  to  Miss 
Magdelene  Fielweber,  and  unto  them  have  been 
born  the  following  children:  Lena,  who  died  in 
Germany,  at  the  age  of  six  years;  Jacob,  who  re- 
sides in  Kankakee  Count3',  and  was  Sheriff  of  the 
county'  from  1861  until  1865;  Mai y,  wife  of  Jacob 
Schreiber,  who  is  living  in  Butler  County,  Iowa, 
where  he  carries  on  farming;  John  M.,  a  farmer  of 
Henry  Count3-,  111.;  John,  a  retired  farmer,  resid- 
ing in  Du  P.age  Count3';  Martin,  who  died  in 
1875;  Emeline,  wife  of  Amos  Hertz,  an  agricul- 
turist of  Salina  Township;  David,  who  operates 
the  old  homestead  on  which  his  father  first  lo- 
cated; Sarah,  wife  of  George  M.  Wagner,  a  farmer 
of  Salina  Township;  Frederick  W.,  who  carries  on 
agricultural  pursuits  in  Iroquois  County;  and 
George  W.,  a  stockman  and  dealer  in  agricultural 
implements  in  South  Dakota.     Martin  was  a  sol- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


645 


dier  of  the  late  war.  IIo  ciilistcfl  in  1861,. and 
was  imistei't'd  into  tiio  service  at  Springfield,  111., 
as  a  Sergeant  of  C'ompan}'  I,  Se\a'nty-sixth  Illinois 
Infantrj-.  lie  participated  in  many  important  en- 
gagements, including  the  siege  of  Vickshiirg.  lie 
was  never  wounded  or  taken  prisoner,  but  was  al- 
w.avs  found  at  his  post  of  duty,  and  faithfully 
served  until  honorably  discharged  in  18(55.  The 
mother  of  this  family  was  called  to  her  final  rest 
May  28,  1879,  and  her  remains  were  interred  in 
the  cemetery  of  the  Gei'man  Evangelical  Church. 
Mr.  Obrecht  is  a  meml)er  of  that  church,  as  was 
also  his  wife.  In  politics  he  is  a  stalwart  advocate 
of  the  princi|iles  of  the  Republican  party,  but  lias 
never  been  an  ottice-seeker.  He  is  now  one  of  the 
oldest  residents  of  the  county.  He  has  always  en- 
joyed good  health,  and  his  age  3'et  rests  lightly 
upon  him.  During  his  long  residence  in  the 
county  he  has  become  widely  known,  and  by  all 
Ills  many  friends  and  acquaintances  he  is  held  in 
the  highest  regard  as  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and 
upright  character.  His  life  has  been  such  as  to 
win  him  universal  confidence  and  esteem.  From 
a  financial  standpoint,  his  success  has  all  been 
achieved  through  his  own  efforts,  for  he  came  to 
this  country  empty-handed,  and  by  his  own  exer- 
tions has  worked  his  way  upward  from  an  humble 
position  to  one  of  affluence.  Mr.  Obrecht  li.as  re- 
sided with  his  son  David  and  wife  for  fourteen 
years.  David  lias  exercised  tiiat  love  .and  care  for 
his  father  in  his  declining  years  which  becomes  a 
loving  and  dutiful  son. 


-^>^^<i 


"^^®x 


E  WITT  CLINTON  RIKER,  clothing  mer- 
chant of  ISIomencc,  was  born  in  Mont- 
pelier,  Vt.,  on  the  .30th  of  May,  1846. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  Isaac  Riker,  was 
a  Captain  in  the  I'liited  States  Armj-  in  the  War 
of  1812;  he  was  in  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe, 
and  surrendered  at  Detroit,  INIicii.,  from  wiiich 
place  he  proceeded  on  foot  to  his  home  in  Ver- 
mont. His  death  occurred  when  he  was  still  in 
the    prime    of    life.      The    maternal    grandfather, 


Elihu  Atherton,  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  War  of 
1812.  He  followed  agricultural  jiursuits  through- 
out life,  and  reared  a  large  family.  In  187,5  he 
came  to  Momence  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his 
days,  and  departed  this  life  in  1886,  at  the  ex- 
treme old  age  of  ninety-four  years. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  Francis  R.  and  Lu- 
zan  A.  (Atherton)  Riker,  were  both  natives  of 
Vermont,  the  former  being  of  Scotch-Irish  ances- 
try, and  the  latter  of  English  origin.  The  father 
followed  merchandising  nearly  all  his  life,  and 
during  his  last  ^ears  assisted  his  son-in-law  in  the 
clothing  trade  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Oc- 
tober 17,  1890,  when  he  was  sevcnt3'-two  j'ears  of 
age.  The  mother  of  our  subject  is  still  living, 
and  makes  her  home  with  her  son-in-law,  Mr. 
Nichols,  in  ^lontpelier,  Vt.,  and  h.as  now  attained 
her  seveiit3-fifth  year.  Four  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riker,  three  sons  and  a  daughter, 
three  of  whom  grew  to  maturity,  one  son  having 
died  in  infancy.  Martha  became  the  wife  of 
George  Nichols,  of  Montpelier,  reared  a  family  of 
four  children,  and  died  there  a  number  of  years 
ago.  Our  subject  is  next  in  order  of  birth.  Ilenrj' 
completes  the  family. 

The  boj'hood  days  of  our  subject  were  passed 
in  his  native  State,  where  he  received  a  good 
common-school  education.  When  twenty  years 
old  he  left  home,  coming  directly  to  Momence. 
After  remaining  here  a  short  time  he  went  to  Chi- 
cago, where  he  clerked  in  a  wholesale  clothing- 
house  for  two  and  a-half  years.  He  then  went  to 
Sterling,  III.,  where  he  embarked  for  himself  in 
the  clothing  business  and  remained  there  until  the 
fall  of  1870,  at  which  time  he  returned  to  Mo- 
mence, located  permanently  and  has  made  this  his 
home  to  the  present  time.  Mr.  Riker  entered  the 
employ  of  his  uncle,  M.  A.  Atherton,  in  his  gen- 
eral store  in  this  city,  and  about  three  3'ears  later 
was  given  an  interest  in  the  business.  He  re- 
mained with  I\Ir.  Atherton  for  a  period  of  sixteen 
or  seventeen  years,  the  firm  name  being  Atherton 
ife  Riker.  In  1887  our  subject  sold  his  interest  to 
Mr.  Atherton,  and  eslalilished  a  clothing  and 
gents'  furnishing  goods  store,  in  which  line  he  has 
been  very  successful,  being  regarded  as  one  of  the 
substantial  and  reliable  merchants  of  Momence. 


646 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1 


On  the  3d  of  November,  1869,  Mr.  Riker  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  L.  Wilcox,  whose  parents,  Joel  J. 
and  Laura  (Waller)  Wilcox,  of  Sterling,  were  na- 
tives of  Massachusetts.  Two  sons  and  a  daugliter 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riker:  Walter  A.,  who 
died  on  the  27th  of  September,  1877,  aged  seven 
years  and  one  month;  Florence  E.  and  Francis  J. 

Our  subject  and  his  wife  hold  membership  with 
the  Episcopal  Church,  with  which  they  have  been 
connected  for  manj'  j'ears.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Royal  Arcanum,  being 
a  charter  member  of  both  orders  in  Momence. 
Personally,  he  is  of  quiet  and  unpretentious  man- 
ners, and  IS  highly  esteemed  in  the  community  as 
a  man  of  honor  and  integrit3'. 


ii  I  I  »  I  »  I    I  I 


1^  ^  ^     M^  ^    ■ 


ylLLIAM  WILLIAMSON,  one  of  the  prom- 
inent business  men  of  Kankakee,  and  the 
present  Street  Commissioner  of  this  city, 
is  numbered  among  the  pioneers  of  Kankakee 
County,  to  which  he  came  almost  forty  years  ago. 
Mr.  Williamson  was  born  in  Oneida  County, 
N.  Y.,  on  the  8th  of  November,  1832.  His  father, 
William  B.  Williamson,  was  born  and  reared  in 
Steuben  County,  of  the  same  State,  and  was  a  wheel- 
wright by  occupation.  The  family  is  of  Scotch- 
English  ancestry,  and  in  the  early  days  of  the  Col- 
onial history  three  brothers,  Garet,  James  and 
John  Williamson,  emigrated  to  New  England, 
where  they  located,  and  their  descendants  have  now 
become  numerous  throughout  the  countr3^  The 
maiden  name  of  our  subject's  mother  was  Mary 
Ney.  She  is  said  to  have  been  descended  from 
Marshal  Ney,  one  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte's  most  fa- 
mous generals.  Her  father,  Jonathan  Ney.  removed 
from  Connecticut  to  Oneida  Count}',  N.  Y.,  where 
he  was  a  pioneer.  In  early  life,  William  B.  Will- 
iamson removed  from  Steuben  to  Oneida  County, 
and  was  there  m.arried.  In  1845,  going  to  San- 
dusky, Ohio,  he  engaged  in  the  building  of  mills, 
and  throughout  his  life  followed  the  occupation 
of  a  millwright.  He  returned  to  the  Empire  State, 
his  death  occurring  in  Bath,  Steuben  Count}'. 


The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch  Is 
one  of  a  family  of  nine  children,  four  sons  and 
five  daughters.  The  family  circle  is  still  unbroken. 
Charles  is  a  resident  of  Bad  Axe,  Mich.;  William  is 
the  second  in  order  of  birth;  Sylvanus  and  Henry 
are  the  other  two  brothers.  The  latter  resides  at 
Pueblo,  Colo., and  is  a  conductor  on  the  Denver  & 
Rio  Grande  Railroad.  The  eldest  sister,  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Webster,  resides  in  Cleveland,  Ohio.  As- 
cnath  is  the  wife  of  John  Hoover,  of  Urbana, 
Ohio.  Jane  and  Janetare  twins;  the  former  is  now 
Mrs.  Anderson,  of  Clinton,  Iowa,  and  the  latter, 
Mrs.  Austin,  of  Lyons,  the  same  State.  The  3'oung- 
est  sister,  Mrs.  Mary  Siblej',  resides  in  Chicago. 

AVhen  thirteen  years  of  age,  Mr.  Williamson 
went  to  live  in  Sandusky,  Ohio,  in  the  home  of 
his  mother's  brother,  and  there  he  resided  for  a 
number  of  years.  Several  years  before  he  located 
here  permanentl}'  he  traveled  in  the  State  in  the 
interest  of  Messrs.  Woolworth  &  Gale,  stove  deal- 
ers. In  those  earlj'  days,  stoves  were  sold  by  men 
who  went  from  house  to  house  taking  orders  from 
the  people  for  that  necessary  article  of  housekeep- 
ing. Mr.  Williamson  was  engaged  in  that  busi- 
ness for  some  time,  and  then  returned  to  San- 
dusky, and  brought  his  family,  who  were  then 
making  their  home  at  that  place,  here.  They  came 
to  this  county,  and  located  upon  a  farm  near  the 
present  city  of  Kankakee,  the  date  of  their  arrival 
being  1853. 

For  a  time,  Mr.  Williamson  remained  upon  the 
farm,  and  then  entered  the  hotel  business.  He 
opened  a  hotel  which  became  known  as  the  Will- 
iamson House.  This  hotel,  which  is  one  of  the 
old  landmarks  of  the  city,  is  still  standing,  and 
on  its  facade  may  be  seen  the  name  in  large  let- 
ters, The  AVilliamson  House.  After  operating  the 
hotel  for  some  time,  he  engaged  in  railroading, 
which  occupation  he  followed  in  the  capacity  of 
engineer  for  nearly  twenty  3'cars.  Two  years  of 
that  time,  during  the  war,  he  was  on  the  Memphis 
&  Little  Rock  Railroad.  The  service  was  full  of 
danger,  as  the}'  never  knew  when  their  train 
would  be  ditched.  He  carried  dispatches  between 
Banks  and  Steele  from  Little  Rock  to  Duvall's 
Bluff.  In 
Kankakee. 


188G  he  eng.aged   in  the  coal   trade    in 


•       LIBRARY 
OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


^ ,/    *' 


*.**-*«'1^<'i^(- 


4 


^   /^t^t^-t-'t^  ^' 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


649 


Mrs.  Williamson  was  Miss  Marian  IM^-ers,  of  Kan- 
kakee. Four  t'liildreu,  one  son  and  three  daugh- 
ters, have  blessed  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his 
wife.  They  are  Gertrude,  Eva  Belle,  George  H.  and 
Alta  M.  In  1865  Mr.  ■\Villiamson  and  wife  joined 
the  First  IJaptist  Church  of  Kankakee  and  have 
been  consistent  members  since.  Much  of  the  time, 
he  has  filled  oflicial  positions,  serving,  as  Trustee 
some  fifteen  years  and  Treasurer  about  eight  j'ears, 
besides  other  positions.  lie  has  always  taken  an 
active  part  in  all  church  work.  Politically,  he  has 
always  been  a  Democrat,  having  cast  his  first  vote 
for  Buchanan,  and  the  last  one  for  Grover  Cleve- 
land. 

Mr.  AVilliamson  is  numbered  among  the  en- 
terprising and  progressive  citizens  of  Kankakee. 
Coming  here  when  the  present  city  w.as  in  its  ear- 
liest infancy,  and  just  at  the  opening  of  its  first 
railroad,  he  has  been  identified  with  the  growth 
and  prosperit_v  of  the  place  since  its  birth.  He 
was  elected  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Ald- 
ermen in  1889,  and  three  j'ears  later  was  made 
Street  Commissioner  of  Kankakee.  In  this  po- 
sition he  has  proved  most  efficient  and  acceptable, 
and  in  all  things  that  relate  to  the  city's  growth 
and  welfare  he  takes  a  deep  interest.  Both  in 
business  and  social  relations,  he  has  won  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens,  and  is 
accounted  a  man  of  active  and  energetic  qualities. 


jpisa  OLON  KNIGHT,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers 
^^^  of  wliat  is  now  Kankakee  County,  and  now 
President  of  the  City  National  Bank  of 
Kankakee  and  of  the  Kankakee  County 
Savings  Bank,  and  also  President  of  the  Kankakee 
Stone  and  Lime  Company,  is  a  native  of  the  Em- 
pire State,  born  in  Lodi,  Cattaraugus  County,  on 
the  ir>th  of  March,  1832.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel 
Lee  and  Lucina  Lambert  (Parker)  Knight.  (See 
sketch  of  the  parents  elsewliere  in  this  work.) 
When  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  an  infant  his 
parents    removed    to  Onondaga    County    and    in 


1843  he  accompanied  them  to  Illinois.  His  father 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  settled  on  land  in 
Plain  field.  Will  County.  In  184.5  lie  removed  to 
Joliet,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the  butchering 
business  until  the  spring  of  1851,  when  he  came  to 
what  is  now  Kankakee  County  and  located  at 
Bourbonnais,  where  he  engaged  in  the  hotel  bus- 
iness. 

Mr.  Knight  accompanied  his  parents  in  their 
various  changes  of  location  and  became  a  resident 
of  what  is  now  Kankakee  in  the  spring  of  1851. 
Two  years  later,  when  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
Companj'  extended  their  line  to  the  Kankakee 
River  and  established  the  station  of  Kankakee,  he 
and  his  father  were  among  the  first  to  engage  in 
business  at  that  point.  Thej-  established  the  first 
lumber-yard  and  unloaded  the  first  carload  of 
freight  ever  shipped  to  that  point,  which  was  tiieir 
first  consignment  of  lumber.  The  cars  were  un- 
loaded at  a  place  considerably  north  of  the  pres- 
ent station  in  July,  1853,  Init  they  were  not  run 
to  the  depot  until  November  following.  Our 
subject  continued  in  the  lumber  business  until  the 
close  of  1857,  when  he  sold  out  and  engaged  with 
his  father  in  the  stone  and  lime  trade.  From  a 
small  beginning  their  sales  have  continually  in- 
creased, until  to-dav  they  have  an  important  and 
commanding  trade.  On  the  23d  of  February, 
1867,  the  present  Kankakee  Stone  and  Lime  Com- 
pan}'  was  incorporated,  the  original  quarries  and 
lime-making  plant  of  our  subject  constituting  the 
principal  stock.  Of  the  new  company  Mr.  Knight 
was  elected  President,  and  Mr.  Cleghorn,  Secre- 
tary, and  those  respective  offices  they  have  held 
continually  to  the  present  time.  This  concern  em- 
ploys an  average  of  seveut3--nve  men  and  has  an 
annual  output  of  about  two  thousand  carloads  of 
stone  and  twenty  thousand  barrels  of  lime. 

On  the  31st  of  December,  1857,  Mr.  Kuight  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Matilda  K.  K.  West. 
The  lady  was  born  in  Allegan  County,  Mich.,  on 
the  18th  of  October,  183',),  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Albert  and  Melvina  West.  One  child,  a  son,  Ed- 
ward N.,  was  born  of  their  union,  the  date  of  his 
birth  being  the  5tli  of  October,  1858.  He  married 
Miss  Elizabeth  N.  Norton  and  is  eug.aged  in  busi- 
ness with  his  father. 


650 


PORTRAIT  A?fD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


Mr.  Knight  has  sixty  acres  of  land  in  the  city  of 
Kankakee,  forty  of  which  are  a  valuable  stone 
quany.  This  stone  is  what  is  known  as  the  Ni- 
agara limestone,  the  best  in  the  State  for  heavy 
piers,  and  capable  of  sustaining  heavy  pressure. 
The  company's  facilities  for  the  manufacture  of 
lime  are  extensive  and  complete  in  their  appoint- 
ments and  this  industry'  is  one  of  the  oldest  and 
most  important  in  the  countj'. 

Mr.  Knight  is  a  Democrat  in  politics  and  has 
always  taken  an  active  interest  in  local  and  gen- 
eral affairs.  He  has  been  three  times  elected 
Mayor  of  Kankakee,  in  1880,  1889  and  1890,  .and 
proved  a  faithful  and  efficient  officer.  He  also 
was  for  three  3'ears  a  member  of  the  County  Board 
of  Supervisors.  Mr.  Knight  was  one  of  the  or- 
ganizers of  the  City  National  Bank  of  Kankakee, 
of  wiiich  he  has  been  President  since  its  formation, 
and  of  which  notice  is  given  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
For  several  years  our  subject  has  made  it  a  prac- 
tice to  travel  with  his  family  during  the  winter  sea- 
son in  the  Southern  States  of  his  own  country,  and 
has  also  traveled  in  Mexico,  South  America  and 
in  the  countries  of  Central  America.  From  these 
tours  he  has  derived  much  pleasure  and  informa- 
tion. While  at  home  he  is  an  indefatigable  worker 
and  gives  his  personal  supervision  to  the  details 
of  his  extensive  business,  in  which  he  has  been  so 
successful.  He  is  a  plain,  unassuming  man,  well 
read  and  an  interesting  conversationalist.  His 
life  since  bo3'hood  has  been  an  open  book  to  his 
neighbors  and  fellow-citizens,  and  the  kindly  tone 
and  respectful  manner  in  which  all  speak  of  him 
can  not  fail  to  impress  the  casual  observer  most 
favorably  as  to  his  personal  character  and  public 
life. 


B^ 


H^^ON.  DANIEL  HOLMES  PADDOCK  is  a 
''  ^\*  well-known  and  successful  lawyer,  now 
serving  his  third  term  in  the  Illinois  Leg- 
islature as  Representative  from  the  Six- 
teenth Senatorial  District,  which  comprises  the 
counties  of  Kankakee  and  Iroquois.  His  birth  oc- 
curred in  Lockport,  111.,  on  the  lOth  of  April,  1852. 


He  is  a  son  of  Col.  John  Williams  and  Helen 
(Harvey)  Paddock.  The  father  was  an  eminent 
law^'er  and  a  distinguished  military  man  of  East- 
ern Illinois  (of  whom  see  sketch  elsewhere  in  this 
volume). 

Mr.  Paddock  came  to  Kankakee  with  his  parents 
in  1853,  while  an  infant, and  has  made  that  city  his 
home  since  that  time.  At  the  early  age  of  eleven 
years  he  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of 
his  father.  His  primary  education  was  received  in 
the  public  schools,  and  when  twelve  j'ears  of  age 
he  commenced  learning  the  printer's  trade  in  the 
office  of  the  Kankakee  Gazette,  where  he  spent  one 
year.  The  succeeding  six  jears  were  passed  upon 
a  farm  during  the  summer  and  in  attendance  upon 
tlie  schools  of  the  district  during  the  winter  season. 
Henext  took  a  year'scourse  at  the  Soldiers'  College 
at  Fulton,  111.,  after  whicli  he  accepted  tlie  position 
of  Deputy  Postmaster  at  Kankakee,  where  he 
served  faithfully  for  two  years.  For  the  two  3'e.ars 
following  this  he  served  as  Deputy  Count}-  Clerk  of 
Kankakee  County.  During  the  time  of  his  official 
service  he  had  been  also  directing  his  attention 
toward  the  study  of  law,  under  the  preceptorship 
of  Thomas  P.  Bon  field,  and  in  1873  he  entered 
the  law  department  of  Cniou  University,  of  Al- 
bany, N.  Y.,  from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the 
spring  of  1874.  In  Ma}',  1874,  lie  was  admitted 
to  the  Bar  at  Albany,  N.  Y.  In  Sejiteniber  of  that 
year  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  at  Mount  A'ernon, 
111.,  and  at  once  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Kankakee,  in  partnership  with  T.  P. 
Bonfield,  which  connection  was  continued  until 
October,  1875,  since  which  time  our  subject. has 
been  in  pr.actice  alone. 

On  the  18th  of  July,  187G,  Mr.  Paddock  was 
united  in  marri.age  with  Miss  Katie  Alinira  Barton, 
of  Kankakee.  The  lady  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Marshall,  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.,  on  tiie  5th  of 
February,  1854,  and  is  a  daughter  of  William  L. 
and  Sarah  (Lumbard)  Barton,  who  were  also  na- 
tives of  Oneida  County.  They  removed  to  Kan- 
kakee in  1870,  where  thev  still  reside.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Paddock  are  the  parents  of  six  children: 
Helen  Barton,  Shirley  Barton,  Emma  Barton,  Bes- 
sie B.,  Evelyn  B.  and  Catherine  B. 

In   politics  Mr.  Paddock  has  alwa}'s  been  a  Re- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


651 


publican  since  okl  enough  to  form  political  o[)in- 
ions,  and  while  but  a  youtli  took  an  active  interest 
in  politics.  In  1876  he  was  elected  States  Attorney 
for  Kankakee  County  and  was  re-elected  in  1880. 
He  was  City  Attorney  for  Kankakee  from  1878  to 
1880.  In  188;j,  he  was  made  a  Master  in  Chancer}-, 
which  office  he  resigned  on  being  again  elected  to 
the  Legislature.  In  1885  be  was  chosen  to  that 
office  for  tiie  special  purpose  of  defending  the  city 
in  several  long  contested  and  important  suits. 
Three  years  later  he  was  elected  on  the  Republican 
ticket  to  the  Illinois  Legislature,  was  re-elected  in 
1890  and  again  in  1892.  He  is  the  present  attorney 
for  the  Illinois  State  lioard  AVorld's  Fair  Commis- 
sioners. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paddock  are  members  of  the  Prot- 
estant Episcopal  Church,  of  which  the  latter  is 
a  Vestryman.  He  is  a  Knight  Templar  M.ason, 
holding  membership  with  Kankakee  Lodge  No. 
389,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  with  Kankakee  Chapter  No. 
78,  R.  A.  M.;  and  with  Ivanhoe  Commandery  No. 
33,  K.  T.,  of  which  he  has  been  Commander.  He 
is  an  active  member  of  Lieut.-Col.  Paddock  Camp, 
S.  of  V,  which  he  was  instrumental  in  oiganizing 
and  of  which  he  has  been  Commander.  In  polit- 
ical campaigns,  Mr.  Paddock  has  long  been  a  po- 
tent factor  in  support  of  Republican  principles,  and, 
being  a  popular  public  speaker,  his  services  have 
lieen  much  in  demand  on  the  stump.  His  first  po- 
litical work  w.as  in  the  support  of  Hayes  in  1876, 
and  in  the  support  of  Garfield  and  Arthur  in  the 
Presidential  campaign  of  1880,  when  he  made  a 
vigorous  canvass  and  was  greeted  b}-  large  and  ap- 
preciative audiences  wherever  he  spoke.  Since 
that  time  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  succeeding 
campaigns  and  has  riiiencd  into  a  finished  and  elo- 
quent orator. 

In  the  practice  of  his  profession,  IMr.  Paddock 
has  been  eminently  successful  and  has  won  a  fore- 
most place  in  tiie  l>ar  of  Kankakee  County.  As  a 
trial  lawyer,  he  has  shown  unusual  force  and  has 
developed  great  strength,  as  well  in  the  systematic 
and  careful  preparation  of  his  cases  and  the  shrewd 
and  thorough  examination  of  witnesses,  as  in  the 
eloquent,  logical  and  convincing  manner  of  their 
presentation  before  court  and  jury.  He  possesses 
many  of  the  traits  that   distinguish  his  illustrious 


father  as  a  brilliant  speaker,  sound  advocate  and 
able  lawyer.  Mr.  Paddock  has  one  of  the  finest 
libraries  to  be  found  in  Kankakee  and  has  ever 
been  a  thorough  student.  Socially,  he  is  deservedly 
popular,  as  he  is  affable  and  courteous  in  manner 
and  possesses  that  essential  qualification  to  success 
in  public  life,  that  of  making  friends  readil\-  and 
of  strengthening  the  ties  as  time  advances. 


=^^1®'©®!^,!^^ 


SA  I5EEBE  is  an  extensive  farmer  and  a 
pioneer  of  what  is  now  Kankakee  County. 
He  was  born  in  Winhall,  Bennington 
County,  Vt.,  on  the  29th  of  May,  1827, 
and  is  a  son  of  Dudley  and  Doll}-  (Stearns)  Beebe. 
His  father  was  born  in  Litchfield,  Conn.,  and  was 
of  Welsh  descent.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was 
also  of  New  England  birth.  In  the  autumn  of 
1838,  Asa  Beebe  accompanied  his  parents  to  Illi- 
nois, traveling  with  teams  across  the  country. 
Their  family  consisted  of  seven  children.  Laura 
became  the  wife  of  Eber  Gleason,  and  died  at 
the  age  of  fifty-seven  years;  Lomira  is  the  wife 
of  James  M.  Perry,  of  Chicago;  Orrille  was  the 
wife  of  Ezra  Wetmore  and  died  in  December,  1890; 
Lydia  departed  this  life  when  seventeen  years  of 
age;  Asa  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  next  in 
order  of  birth;  William  married  Miss  Mary  F. 
Legg  and  lives  in  Aroma  Township,  Kankakee 
County;  and  Joanna  died  in  January,  1880.  The 
father  of  these  children  entered  land  upon  what  is 
now  Aroma  Township  on  his  arrival  in  Illinois 
and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  on  his  layd, 
which  consisted  of  about  two  hundred  acres,  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  7th  of  March, 
1853.  His  wife  had  passed  away  previousl}',  on 
the  1st  of  September,  1840. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were  passed  in 
the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads.  lie  received 
common-school  advantages,  and  on  the  9th  of 
January,  1851,  married  Miss  Henrietta  Mellon. 
She  was  a  native  of  the  Green  Mountain  State,  her 
birth  having  occurred  in  Winhall,  Bennington 
County,  on  the  21st  of  Feliruary,  1831,     Hei-  par- 


652 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


cnts,  Nathaniel  and  Aclisah  (Wlieeler)  Mellen,  em- 
igrated to  Illinois,  in  1838,  that  being  the  same 
year  which  witnessed  the  an'ival  of  our  subject's 
parents.  They  went  b}'  team  to  Buffalo  and 
thence  by  boat  to  Detroit  and  later  came  b}-  wagon 
to  Aroma  Township,  this  county,  where  the  father 
engaged  in  farming  for  man^'  years.  He  died  on 
the  27th  of  March,  1866,  and  the  mother  sur- 
viving him  for  several  years,  departed  this  life 
on  the  27th  of  October,  1875.  In  their  family 
were  eight  children,  of  whom  one  died  in  Ver- 
mont, the  others  coming  to  Illinois  with  tlieir 
parents.  Ivmily  is  the  widow  of  Seth  Taylor 
and  still  makes  her  home  in  Bennington  County, 
Vt.;  Elmina,  the  wife  of  George  Van  Dusen,  lives 
in  New  Lenox,  Will  County,  111.;  Nancy  is  the 
wife  of  Daniel  Beebe,  of  Kankakee;  Alphonso 
married  Gertrude  Brinkerhoff  and  resides  in  the 
same  city;  Cordelia  passed  away  in  Iowa  when 
eighteen  jears  of  age;  Sarah  Ann  is  the  wife  of 
Newell  Beebe,  of  Momence;  Henrietta,  the  hon- 
ored wife  of  our  subject;  Henry  her  twin  brother, 
died  in  infancy.  In  politics,  Mr.  Mellen  was  a 
Whig,  and  he  and  his  wife  held  membership  with 
the  Congregational  Church. 

For  man3'  years  Mr.  Beebe  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  and  the  raising  of  stock  on  his  ex- 
tensive farm  in  Aroma  Township.  In  the  spring 
of  1892,  he  removed  with  his  famil}^  to  Kankakee, 
which  lie  now  makes  his  home.  He  still  owns  his 
farm  in  Aroma,  which  is  highly  improved  and 
consists  of  three  hundred  and  fifteen  acres.  He  is 
one  of  the  few  surviving  settlers  who  made  their 
homes  in  the  valley  of  the  Kankakee  before  the 
footprints  of  the  Indians  were  effaced  from  the 
surface  of  the  country  in  this  vicinity.  The  life 
of  our  subject  has  been  one  of  usefulness  and  he 
has  done  his  share  toward  converting  a  wild  and 
almost  valueless  region  into  a  highly  improved 
and  wealthy  section  of  one  of  the  richest  agri- 
cultural States  of  the  Union. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beebe  became  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  of  whom  three  are  now  living. 
Dudley  M.  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  and  a-half 
months;  Lydia  Ella  become  the  wife  of  Alfred 
Styles,  of  Ganier  Township;  Ada  L.  died  at  the 
age  of  six  years;  Alma  Ma3'  is  the  wife  of  Edgar 


Legg,  of  Aroma  Township;  Lyle  Asa  and  Lura 
(twins)  died  in  childhood;  and  Mart  M.  wedded 
Mary  Lewis  and  resides  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Aroma  Township. 

Politically,  Mr.  Beebe  is  a  Republican  but  has 
never  desired  otHcial  recognition.  A  resident 
here  for  fifty-four  years  he  has  lived  an  upright, 
unassuming  life  and  enjoys,  as  he  well  deserves, 
the  good  opinion  and  respect  of  his  fellow-citizens 
in  a  marked  degree. 


"illACOB  REINHART,  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Kaukakee  Count}^,  whose  residence 
here  covers  a  period  of  thirty-eight  j'ears, 
is  now  engaged  in  farming  on  .section  8, 
Pilot  Township.  He  is  a  Frenchman  by  birth, 
having  first  opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day  in 
Alsace,  Finance,  on  the  8th  of  July,  18.')0.  His  fa- 
ther, Jacob  Reinhart,  Sr.,  was  born  and  reared  in 
the  same  locality,  and  after  arriving  at  man's 
estate  married  Salome  Birkle.  Mr.  Reinhart  was 
a  shoemaker  by  trade,  but  also  engaged  to  some 
extent  in  farming.  Thinking  to  better  his  finan- 
cial condition  b}'  emigrating  to  the  New  World, 
in  1856  he  took  passage  on  a  sailing-vessel  at 
Havre,  which  after  a  voyage  of  forty-nine  days 
dropped  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  New  York.  After 
landing  on  the  shores  of  America  he  came  direct 
to  Illinois,  joining  a  brother  who  was  then  living 
in  Kank.akee  County.  Mr.  Reinhart  located  upon 
the  prairie  in  Pilot  Township,  becoming  one  of  its 
first  settlers.  For  a  few  years  he  rented  land,  and 
in  connection  with  its  operation  he  worked  at  his 
trade.  When  he  had  accumulated  a  sufficient 
capital  he  purchased  a  tract  of  wild  prairie  and 
began  tiie  development  of  a  farm.  During  the 
first  few  years  after  their  arrival  the  family  suf- 
fered many  hardships  and  privations,  such  as  are 
incident  to  pioneer  life  when  one  is  in  limited  cir- 
cumstances, but  their  condition  gradually  im- 
proved from  year  to  year,  and  in  course  of  time 
Mr.  Reinhart  had  a  good  farm  and   pleasant  little 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


653 


lionie,  in  whioli  he  spent  the  last  days  of  his  life. 
His  death  occurred  in  September,  IK82.  He  had 
long  survived  his  wife,  who  i)assed  away  in  18G(), 
only  a  few  years  after  coining  to  this  country. 

J.acob  Reinhart,of  this  sketch,  was  the  eldest  child 
and  only  son  in  a  family  of  four  children;  .Salome, 
the  second  of  the  family,  became  the  wife  of  Louis 
Strablow,  but  is  now  deceased;  Mary,  the  widow  of 
Frank  Sucie,  resides  in  Salina  Township;  and  Caro- 
line is  the  wife  of  August  AVeise,  of  Franklin 
County,  Neb. 

Jacob  Reinhart  was  only  six  years  of  age  when 
his  parents  crossed  the  broad  Atlantic.  The  days 
of  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  spent  upon  his 
father's  farm  in  Pilot  Township,  and  in  the  sum- 
mer months  he  aided  in  the  labors  of  the  farm, 
while  in  the  winter  season  he  attended  the  public 
schools  of  the  neighborhood.  On  arriving  at  years 
of  maturity  he  took  charge  of  the  home  farm, 
which  he  still  operates.  From  time  to  time,  how- 
ever, he  has  extended  its  boundaries  by  additional 
purchase  until  he  now  owns  a  valuable  farm  com- 
prising two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  rich  land. 
Almost  the  entire  amount  is  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  The  place  is  improved  with  a  large 
barn  and  other  outbuildings,  which  are  models  of 
convenience,  and  a  commodious  and  substantial 
residence.  Tiie  owner  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
progressive  and  practical  farmers  in  the  com- 
munit3-. 

Mr.  Reinhart  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  Republican  party,  with  which  he 
has  attiliated  since  casting  his  tirst  Presidential 
vote  for  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant.  He  takes  quite  an  ac- 
tive part  in  local  politics  and  has  been  called  u])on 
to  serve  in  a  number  of  oHicial  positions  of  honor 
and  trust.  He  was  elected  and  re-elected  to  the 
ottice  of  Collector  of  Pilot  Township  until  he  had 
filled  that  position  for  five  consecutive  terms.  He 
also  served  as  Supervisor,  and  the  prompt  and 
able  ipi.nner  in  which  he  has  discharged  all  his 
public  duties  has  won  him  high  commendation. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the  School  Board  for  a 
number  of  years  and  has  ever  used  his  infiuence  to 
secure  good  educational  advantages  in  this  com- 
munity. 

Id  May,  1874,  in  Pilot  Township,  Mr.  Reinhart 


wedded  Miss  Salome  AVickersheim,  a  native  of 
Alsace,  France.  Her  father,  Michael  Wickersheim, 
was  also  born  in  the  same  country  and  there  spent 
his  entire  life.  Mrs.  Reinhart  was  reared  in  Al- 
sace and  educated  in  her  native  land.  Her  edu- 
cation in  the  Knglisii  tongue  has  been  acquired 
through  her  own  efforts.  By  the  union  of  our 
subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born  five  children 
who  are  3^et  living,  namely:  Berliia  M.,  Anna  R., 
Lucy  C,  Ra^'mond  J.  and  Walter  T.  They  also 
lost  an  infant. 

Mr.  Reinhart  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church.  He  has  spent  nearly 
his  entire  life  in  this  count}^  where  he  has  a  wide 
acquaintance.  His  friends  are  man}',  and  those 
who  have  knowi  him  from  b03'hood  are  among 
his  warmest  admirers,  a  fact  which  indicates  an 
upright  and  honorable  life.  He  is  a  man  of  good 
business  ability,  and  through  his  industry,  enter- 
prise and  good  management  has  won  a  hand- 
some pro()erty.  He  is  a  public-spirited  and  pro- 
gressive citizen,  who  manifests  a  commendable  in- 
terest in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the 
community,  and  his  life  is  in  many  respects  well 
worthy  of  emulation.  In  coming  generations  his 
descendants  will  have  no  occasion  to  feel  ashamed 
of  their  worthy  ancestor  who  was  the  founder  of 
the  Reinhart  family  in  America. 


~^l 


^■^ 


(=" 


/^p^  ij^i'uii,rs  VTitAi  was  oorn  i: 
^^  County,  N.  Y.,  near  Four  C< 
"I^J)   the  20th  of    September,  1834,  ai 


TEPHEN    GRAY    was    born     in    Albany 

•orners,  on 
and  on  his 
father's  side  is  of  Dutch  and  Scotch  ex- 
tr.action,  while  on  his  mother's  side  he  is  of 
German  lineage.  His  parents  w-ere  Christian  and 
Barbara  (Ostrandev)  Gray,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  the  Empire  State.  Unto  them  was  born 
a  family  of  eight  cliildren,  of  whom  Stephen  is 
the  third  in  order  of  birth;  Samuel,  the  second  in 
order  of  birth,  is  now  a  resident  of  Kankakee, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  the  real-eslate  business; 
Peter  is  now  living  in  Limestone  Township; 
Amelia,  who  became  the  wife  of  Aaron  Schreffler, 


654 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


died  in  1873;  Cliristian  now  carries  on  agricul- 
tural pursuits  in  Salina  Township;  Joshua  makes 
his  home  in  Pilot  Township,  where  lie  carries  on 
farming;  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Myron  Webster,  a 
resident  of  Salina  Township.  The  father  of  this 
family  departed  this  life  on  the  5th  of  April, 
1800.  His  widow  still  survives  him,  and  is  now 
livinu-  in  Salina  Township  at  the  advanced  age 
of  eighty-two  years. 

In  recording  a  sketch  of  the  life  of  our  subject, 
we  present  to  our  readers  thehistor>'  of  one  of  the 
former  well-known  farmers  of  this  community. 
Glancing  backward  to  his  boyhood  days,  we  see 
that  they  were  spent  in  much  the  same  man- 
ner as  those  of  other  farmer  lads.  Under  the 
parental  roof  lie  was  reared  to  manhood,  and  dur- 
ing the  summer  months  he  worked  in  the  fields, 
becoming  familiar  with  all  phases  of  farm  labor. 
In  the  winter  season  he  attended  the  district 
schools,  where  lie  .acquired  a  limited  education, 
which  has  been  largely  supplemented  by  reading 
and  observation  in  later  life.  On  attaining  the 
aoe  of  twenty  years  he  bade  good-bye  to  the  East 
and  in  1854  came  to  Kank.akee  County,  Hi.,  where 
he  remained  for  two  years.  He  tlien  returned  to 
New  York,  on  account  of  ill  health,  and  continued 
to  remain  in  tlie  State  of  his  nativity'  for  four 
years,  when  he  again  came  to  this  county.  In 
order  to  provide  for  his  maintenance  he  began 
working  as  a  farm  liand  by  the  montli,  and  was 
thus  employed  until  1872.  Having  worked  in- 
dustriously and  earnestly,  he  had  in  the  mean- 
time ac(iuired  some  capital,  and  now  purcliased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  located  in 
Salina  Township.  Tliere  he  made  his  home  for  a 
period  of  twelve  years,  when,  in  1882,  he  pur- 
chased two  hundred  and  seventeen  acres  of  land 
on  section  3,  in  Aroma  Township.  He  has  re- 
cently disposed  of  this  property,  receiving  8100 
per  acre  for  it,  and  will  now  live  a  retired  life 
in  Kankakee,  where  he  expects  to  erect  a  beauti- 
ful home. 

On  the  6th  of  May,  1873,  Mr.  Gray  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Lucy,  daughter  of  Fred  C.  and  Lucy 
(Smith)  Bird.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Os- 
wego County,  N.  Y.  In  the  Bird  family  were 
seven  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Owen,  is  now 


a  farmer  of  Jasper  County,  Mo.;  Morris  B.,  who 
enlisted  for  the  late  war  in  1861,  and  became  a 
Corporal  of  Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Thir- 
teenth Illinois  Infantry,  was  killed  on  the  battle- 
field during  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  his  re- 
mains were  brought  back  to  the  North  and  interred 
in  the  Limestone  Cemetery;  Mrs.  Gray  is  the  next 
j'ounger;  Friend  D.  is  a  resident  of  Fremont,  Neb.; 
Worth,  Emma  E.  and  Rush  are  all  residents  of 
Kankakee.  The  father  of  this  family  died  on  the 
28th  of  December,  1855,  but  the  mother  still  sur- 
vives him  and  is  now  living  in  Kankakee  at  the 
age  of  seventy-eight  years. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gray  has  been  born  one 
child.  Earl  D.,  whose  birth  occurred  on  the  8th  of 
July,  1874.  The  parents  are  people  of  sterling 
worth,  their  friends  througiiout  the  community 
being  many,  and  in  social  circles  they  hold  an  en- 
viable position,  hi  his  political  attiliations  Mr. 
Gray  is  a  Democrat,  and,  as  every  true  American 
citizen  should  do,  feels  an  interest  in  political  af- 
fairs, although  he  has  never  been  an  oflice-seeker. 
He  may  truly  be  called  a  self-made  man,  for  he 
started  out  in  life  enipt3'-handed  and  unaided  has 
steadily  worked  his  way  upward.  The  difficul- 
ties in  his  path  have  not  impeded  his  progress,  but 
have  rather  served  as  an  impetus  to  renewed  ef- 
fort, and  he  well  deserves  the  success  he  has 
achieved. 


-^~oZ- 


:)EV.  GEORGE  VETTER,  pastor  of  the  first 
church  of  the  Evangelical  Association  of 
Kankakee,  was  one  of  the  early  ministers  of 
this  city.  The  society  of  this  church  was 
organized  in  April,  1855,  by  Rev.  Elias  Mussel- 
maun  and  Rev.  George  Vetter,  its  present  pastor, 
with  about  forty  members.  The  society  was  what 
was  then  called  the  Kankakee  Mission,  now  Kan- 
kakee Station.  Services  were  held  for  about  a 
year  after  its  organization  at  the  residence  of 
Christain  Boeboel.  The  first  church  building,  a 
small  affair,  was  erected  in  1856,  and  the  first  resi- 
dent pastor  was  Rev.  Henry  Eitermann,  who  came 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


655 


in  18G0,  and  remained  for  one  year.  The  second 
resident  pastor  was  Rev.  George  Vctter,  who,  after 
being  in  cliarge  for  one  year,  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  15.  C  AVagner.  The  other  ministers  in  order 
of  tlieir  coming  were  Rev.  G.  P.  Mohr,  Rev.  C.  Ott, 
Rev.  W.  Lechler  and  Rev.  M.  Ileil.  Tlieu  came 
Rev.  B.  C.  Wagner  for  a  second  time,  who  was  fol- 
lowed ijy  Rev.  II.  Sehumaker,  then  Rev.  T.  K.  Fehr, 
after  whom  Rev.  (ieorge  Vetter  was  again  pastor, 
coming  in  1877  and  remaining  for  three  j'ears. 
Rev.  E.  Fredcn  was  his  successor,  and  he  was  fol- 
lowed by  Rev.  W.  F.  Walker,  Rev.  P.  H.  Sahn, 
Rev.  C.  Schuster,  Rev.  J.  Wellner,  and  then  again 
the  present  pastor,  Rev.  George  A'etter,  who  is 
serving  this  people  for  the  fourth  time.  The 
Evangelical  Association  adopt  the  itinerant  prac- 
tice in  regard  to  their  ministers,  which  system  is 
quite  similar  to  tiiat  of  the  Methodists,  and  which 
accounts  for  their  freijuent  changes  of  pastors. 

Rev.  George  Velter  was  Ijorn  in  Wurtemberg, 
Gerinanv,  August  27,  182',),  and  in  his  native  land 
he  resided  until  twenty  j-ears  of  age,  at  which  time 
he  emigrated  to  the  I'nited  States.  After  remain- 
ing a  few  weeks  in  >i'ew  York  upon  his  arrival  in 
the  New  World,  he  went  to  Canada,  but  soon  after 
came  to  Chicago,  111.  In  1854  he  engaged  in  the 
ministry,  and  almost  immediately  thereafter  came 
to  Kankakee,  being  placed  on  this  station,  and  is 
still  on  it. 

Rev.  i\Ir.  Vetter  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Ursula  Knecht,  a  sister  of  Joiin  G.  and 
Jacob  Knecht,  prominent  mercliants  of  Kankakee. 
Tlie  father  of  Mrs.  Vetter  was  Tiiomas  Kueclit,  and 
her  mother  liure  the  maiden  name  of  Walpurga  Na- 
gle.  To  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born 
two  sons  and  a  daugliter.  George  is  a  farmer  of 
.Soutii  Dakota;  .John  is  at  present  Clerk  of  the  Court 
in  Abeideen,  the  county  seat  of  IJrown  County,  S. 
Dak.;  and  the  only  daughter,  .hilia,  is  the  wife  of 
Henry  Miller,  also  of  the  same  State. 

The  chiircli  of  which  our  subject  is  the  present 
pastor  erected  a  substantial  brick  building  in  1887, 
at  a  cost  of  about  ^14,000.  They  also  have  a  com- 
fortable residence  for  their  pastor.  Rev.  Mr.  Vetter, 
as  has  been  shown,  is  one  of  the  veteran  ministers 
of  his  denomination  in  Illinois.  He  is  a  faithful 
worker  in  his  Master's  vineyard,  and   is  untiring 


in  his  efforts  to  adv.ance  the  cause  of  Christianity. 
By  his  noble  ipialities  and  zeal  he  has  won  the  re- 
spect and  love  of  those  under  his  charge,  and  of 
the  citizens  in  general. 


y 


A^=.{.=; 


NDREW  GREENAVOOD  is  a  respected  and 
(@!Ol  enterprising  farmer,  who  operates  his  farm 
A  on  section  34,  Kankakee  Township.  He 
w.as  born  in  Holland  on  the  12th  of  June, 
18.37,  and  his  parents,  John  and  Henrietta  (De 
Gues)  Greenwood,  were  also  native  of  that  couutiy. 
The  father  w.as  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  reared 
his  family,  spent  his  entire  life  and  died  in  Hol- 
land, where  Mrs.  Greenwood  still  resides. 

Our  subject's  parents  had  five  children,  who 
grew  to  adult  \ears.  The  eldest,  Cornelius  G.,  now 
makes  his  home  in  Holland,  but  was  for  four  years  a 
resident  of  Kankakee;  our  subject  is  the  second 
in  order  of  birth;  Peter  lives  in  Holland;  John 
died  in  the  land  of  his  birth;  and  Cornelia  is  the 
wife  of  Isaakt  Geberen  and  resides  in  Holland. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  Andrew  Greenwood 
were  spent  on  his  father's  farm  in  his  native  land, 
and  there  he  received  a  fair  education.  AVlien 
about  eighteen  years  of  age  he  determined  to  seek 
his  fortune  in  the  New  World,  and  in  1856  took 
passage  at  Rotterdam  in  the  "Ocean  Home,"  a 
sailing-vessel.  They  were  upon  the  broad  Atlantic 
for  fifty  days,  and  arrived  at  their  destination, 
New  Orleans,  on  the  1st  of  May,  of  that  year. 
Thence  Mr.  Greenwood  proceeded  up  the  Missis- 
sippi River,  first  to  St.  Louis  and  then  to  Keokuk, 
Iowa.  He  secured  work  upon  a  farm,  and  was  in 
the  employ  of  one  man  for  about  three  years. 
The  farmer,  Mr.  Van  Houlinger,  also  a  Hollander, 
proved  a  good  friend  to  our  subject.  ]\Ir.  Green- 
wood feeling  the  disadvantage  he  labored  under 
in  being  so  little  conversant  with  the  English  lan- 
guage, with  commendable  zeal  determined  to  be- 
come proficient  in  this  line,  and,  therefore,  return- 
ing to  Keokuk  attended  an  English  school  during 
a   winter   season,  working  as  a    gardener    during 


656 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


the  summer  for  Aliliu  Cooler,  whom  he  also  re- 
membeis  as  a  kind  friend.  In  the  j-ear  1859  Mr. 
Greenwood  again  went  to  New  Orleans,  and 
worked  at  gardening  there  until  the  breaking  out 
of  the  late  war.  Not  desiring  to  remain  in  the 
South  during  the  inevitable  conflict  which  he  saw 
must  ensue,  he  turned  liis  face  Nortiiward  once 
more.  For  about  one  year  he  worked  on  a  farm 
in  Iowa,  and  in  the  spring  of  18G2,  going  to  Chi- 
cago, engaged  as  a  coachman  in  the  service  of  ex- 
Mayf)r  Haines,  for  wliom  he  worked  for  about  a 
3ear  and  a-half.  He  afterward  went  to  Cairo,  111., 
in  1863,  and  engaged  in  vegetable  gardening  for 
the  succeeding  four  years.  In  the  fall  of  1868, 
Mr.  Greenwood  returned  to  Chicago  and  engaged 
in  fancy  and  special  gardening  up  to  the  year 
1875,  when  he  sold  his  propert}',  and  in  Septem- 
ber, 1876,  came  to  Kankakee  Count}'  and  located 
on  the  place  where  he  now  resides.  This  farm  had 
some  improvements  upon  it  and  consisted  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres.  He  has  since  erected 
a  good  and  substantial  residence  and  has  good 
barns  and  other  outbuildings.  He  has  a  fine  or- 
chard, and  the  place  is  well  tiled.  It  is  located 
about  a  mile  and  a-half  from  Kankakee,  and  is  a 
valuable  and  well-kept  farm.  Since  coming  here, 
Mr.  Greenwood  has  largel}'  engaged  in  gardening, 
and  is  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  successful 
farmers  of  Kankakee  Township. 

In  Cairo,  111.,  Mr.  Greenwood  married  Henderika 
Gerrettson,  the  ceremony  being  performed  Octo- 
ber 25,  1861.  Mrs.  Greenwood  was  born  in  Hol- 
land, and  was  reared  and  educated  there.  She  is 
the  daughter  of  Henry  J.  Gerrettson,  who  emi- 
grated to  tills  coantry  and  settled  in  Iowa  in  1856. 
Four  children  have  graced  the  union  of  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife.  John  C.  has  been  for  many 
years  a  clerk  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Kanka- 
kee; Henderika  is  the  wife  of  Henry  H0II3',  a 
farmer  of  this  county;  Henry  J.  assists  his  father 
in  carr3'ing  on  the  home  farm;  and  Maggie  C.  is 
still  at  home. 

In  1878  Mr.  Greenwood  became  a  voter,  and  is 
identified  with  the  Republican  party.  During  and 
previous  to  tlie  war  his  s^nnpathies  were  with  the 
Union  cause.  He  has  always  given  his  hearty  sup- 
port to  the  cause  of  education,  and  is  a  firm  be- 


liever in  the  efficac}'  of  good  schools.  For  seven- 
teen years  he  has  served  as  a  member  of  tlie  School 
Board,  and  has  held  a  number  of  local  official  posi- 
tions, having  been  one  of  the  Drainage  Commis- 
sioners six  3'ears.  Mr.  Greenwood  was  reared  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  wliich  he  still  believes, 
though  not  a  member  of  any  church  organi- 
zation. He  has  lived  in  this  county  for  seventeen 
years,  and  is  well  known  in  the  citv  of  Kankakee 
as  well  as  in  the  adjoining  country.  He  has  ever 
been  industrious  and  frugal,  and  b}'  his  own  labor 
and  industry  has  accumulated  a  large  and  valuable 
farm  and  home.  He  possesses  good  busines  ability, 
diligence  and  industry,  and  fair  dealing  has  al- 
ways characterized  his  transactions.  He  is  a  de- 
voted citizen  of  his  adopted  country,  and  endeav- 
ors to  promote  her  welfare. 


J4,4.^..{.^|^^..{..|..{.L 


*'i"i-*+F 


1-{"5"5"{-* 


,^^\  YRON  F.  BAKER,  proprietor  of  one  of 
the  largest  livery  stables  in  Kankakee, 
has  the  honor  of  being  a  native  of  this 
county,  his  birth  having  occurred  two 
and  a-half  miles  east  of  Kankakee,  on  the  2d  of 
October,  1864.  He  is  a  son  of  Austin  and  Aure- 
lia  (Fairbanks)  Baker,  both  natives  of  Indiana. 
They  removed  to  Illinois  many  years  ago,  and 
were  numbered  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
Kankakee  County.  On  their  arrival  thej^  found 
the  countrj'  a  wilderness  and  but  few  houses  or 
fences  were  to  be  found  in  this  section.  Deer, 
wolves  and  other  wild  game  abounded  in  this  re- 
gion. Mr.  Baker  settled  on  a  farm  about  three 
miles  from  the  present  site  of  Kankakee,  but  at 
that  time  there  was  no  town  or  city  even  com- 
menced. He  still  owns  his  original  farm  of  eighty 
acres  in  Aroma  Township,  to  which,  year  by  year, 
he  added  adjoining  land  until  his  present  pos- 
sessions are  between  seven  and  eight  hundred 
acres  of  land.  He  still  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead, where  he  has  lived  for  fort\'-seven  years, 
but  is  now  retired  from  the  active  duties  of  farm 
life. 

The  parental  family  consisted  of  nine  children, 


I 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

HNIVERSIIY  OF  ILLINOig 


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LiBRARY 
OF  THE    •  .^ 
MWIVFRSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


661 


six  sons  and  three  daughters.  Charles  A.  is  tlie 
eldest  of  tiio  family.  Henry  K.  married  Miss  Lil- 
lian Andrews,  whose  parents  arc  residents  of  Chi- 
cago. He  lives  in  Kankakee,  where  lie  is  engaged 
in  the  agricultural  implement  business.  Frank  S. 
married  Miss  Anna  Stire,  of  Kankakee,  where  they 
now  reside;  Monroe  S.  is  the  next  in  order  of 
birth;  Myron  E.  is  the  fifth  child  of  the  family; 
Joseph  A.  married  Miss  Maud  Shores,  of  this  city; 
Elizahetli  married  Nathaniel  I'ran,  wlio  operates  a 
farm  six  miles  northwest  of  Kankakee;  Ida  May 
died  when  about  two  years  of  age;  and  Etliel  M. 
completes  the  family. 

The  early  days  of  our  subject  were  spent  upon 
his  father's  farm,  where  he  assisted  in  the  work 
during  the  summer  and  attended  the  district 
schools  during  tlie  winter  months.  He  then  took 
a  business  course  in  Valparaiso  College,  of  Indi- 
ana, completing  the  course  when  eighteen  \ears 
of  age.  In  1885,  going  to  western  Kansas,  Mr. 
Baker  pre-empted  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  in  Scott  County.  Returning,  he  entered 
tlie  employ  of  the  American  Express  Companj', 
for  whom  he  worked  for  the  succeeding  two  years. 
On  the  24tli  of  August,  1888,  Mr.  Baker  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  brothers,  Joseph  A.  and 
Frank  S.,  and  purchased  the  livery  stable  of  A. 
Holcomb.  After  carrying  on  the  business  together 
for  eighteen  montlis,  our  subject  bought  out  his 
two  brothers  and  has  continued  the  business  alone 
ever  since.  He  has  the  largest  livery  stable  in 
Kankakee  and  keeps  the  largest  number  of  horses. 
His  stable  is  well  equipped  with  fine  carriages  and 
buggies,  and  has  an  extensive  patronage.  Though 
a  yf)ung  man,  he  has  already  given  evidence  of 
marked  business  ability,  and  is  pushing  his  way 
to  the  front  among  the  leading  business  men  of 
this  city. 

On  the  2d  of  October,  1889,  a  marriage  cere- 
inoii}-  united  the  fortunes  of  Mr.  Baker  and  Miss 
Mary  L.  Lowe,  of  Kankakee.  Her  parents,  David 
and  Martha  J.  (Pruitt)  Lowe,  were  both  natives 
of  Indiana  and  were  among  the  earl}'  settlers  of 
Illinois,  having  settled  in  Iroquois  County,  just 
across  the  line  from  this  county.  The  father  met 
death  as  the  result  of  a  disastrous  accident  which 
occurred  in  November,  1887.    He  was  accompauy- 

30 


ing  four  carloadi  of  cattle  to  Cliicago,  when  the 
train  broke  in  two.  He  was  at  the  time  asleep  in  tlie 
caboose.  An  engine  and  train  following  crashed 
into  the  detached  section,  demolishing  it  and  caus- 
ing the  cars  to  burst  into  flames,  in  which  Mr.  Lowe 
and  another  stockman  were  entirely  consumed. 
Two  daughters,  Cora  Dot  and  Gladys,  have  graced 
the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife. 

In  politics  Mr.  Baker  is  independent,  reserving 
the  right  to  cast  his  ballot  in  favor  of  the  man 
who,  in  his  estimation,  is  best  fitted  to  fill  the  po- 
sition and  advance  the  best  interests  of  the  pub- 
lic. Mrs.  Baker  owns  the  home  in  which  they 
reside,  and  also  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres, 
which  is  well  improved  and  situated  eight  miles 
south  of  Kankakee.  While  our  subject  is  not  a 
member  of  any  church,  he  contributes  to  its  sup- 
port and  attends  the  Presbyterian  Church,  of 
which  his  wife  is  a  member.  He  is  a  public-spir- 
ited and  loyal  citizen,  and  takes  an  active  inter- 
est in  the  welfare  of  Kankakee. 


^=m>-^r<^m 


■J— 


EUBEN  C.  MUNGER,  a  retired  farmer  re- 
siding in  Hersclier,  is  a  native  of  the  Em- 


pire State.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of 
^  Ilobart,  Delaware  County,  on  the  15th  of 
September,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  the  Rev.  O.  W. 
Munger,  a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  who  was  also  born  in  New  York,  July  9, 
1804,  and  died  September  9,  1852.  The  latter  re- 
ceived his  education  in  his  native  State,  and  in 
Delaware  County  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Esther  C.  Bathrick,  a  daughter  of  John  Bathrick. 
She  also  was  reared  and  educated  in  Delaware 
Count}'.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject,  John  W. 
Munger,  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  in  1774, 
while  the  great-grandfather,  Benjamin  Munger, 
was  a  native  of  England,  born  in  1742;  the  latter, 
emigrating  with  his  father,  settled  upon  a  tract  of 
land  in  Boston,  Mass.,  granted  him  by  the  King  of 
England.  He  served  his  country  as  one  of  the 
heroes  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  his  son 
John,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a  soldier 


662 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


in  the  War  of  1812.  The  great-grandfather  re- 
moved to  New  York  when  Delaware  County  was 
almost  an  unbroken  wilderness,  and  there  he  de- 
veloped a  good  farm,  being  one  of  the  honored 
pioneers  of  that  local  it}'. 

Rev.  Mr.  Munger,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youtii  in  that 
county,  and  after . attaining  to  mature  years  he  en- 
tered the  work  of  the  ministrv,  being  ordained  a 
minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
New  York.  In  1842  he  emigrated  Westward  with 
his  family  to  Illinois  and  joined  the  Rock  River 
Conference.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  preachers 
of  this  State  and  traveled  a  six  weeks'  circuit,  and 
becoming  widely  known,  was  one  of  the  highly- 
respected  citizens  of  the  community  where  lie 
made  his  home.  He  continued  as  a  preacher  of  the 
Gospel  until  his  death,  wiiicii  occurred  in  1852. 
When  he  came  to  Illinois  Mr.  Munger  located  in 
Roscoe,  Winnebago  Count}',  but  after  a  year  re- 
moved to  Belvidere,  where  he  spent  the  two  succeed- 
ing years  of  his  life.  He  then  located  in  Kendall 
Count}',  upon  a  farm  near  the  present  town  of 
Piano,  after  which  he  removed  to  the  southern 
part  of  the  county  and  located  his  family  on  a 
farm.  There  he  left  them  while  he  traveled  his 
circuit.  The  mother  of  our  subject  died  in  1844, 
after  which  Rev.  Mr.  Munger  was  again  mar- 
ried. His  second  wife  still  survives  him.  Our 
subject  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family 
of  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  two 
sons  and  one  daughter  are  yet  living.  He  also 
had  two  half-brothers  and  two  half-sisters,  but  the 
latter  are  now  deceased. 

Reuben  C.  Munger  was  brought  to  Illinois  by 
his  parents  when  a  lad  of  six  summers,  and  in 
Kendall  County  he  grew  to  manhood.  His  educa- 
tional privileges  were  quite  limited,  being  those 
afforded  by  the  common  schools.  After  the  age  of 
sixteen  years  he  lived  with  an  older  brother,  John 
W.  Munger,  who  afterward  went  to  California,  but 
the  vessel  in  which  he  returned,  the  "Central  Amer- 
ica," was  lost  at  sea  on  the  12th  of  September, 
1857.  Reuben  remained  with  his  brother  until  he 
had  arrived  at  years  of  maturity.  He  began  life  for 
himself  as  a  farm  hand,  in  which  capacity  he  was 
employed  for  a  few  years,  when  he  began  farming 


for  himself.  He  bought  teams  and  rented  land 
until  he  had  accjuired  sufficient  capital  to  make  a 
purchase,  when  he  became  the  owner  of  a  farm  in 
Kendall  County.  There  he  carried  on  agricultural 
pursuits  until  1869,  when  he  sold  out  and  removed 
to  Iroquois  County,  purchasing  a  farm  in  Milk's 
Grove  Township,  an  improved  place,  a  part  of 
which  he  owns  at  this  writing.  This  place  is  lo- 
cated eight  miles  west  of  Chebanse,  and  is  a  valu-  ■ 
able  and  highly  improved  farm.  Our  subject  was 
a  prosperous  farmer,  and  successfully  carried  on 
his  chosen  occupation  in  Iro'quois  County  for 
twenty-three  years.  He  owned  two  hundred  and 
fifty  acres,  and  in  connection  with  this  operated 
other  lands  amounting  to  almost  a  section. 

On  the  30th  of  December,  1858,  in  Kendall 
County,  Mr.  Munger  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Lydia  A.  Jacobs,  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  was  born  March  22,  1837.  In  her  na- 
tive county.  Perry,  the  days  of  her  girlhood  were 
passed,  and  with  some  .acquaintances  she  came  to  the 
West.  Her  parents,  William  and  Elizabeth  (Zieg- 
ler)  Jacobs,  were  both  natives  of  the  Keystone 
State,  and  were  of  German  descent.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
IMunger  have  two  children,  AVilliam  Wesley  and 
Catherine  A.  The  former  is  a  farmer  residing 
upon  the  old  homestead  in  Iroquois  Count}-,  and 
the  latter  is  the  wife  of  II.  P.  Easton,  whose  sketch 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

Mr.  Munger  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Abraham  Lincoln  in  1860,  and  has  since  voted  for 
each  candidate  of  the  Roi)ublican  party.  He  is  a 
stanch  advocate  of  that  party,  and  takes  an  active 
interest  in  its  growth  and  success,  having  served 
as  delegate  to  both  district  and  county  conven- 
tions. He  had  the  honor  of  being  elected  the  fli'St 
Supervisor  of  Milk's  Grove  Township,  in  which 
position  he  served  for  two  terms.  He  also  served 
as  Commissioner  of  Highways,  and  afterward  was 
again  elected  Supervisor.  He  has  always  been  a 
stanch  supporter  of  public  schools,  and  for  twenty- 
two  years  faithfully  served  as  School  Trustee. 
The  cause  of  education  found  in  him  a  warm 
friend,  and  he  did  much  for  its  interests  in  this 
community.  Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Lodge 
No.  79,  R.  A.  M.,  of  Kankakee,  and  of  Chebanse 
Lodge  No.  429,  A.  F.  ii  A.  M.     Himself  and  wife 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


663 


are  active  meinbers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  are  earnest  workers  in  tlie  Master's 
vineyard. 

In  the  spring  of  1892  Mr.  Manger  left  his  farm 
and  removed  to  the  village  of  llerscher,  where  he 
bought  lots  and  erected  a  line  large  residence 
which  is  now  his  home,  lie  is  a  man  of  superior 
business  ability,  and  tiie  enterprise  and  industry 
which  have  characterized  his  life  have  won  for 
him  a  handsome  competence.  He  is  now  living 
retired,  resting  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  of 
ills  former  toil.  Nearly  his  entire  life  has  been 
spent  in  this  locality,  and  he  is  widely  known 
throughout  Iroquois,  Ford,  Kendall  and  Kankakee 
Counties  as  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and  upright 
character.  He  certainly  deserves  representation 
in  the  history  of  his  adopted  count}'. 


»»'-»»»>^i 


lEORGE  A.  SEARLS  has  been  for  twenty- 
II  (=,  two  years  a  resident  of  Ganier  Township, 
where  lie  carries  on  general  farming,  his 
pi()))erty  being  situated  on  sections  10  and  15. 
lie  was  born  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  on  tlie  26tii  of 
January,  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  Albert  G.  Searls,  a 
native  of  the  Empire  State  and  of  English  descent. 
The  mother  of  our  subject  bore  in  her  maidenhood 
tlie  name  of  Jane  C.  Carv,  and  by  her  marriage 
became  the  mother  of  four  children,  of  whom  our 
subject  is  the  onlv  survivor  and  the  second  in 
order  of  birth.  Martha  J.,  the  eldest  of  the  fam- 
ily, died  October  12,  1864;  Jennie  died  on  the  7th 
of  March,  1872;  Franklin  died  in  infancy.  The 
fatlier,  «ho  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  carried  ou  a 
large  machine  shop  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  but  the 
panic  of  1857  ruined  him  financially.  He  was 
called  to  his  final  rest  on  the  2(jth  of  Jul}-,  1877. 
Ills  wife  survived  liim  many  years  and  [lassedaway 
in  1891. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  our  subject  were 
])assed  in  Forest  City,  the  place  of  iiis  birth.  His 
educational  i)rivileges  were  good,  as  the  public 
schools  of  tliat  city  have  been  justly  celebrated  for 
half  a  century.    When  seventeen  years  of  age,  Mr, 


Searls  embarked  in  business  for  himself.  Going 
to  New  York  Citj-  about  1857,  he  joined  the  navy 
on  the  Paiaguay  expedition  and  was  in  the  naval 
service  about  a  year.  This  trip  stimulated  his  love 
of  adventure  and  travel  and  he  embarked  on  a 
vessel  bound  for  China,  being  gone  over  two 
3'ears.  He  followed  the  life  of  a  sailor  until  the 
year  1863  and  at  that  time  returned  to  ids  native 
city  on  a  visit  to  his  friends  and  relatives.  From 
there  he  went  to  Buffalo,  where  for  over  two  j-ears 
he  engaged  in  roofing  with  corrugated  iron.  In 
1870,  Mr.  Searls  came  to  Kankakee  County  and 
became  the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  si.\t\'  acres 
of  land  in  Ganier  Township,  situated  on  sections 
10  and  15.  On  tJiis  farm  he  has  lived  ever  since, 
and  has  proved  a  successful  agriculturist. 

On  the  8th  of  November,  1865,  Mr.  Searls  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizalteth  Henry, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Anderson) 
Henry.  Four  children  have  been  boin  of  this 
union.  Edward  C,  who  was  educated  at  Racine 
College,  is  a  salesman  for  a  wholesale  house  of 
Chicago,  but  is  preparing  for  the  legal  profession; 
Martha  J.,  wife  of  John  Fedde,  resides  in  Mo- 
mence;  Frances  E.,  a  twin  sister  of  Martha  J.,  died 
in  infancy;  the  youngest  of  the  family,  Moses  A., 
lives  at  home  with  his  parents  and  assists  his  father 
in  the  care  of  the  faim. 

Mr.  Searls  is  a  good  citizen  of  this  community 
and  has  served  as  School  Director  for  fifteen  years, 
the  cause  of  education  finding  in  him  a  true  friend. 
Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  be- 
longing to  Momence  Lodge  No.  481,  and  in  relig- 
ious faith  all  the  family  hold  membership  with  the 
Episcopal  Church. 


.^ 


]  'OIIN  NICHOLS  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm 
and  one  of  the  most  beautiful  country  homes 
in  Kankakee  Count}'.  It  is  pleasantly  sit- 
uated on  section  8,  Momence  Township, 
about  two  miles  from  die  city  of  JNIomence.  Within 
the  boundaries  of  his  farm  are  comprised  one  hun- 
dred   and    fift^-six    acres    of    arable    land,   which 


664 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


his  untiring  labor  has  placed  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  The  fields  are  well  tilled,  and  give 
evidence  of  the  thiift  and  enterprise  of  tlie  owner. 
He  has  also  made  many  improvements  upon  his 
land,  which  stand  as  monuments  to  his  progress- 
ive spirit.  The  place  is  complete  in  all  its  ap- 
pointments, and  altogether  it  is  one  of  the  county's 
fine  farms. 

The  owner  of  this  desirable  place  claims  Indiana 
as  the  State  of  his  nativity.  He  was  born  near 
Terre  Haute,  January  1,  1831,  and  is  a  son  of  Will- 
iam and  JIaria  ((lundy)  Nichols,  a  sketch  of 
whom  appears  on  another  page  of  this  volume. 
His  parents  had  a  large  family,  numbering  twelve 
children,  including  seven  sons  and  five  daughters, 
of  whom  John  is  the  tenth  in  order  of  birth.  They 
emigrated  Westward  in  an  earl\'  day,  and  are  num- 
bered among  the  first  settlers  of  Kankakee  Count}-. 
Our  subject  was  only  a  lad  of  six  summers  at  the 
time  of  his  parents'  removal  from  Indiana  to  Illi- 
nois. The  public  schools  of  the  neighborhood 
furnished  him  his  educational  privileges,  but  his 
advantages  in  that  direction  or  in  any  other  were 
not  very  extensive.  His  training  at  farm  labor 
was  not  meagre,  for  as  soon  as  he  could  handle  the 
plow  he  began  work  in  the  fields,  and  aided  in  the 
arduous  task  of  developing  a  new  farm.  With 
the  family  he  shared  in  all  the  experiences  and 
hardships  of  pioneer  life,  for  he  came  here  when 
this  part  of  Kankakee  County  belonged  to  Will 
County.  Under  the  parental  roof  he  remained  un- 
til he  had  attained  his  majority,  when  he  bade 
good-bye  to  his  home  and  started  out  in  life  for 
himself.  Purchasing  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Yel- 
lowhead  Township,  he  began  the  development  and 
improvement  of  the  same,  continuing  its  cultiva- 
tion for  a  term  of  three  years.  At  the  expiration 
of  that  period  he  sold  out  and  rented  land  in  Mo- 
mence  Township,  where  for  a  time  he  engaged  in 
farming,  and  also  dealt  qfuite  extensively  in  cattle. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  18.52,  Mr.  Nichols  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  Jane  Marshall.  The  lady  was 
then  a  resident  of  Momence,  but  was  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born  April  25,  1835.  By  their  union  they 
became  the  parents  of  four  children,  the  eldest  of 
whom,  James  L.,  married  Miss  Estella  Libhart,  a 
resident  of  Del  Rey,  111.,  anc]  is  now  a    prominent 


farmer  of  Newton  County,  Ind.  Ella  Jane,  the 
second  child,  died  when  onl}'  three  3'ears  of  age. 
Martha  A.  is  at  home.  Florence  A.  died  in  in- 
fancJ^  The  mother  of  this  family  was  called  to 
her  final  rest  on  the  10th  of  Ma}-,  1861,  and  some 
years  later  Mr.  Nichols  was  again  married,  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  Miss  Malinda  McKenney, 
their  wedding  being  celebrated  January  26,  1867. 
The  lady  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in  La  Fay- 
ette, April  2, 1846,  and  is  a  daughter  of  James  and 
Melinda  (llentron)  McKenney.  Her  father  was  a 
native  of  Ireland,  and  when  a  small  boy  he  left 
the  Emerald  Isle  and  crossed  the  briny  deep  to  the 
United  States.  He  followed  farming  as  his  life 
work.  His  wife  was  born  in  Lexington,  Ky.,  and 
her  family  was  of  English  extraction. 

In  August,  1862,  Mr.  Nichols  entered  the  ser- 
vice of  his  country.  Prompted  b^'  patriotic  im- 
pulses, he  responded  to  the  President's  call  for 
volunteers,  and  joined  the  boys  in  blue  of  the  Sev- 
enty-sixth Regiment  of  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was 
assigned  to  Companj-  H,  in  which  he  served  for  a 
period  of  three  j-ears,  during  which  time  he  par- 
ticipated in  a  number  of  important  battles  and 
skirmishes.  He  took  part  in  the  hotly  contested 
siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  was  present  at  the  sur- 
render of  that  city  on  the  4th  of  July,  1863.  He 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Champion  Hills,  Miss., 
in  February,  1864;  the  engagement  at  Benton, 
Miss.,  in  the  following  Ma}';  the  battle  of  Jackson 
Cross  Roads,  Miss.,  July  7,  1864;  the  skirmish  at 
Clinton,  La.,  in  August,  1864;  and  the  siege  and 
capture  of  Ft.  Blakely,  Ala.,  in  April,  1865.  Mr. 
Nichols  was  in  active  service  for  three  years.  He 
was  very  fortunate,  in  that  he  escaped  all  injuiy, 
nor  was  he  ever  taken  prisoner.  On  the  contrary, 
he  was  always  found  at  his  post,  faithfully  dis- 
charging every  duty  devolving  upon  him,  and  as 
a  valiant  soldier,  ably  defending  the  old  flag  which 
now  Boats  so  proudl}'  over  the  united  Nation. 
AVhen  the  war  was  over  and  the  country  no  longer 
needed  his  services  he  was  honorably  discharged 
and  returned  to  his  home. 

Mr.  Nichols  at  once  resumed  the  occupation  of 
farming,  which  he  has  since  followed  with  excel- 
lent success.  He  is  not  only  regarded  as  one  of 
the  progressive,  but  is  also  one  of  the  substantial 


tOilTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


665 


farmers  of  Momence  Townsliip.  In  liis  political  af- 
filiations he  is  a  Republican,  and  althouijh  lie  has 
never  been  an  active  politician,  he  served  his  town- 
ship as  Supervisor  for  two  terms,  during  which  his 
duties  were  promptly  and  faithfully  performed. 
Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  Worcester  Post  No.  627, 
G.  A.  R.,  of  Momence.  Public-spirited  and  pro- 
gressive, he  is  a  valued  citizen  who  takes  an  ac- 
tive interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of 
the  community  and  its  upbuilding.  He  contrib- 
utes to  the  support  of  chmches,  and  to  charitable 
and  benevolent  works.  His  own  honorable,  up- 
right life  has  won  him  high  regard,  and  himself 
and  family  hold  an  enviable  position  in  social  cir- 
cles. 


ilf^ILBERN  CLAPSADDLE,  who  resides  on 
SIX       section  28,  Ganier  Township,  where  he  has 

ii\  W  made  his  home  for  the  long  period  of 
'^^  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century,  claims  New 
York  as  the  State  of  his  nativity.  He  was  born 
on  the  7th  of  September,  1832,  and  is  a  son  of 
Jacob  Chipsaddle.  His  father  was  also  a  native  of 
New  York  and  was  of  German  descent.  His 
mother  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sallie  Terpening. 
They  became  the  parents  of  a  family  of  eight 
children,  who  in  order  of  birth  were  as  follows: 
KillK'rn,  of  this  sketch;  Jerome;  Ilaniet,  who  died 
in  1880;  Sophia;  Jacob  P.;  George;  Mary;  and 
Elva.  The  father  of  that  family  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  has  followed  that  profession 
throughout  his  entire  life.  He  cleared  two  heav- 
ily timbered  farms  in  his  native  State  and  after- 
ward left  the  East,  emigrating  to  Illinois.  This 
was  in  1845.  He  located  in  Du  Page  County, 
where  lie  purchased  a  tract  of  land  from  the  CJov- 
crnment.  His  labor  and  cultivation  transformed 
it  into  a  good  farm,  upon  which  he  continued  to 
make  his  home  until  1882.  In  that  year  lie  re- 
moved to  O'Biien  County,  Iowa,  where  he  is  still 
living,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-four  years. 
In  politics,  he  is  a  supporter  of  the  Republican 
part}-,  and  religiously  is  a  member  of  the  Congre- 


gational Church.  His  wife,  who  yet  survives  at 
the  age  of  sevent^'-eight  years,  is  a  member  of  the 
same  church. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history-  of  our  sub- 
ject, who  throughout  his  entire  life  has  been  con- 
nected with  agricultural  pursuits.  He  was  born 
and  reared  upon  his  father's  farm  and  was  early 
inured  to  the  labors  connected  with  its  cultivation. 
He  is  mostly  self-educated,  his  school  privileges 
having  been  limited  to  a  short  attendance  at  the 
district  schools.  He  was  about  twelve  years  of  age 
wheathe  family  emigrated  to  Illinois.  Under  the 
parental  roof  he  remained,  aiding  his  father  in  the 
labors  of  the  home  farm,  until  attaining  his  major- 
it}-,  when  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  He 
began  working  by  the  day  and  labored  at  any  oc- 
cupation which  would  bring  him  in  an  honest  dol- 
lar. He  has  received  as  low  wages  as  fifty  cents 
per  day  and  worked  as  hard  as  one  would  now  for 
.$2.  He  rented  land  for  about  eight  years  and  then 
engaged  in  farming  for  himself. 

On  the  expiration  of  that  period,  in  1853,  he 
removed  to  Iowa,  taking  up  his  residence  in  Jones 
County,  where  he  spent  the  succeeding  seven  j-ears 
of  his  life.  He  then  returned  to  Du  Page  County, 
111.,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  for  a  year,  after 
which  he  removed  to  AVill  County,  locating  near 
the  town  of  Beecher.  In  that  count}-  he  purchased 
a  farm  of  eighty  acres  and  engaged  in  its  care  and 
cultivation  until  1868,  when  he  came  to  Kankakee 
County,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  immedi- 
ately purchased  one  hundred  and  eight  acres  of 
land  on  section  28,  Ganier  Township,  and  has  here 
since  made  his  home.  He  now  carries  on  general 
farming  and  stock-raising  and  in  his  business  un- 
dertakings meets  with  good  success.  He  has  ex- 
tended the  boundaries  of  his  farm  until  it  now 
comprises  one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  well- 
improved  and  valuable  la,nd. 

An  important  event  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Clap- 
saddle  occurred  January  27,  1853,  when  was  cele- 
brated Ins  marriage  with  Miss  Harriet  A.  Morton, 
who  was  born  in  Du  Page  County,  November  19, 
1834,  in  which  year  her  parents,  Luther  and  Rhoda 
(Boynton)  Morton,  emigrated  from  Cortland,  N.  Y. 
I5y  this  union  were  born  three  children:  Andrew, 
who  is  now  engaged  in  farming  in  Iowa;  Plumer, 


666 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


a  resident  faimei-  of  this  county;  and  Rosetta,  tlie 
only  daughter,  who  died  in  October,  1861. 

Mr.  Clapsaddle  is  a  progressive  and  public- 
spirited  citizen,  who  gives  his  support  to  all  enter- 
prises calculated  to  prove  of  public  benefit  or  for 
the  promotion  of  the  general  welfare.  The  cause 
of  temperance  finds  in  him  a  warm  friend,  and  his 
views  on  that  subject  find  expression  at  the  liallot 
box  in  voting  for  the  Prohibition  party.  He  has 
never  been  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  oflice-seeking, 
but  has  served  his  fellow-townsmen  as  School 
Trustee  and  School  Director.  Our  subject  began 
life  empty-handed  and  his  success  represents  his 
own  hard  labor,  enterprise  and  industry,  combined 
with  the  assistance  of  liis  estimable  wife.  His 
prosperity  is  certainly  well  deserved.  Mrs.  Clap- 
saddle  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 


^'^I@^g|^ 


IRAM  BAILEY,  now  retired,  has  been  for 
|i  years  one  of  the  representative  business 
men  of  Kankakee  and  is  numbered  among 
the  worth}-  pioneers  of  this  county.  His 
birth  occurred  in  Delaware  County,  N.  Y.,  on  the 
23d  of  November,  1825.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
David  Bailey,  removed  from  Connecticut  to  Scho- 
harie County,  N.  Y.,  when  his  son,  Alfred,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  but  an  infant.  His  an- 
cestors were  among  the  first  members  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Colony.  Alfred  Bailey  was  reared  to 
manhood  in  the  Empire  State,  and  on  arriving  at 
maturit}^  married  Betsy  Reynolds,  a  native  of  the 
same  State.  Soon  after  his  marriage  he  removed 
to  Delaware  County,  which  was  then  an  almost  un- 
broken wilderness.  In  18.37  he  sold  his  farm,  and 
returning  to  Schoharie  County,  there  died  in  1813. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  and  was  about 
fifty  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death.  His 
wife  survived  him  for  many  years,  passing  away 
at  the  advanced  age  of  eight3--two  years. 

Their  family  consisted  of  six  sons  and  two 
daughters,  and  it  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  though 
their  ages  range  between  fifty  and  seventy  years, 
the  circle  is  still  unbroken.     Charles,  the  eldest  of 


the  family,  was  born  in  1820,  and  resides  on  the 
old  homestead  in  Schoharie  Counts;  Elisha  lives 
in  Florida;  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  next  in 
order  of  birth;  Nelson  is  also  a  resident  of  Florida; 
JIaria  became  the  wife  of  Calvin  Kniskern,  and 
makes  her  home  in  New  York;  IJachel,  now  Mrs. 
Nicholas  Kniskern,  resides  in  the  same  State;  Isaac 
makes  his  home  in  Evanston,  III.;  and  Alfred,  the 
youngest  of  the  family,  was  born  in  1843, and  now 
lives  in  Florida. 

Hiram  Bailey  received  a  thorough  academic  ed- 
ucation in  his  youth.  After  leaving  school  he  en- 
gaged as  a  clerk  for  a  period  of  five  years,  for  a 
portion  of  that  time  being  employed  in  the  city 
of  Albany.  In  18-i;»,  Mr.  Bailey  himself  em- 
barked in  merchandising  in  that  city.  He  came 
to  Kankakee  in  18.5o,  but  again  returned  to  New 
York,  where  he  sold  out  his  business.  The  spring  of 
the  following  year  saw  Mr.  Bailey  permanently 
settled  in  Kankakee.  He  engaged  in  business  in 
this  citj',  but  in  1863  established  a  lumber  yard  in 
Chicago.  From  that  business  he  retired  in  1866, 
and  in  the  following  year,  his  health  having  he- 
come  somewhat  impaired,  he  resolved  to  make  a 
tour  through  Europe,  and  accordingly  accompanied 
by  liis  wife  crossed  the  Atlantic,  visited  the  Paris 
Exposition  and  returned  with  restored  health.  In 
February  of  the  following  year,  Mr.  Bailey  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  the  linseed  oil  mills  of  Kan- 
kakee. Three  years  later  he  became  their  sole  pro- 
prietor and  operated  tlie  mills  alone  for  about  a 
year.  In  1872  he  took  into  partnership  with  him 
John  R.  McKinney.  The  latter  died  in  1876,  and 
in  his  place  Thomas  G.  McCullough  became  the 
partner  of  our  subject.  They  continued  in  busi- 
ness together  until  1884,  when  the  mills  were 
closed  and  Mr.  Bailey  practically  retired  from 
business. 

Our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Olivia  M 
Chapman,  a  native  of  Otsego,  N.  Y.,  their  wed- 
ding being  celebrated  in  Albanj',  of  the  same  State, 
in  the  j'ear  1850.  Three  children  graced  their 
union.  Carlton  II.  died  in  1866,  in  his  fourth 
year;  Leslie  jiassed  away  at  the  age  of  seven 
months,  in  April,  1872;  and  Bird  O.,  the  only  sur- 
viving child  and  only  daughter,  was  born  in  1870. 
She    is   a   graduate  of  the  famous  Ogontz  School, 


J 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


667 


near  Philadelphia.  On  the  4tli  of  January,  1876,  Mr. 
Bailey  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  death  of  his 
wife.  On  tlic  24th  of  October,  1876,  he  married 
Miss  Elizahelli  B.  Leavitt. 

Mr.  Bailey  owns  an  elegant  home  in  Kankakee, 
where  witli  his  family  he  spends  the  summers. 
They  also  have  a  beautiful  home  and  orange  grove 
in  Florida,  where  since  187 1  the^^  have  p.assed  a 
portion  of  each  year.  As  has  been  previously 
stated,  several  of  our  subject's  brothers  have  been 
for  many  years  residents  of  San  Mateo,  in  the  land 
of  flowers,  one  of  the  most  beautiful  locations  in 
sunny  and  lovely  Florida,  and  there  is  situated 
the  home  of  our  subject.  Mr.  Bailey  has  ever 
been  one  of  the  progressive  and  enterprising  citi- 
zens of  Kankakee,  in  whose  development  and 
growth  he  has  taken  an  active  and  interested 
part.  Politically,  he  has  been  a  Ke[)ublican  since 
the  organization  of  the  part}',  but  has  never  sought 
oflioial  recognition  in  any  form. 


■^  FOSTER  SCILMELTZER,  who  is  a  well-to- 
do  farmer  residing  on  section  8,  Manteno 
Township,  was  born  in  Elk  County,  Pa., 
twelve  miles  from  Ridgeway,  the  county 
seat,  June  11,  1847.  His  parents  were  Jacob  and 
Louisa  F.  (Brockway)  Schnieltzer.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  whose  Christian  name  was  Conrad, 
was  a  native  of  Germany  and  very  soon  after  his 
marriage  emigrated  to  America.  He  located  in 
Berks  County,  Pa.,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade 
of  making  wagon  tires,  all  of  which  work  was  then 
done  by  the  use  of  a  hammer.  He  reared  a  family 
of  four  children,  and  died  in  Pennsylvania  when 
in  his  eighty-seventh  jear.  The  maternal  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  Cliauncey  Brockwa}',  was  a 
native  of  the  Empire  State,  and  on  arriving  at 
manhood  removed  to  Penns3lvania,  where  he  was 
a  lumberman  for  manj-  3'ears.  In  1854,  he  settled 
on  a  farm  of  two  hundred  .acres  in  Manteno  Town- 
sliip,  two  and  a-half  miles  northwest  of  the  village. 
He  w.as  quite  a  prominent  man  in  Elk  County,  Pa., 


where  for  many  years  he  was  County  Commis- 
sioner. For  five  years  after  his  arrival  in  Illinois, 
he  followed  his  former  occupation  of  lumbering, 
and  then  settled  down  to  farm  duties.  He  fought 
in  the  War  of  1812  on  the  American  side.  He  de- 
parted this  life  December  16,  1886,  when  he  had 
reached  the  extreme  old  age  of  ninety-three  years 
and  twelve  days. 

Jacob  Schmeltzer  was  born  in  Berks  County,  Pa., 
and,  like  his  father,  was  a  lumberman  by  occupa- 
tion. In  1850,  he  removed  to  Muscatine,  Iowa, 
near  which  city  he  engaged  in  farming  for  sixteen 
years.  Coming  to  Illinois,  he  settled  on  section  8, 
Manteno  Township,  afterward  buying  eighty  acres 
adjoining  on  the  north.  The  last  three  years  of 
his  life  he  lived  in  the  home  of  his  son  Foster. 
His  death  occurred  in  1881,  he  being  then  in  his 
eightieth  year.  While  in  Pennsylvania  he  was 
elected  Sheriff  of  Elk  County,  and  also  held  man}' 
other  offices  of  honor  and  trust  during  his  lifetime. 
He  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  Miss 
Esther  Oyster.  They  were  married  December  3, 
1825.  To  them  were  born  the  following  children: 
Wilhelmina;  Eliza,  who  died  aged  thirty-rtwo, 
leaving  a  familj';  Caroline;  Conrad,  who  belonged 
to  Company  B, Thirty-fifth  Iowa  Infantry,  serving 
for  three  j-ears  during  the  late  war;  Daniel;  Cath- 
erine Ann;  .fohn;  George,  who  also  served  during 
the  late  war  and  was  a  prisoner  some  eight  months 
in  Danville,'Va.;  and  Salinda.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  May  25,  1844,  during  an  epidemic  of 
erj'sipelas  which  r.aged  in  tlie  neighborhood.  The 
second  union  of  Mr.  Schmeltzer  was  celebrated  on 
the  20th  of  August,  1846,  when  iSIiss  Louisa  F. 
Brockway,  the  mother  of  our  subject,  became  his 
wife.  Six  children  were  born  to  them,  of  whom 
only  Foster  is  living.  Those  deceased  are  Jona- 
than M.,  Esther  .Tane,  Anna,  Charles  Norman  and 
Willis.  The  mother  still  survives,  being  seventy- 
five  years  of  age,  and  makes  her  home  with  her 
son  Foster. 

Our  subject  was  reared  on  a  farm  and  his  edu- 
cation was  received  in  the  district  schools  of  Mus- 
catine County,  Iowa.  He  afterward  attended  the 
Industrial  University  at  Champaign,  III.  On  the 
nth  of  January,  1871,  he  married  Miss  L.  Au- 
gusta El3ea,  daughter   of    Humphrey  and    Sarah 


668 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


(Williams)  Elyea,  of  Manteno  Townsliip.  By  their 
union  were  born  four  children:  Sarah  Louisa,  who 
died  in  infancy;  Jonathan  Lewis;  Jacob  Merton, 
and  Mary  Esther.  Tlieir  mother  died  October  28, 
1883.  Mr.  Schmeltzer  and  Miss  Anna  Van  Ncste 
were  married  April  20,  1886.  The  lady  is  a 
daughter  of  George  H.  and  Emily  (Shottenkirk) 
Van  Neste,  who  were  natives  of  Gloversville, 
N.  y.,  and  were  of  German  and  Dutch  descent. 
A  son  and  daughter  grace  this  second  union,  Paul 
Foster  and  Emily  Louisa. 

Mr.  Schmeltzer  lives  on  the  old  homestead 
known  as  the  Brockway  place  and  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Manteno  Township  for  twenty-six  years. 
He  is  successful  as  an  agriculturist  and  carries  on 
a  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  all  of 
wjiich,  with  the  exception  of  eighty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 7,  is  located  on  section  8.  This  is  all  under 
cultivation  and  is  one  of  the  best  farms  of  the 
townsliip.  Our  sul^ject  is  at  present  Supervisor, 
in  which  office  he  is  now  serving  his  sixth  year. 
He  has  also  held  the  office  of  llighwaj'  Commis- 
sioner for  twelve  j'ears,  and  to  him  is  due  much 
of  the  credit  for  the  good  roads  leading  to  Man- 
teno. He  has  ever  shown  a  progressive  spirit  and 
warmly  snpporl^  all  inililic  improvements.  Polit- 
ically, he  is  a  Rei«iblican,  having  cast  his  first 
Presidential  ballot  for  Ulysses  S.  Grant.  He  thor- 
oughly understands  surveying  in  all  branches  and 
levels  much  of  the  land  for  the  tile  drains  in  his 
neighborhood.  Mrs.  Schmeltzer  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


_^] 


^^^ 


[S_ 


ENRY  N.  PpyrERS  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  ]\Ianteno,  to  which  he  came  in 
1856.  He  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  his 
(j^  birth  having  occurred  in  Ryegate  Town- 
ship, Caledonia  Count}',  on  the  18th  of  July,  1829, 
and  was  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Margaret  Peters.  (See 
the  sketch  of  Milo  R.  Peters  for  a  history  of  his 
ancestors.) 

Henry  Peters  passed  his  early   years  in  the  usual 
manner  of   farmer  boys,  and  attended  the  neigh- 


boring schools.  He  remained  with  his  parents  un- 
til coming  of  age,  and  on  the  4tli  of  January',  1854, 
was  married  to  Miss  Charlotte  E.  Davis.  Her 
father,  Joseph  Davis,  was  born  at  Falmouth,  Mass., 
on  the  25th  of  Februar}',  1799,  and  lived  on  a 
small  farm  in  New  Hampsiiire,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred November  19,  1861.  His  father,  Joseph 
Davis,  owned  extensive  salt  works  at  Falmouth, 
which  required  his  entire  attention  for  many  j'ears. 
Mrs.  Peters'  mother  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Pris- 
cilla  Merrill,  and  was  born  in  Lyman,  N.  H.,  July 
19,1802.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Annis  Merrill, 
who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and 
who  had  many  times  had  the  privilege  of  seeing 
Gens.  Washington,  La  F'ayette  and  other  noted  men. 
He  followed  the  Occupation  of  a  farmer,  and  died  inl 
Lyman  when  he  had  attained  the  advanced  age  of  ] 
ninety-six  years. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peters  were  born  four  children, 
all  sons,  who  are  yet  living.     They  are  Fred  H.,  j 
whose  birth  occurred  October  6,   1854;  Charles  J.,] 
born  on  the  31st  of  May,  1861;  Frank  M.,  Novem- 
ber 10,  1866;  and  Arthur  N.,   on  the  27th  of  Sep-] 
tember,  1873. 

In  the  spring  of    1856,   Mr.   Peters   came  from] 
Bath,  N.  H.,  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Manteno.     On' 
the    21st  of  September,    1801,  he  entered  the  list! 
of  the   LTnion's  defenders,  becoming  a  member  of, j 
Company  K,  Fourth  Illinois  Cavalry,  under  Capt. 
Philip  Worcester.     He  was  in   the  service  for  one] 
3'ear,   during  which    time   he  participated   in   the 
battles  of  Ft.  Donelson  and  Shiloh,  besides  a  num- 
ber of  lesser  engagements  and  skirmishes.     He  wasj 
discharged  on  account  of  poor  health,  and  returnedl 
to  Manteno  under  the  care  of  his  brother.     Hislifel 
was  despaired  of,  but   though  man^'  times  givenj 
up  by  the   physicians,  he  lived  and  partially  re- 
covered his  health.     In  1863  he  purchased  a  house! 
and  two  and  a-half  acres  of  land  in  Manteno.  Two! 
years  later  he  bought  a  farm  of  forty  acres,  located! 
on  section  16,  which  he  sold  in  1873,  and  soon  af-i 
forward    bought  eighty  acres  on  section    15.     Inl 
March,  1882,  he  sold  this  property  and  purchased 
a  farm  of  one  hinidred  and  sixtj'  acres  on   section| 
12,  which  he  owned  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

Mr.  Peters  was  Constable  for  fourteen  years,  and 
served  for  eight  years  as  Deputy  Sheriff.     He  was! 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

NNIVFJSn  Y  OF  ILLINOIS 


K 


^^^-iycyUL/c 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


671 


<^       JRlLLIAM  F. 
\W     Kankakee  ( 


a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternit_v,  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  held  meinbershi|)  witli  the  Jlethodist 
Episcopal  Church,  with  which  her  people  were  early 
associated.  Mr.  Peters  departed  this  life  June 
30,  1892,  in  AVarrenville,  III.,  where  he  had  lived  for 
a  period  of  four  years.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  in  his  sixt^'-thirdyear,  and  his  wife  still  sur- 
vives him.  Three  of  their  sons,  Fred,  Charlie  and 
Frank,  the  youngest  not  3'et  of  age,  are  civil  en- 
gineers. In  the  time  of  war  Mr.  Peters  was  patri- 
otic, zealous  and  faithful,  and  in  the  times  of  peace 
was  a  loyal  citizen.  lie  is  justly  numbered  among 
the  worth}'  and  honored  pioneers  of  this  county, 
and  his  memorj'  is  cherished  by  many  friends. 


il^.-i^|M 


i)ILLIAM  F.  KENAGA,  County  Clerk  and 
Clerk  of  the  County  Court  of 
County,  111.,  was  born  in  Salem 
Township,  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  on  the  6th  of 
December,  183G,aud  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  B.  and 
Minerva  S.  (Hitt)  Kenaga.  The  father  was  born 
in  Lancaster  County,  Pa.,  in  1809,  and  died  in 
.Tanesville,  Wis.,  in  August,  1855.  The  mother  was 
a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  died  in  Urbana,  Cham- 
paign County,  Ohio,  in  the  year  1842. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a  good  com- 
mon-school education,  and  in  the  spring  of  1855 
with  his  father's  famil}'  went  to  .Tanesville,  Wis., 
near  which  place  he  engaged  in  farming  for  a  time. 
Later  he  removed  to  Sextonville,  Richland  County, 
in  the  same  State,  and  in  October,  1856,  came  to 
this  county  and  turned  his  attention  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits  on  a  farm  near  Kankakee.  Subse- 
quently he  was  employed  in  a  drug  store  for  a  short 
time,  but  soon,  in  compan}'  with  his  brother  Samuel, 
engaged  in  the  grain   business. 

On  the  7th  of  Jul}-,  1862,  Mr.  Kenaga  enlisted 
as  a  member  of  Company  I,  Seventy-sixth  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  under  Capt.  Walter  Todd,  and 
was  made  Sergeant  on  leaving  for  the  front. 
In  February,  1864,  he  was  commissioned  Second 
Lieutenaut  and  participated  in  all  the  battles  and 
engagements  in  which  his  regiment  took   part, ex- 


cept the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  up  to  the  close  of  the 
war,  during  which  time  it  saw  much  hard  service. 
Tiie  Sevcnt}' -sixth  was  mustered  into  the  service  of 
the  United  States  on  the  22d  of  August,  1862, and 
was  at  once  assigned  to  active  duty  at  Columbus, 
K3'.  About  the  1st  of  November  he  was  tiansferred 
to  La  Grange,  Tenn.,  and  on  the  28th  of  that  month 
joined  Grant  in  his  campaign  in  Mississippi  against 
the  Confederates  under  .Tohnston.  The  regiment 
was  attached  to  the  Fourth  Division  of  the  Thir- 
teenth Army  Corps,  and  took  part  in  the  engage- 
ment at  IIoll}'  Springs  and  Watcrford,on  the  2'Jth 
and  30th  of  November.  On  the  11th  of  December 
the}-  succeeded  in  extricating  themselves  from  the 
thick  mud  near  Waterford  and  began  the  march 
Southward.  When  at  Water  Valley  they  learned 
of  the  capture  of  Holly  Springs  by  the  rebel  gen- 
eral, A^an  Dorn.  The  entire  command  was  then 
faced  about  and  proceeded  Northward.  This  was 
at  the  time  the  President  was  negotiating  with  the 
border  States,  hoping  to  have  such  States  accept  a 
stipulated  price  for  their  slaves  and  withdraw  their 
support  from  the  Confederacy,  hence  no  foraging 
was  permitted  and  half  and  quarter  rations  were  the 
result.  They  returned  and  occupied  Holly  Springs 
until  .Taiiuary  10,  1863.  They  made  various  marches 
through  mud  and  storm  and  finally  rested  at  La 
Fayette  until  the  10th  of  March,  when  they  pro- 
ceeded to  Memphis,  and  in  April  embarked  upon 
the  Mississippi  River.  During  the  trip  they  sus- 
tained a  galling  fire  from  rebel  guns  and  lost  a  num- 
ber in  killed  and  wounded.  Landing  at  Young's 
Point  the  regiment  marched  to  Chickasaw  Bayou, 
on  the  Yazoo  River,  where  it  was  engaged  in  clos- 
ing the  line  to  the  rear  of  Mcksburg.  After  the 
charge  it  was  placed  on  the  left  of  the  besieging 
lines,  and  bravely  held  its  place  close  under  the 
rebel  guns  until  the  surrender  of  the  celebrated 
stronghold  on  the  4th  of  July,  1863.  On  the  day 
following  the  Seventy-sixth  joined  Sherman  in  his 
attack  on  Jackson,  Miss.,  and  took  part  in  the 
skirmish  at  Big  Black  River  and  the  battle  of 
Champion  Hills,  and  was  engaged  at  Jackson  on 
the  12th  and  16th  of  that  month.  On  the  21st  the 
regiment  returned  to  Vicksburg,  where  it  was  sta- 
tioned until  August  11,  at  which  time  it  went  into 
camp  at  Natchez,  remaining  there  until  November 


672 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRATHICAL  RECORD. 


following.  Returning  to  Vicksburg  it  was  at  Camp 
Cowan,  near  the  cit>',  until  February,  1864,  when  it 
started  with  Gen.  Sherman  on  his  Meridian  cam- 
paign. About  April  .5,  they  encamped  near  Vicks- 
burg, where  the^'  were  on  duty  May  I.  They  nest 
joined  the  Yazoo  expedition  under  the  leadership  of 
Gen.  McArtliur  and  took  an  active  part  in  tlie  bat- 
tles of  Benton,  Vaughn  Station  and  Deasonville 
and  drove  the  enemy  from  Yazoo  City.  On  the 
28th  of  .June,  they  once  more  set  tiieir  faces  toward 
Vicksburg  and  on  the  1st  of  July,  1864,  joined  the 
Jackson  expedition  under  Gen.  Slocum.  Tlie^' 
were  engaged  in  battle  on  the  5th  and  6th  of  Julj' 
at  a  point  between  .Tackson  and  Clinton.  The 
Seventy-sixth  Regiment  lost  heavily  in  that  en- 
gagement, one  hundred  and  two  men  being  killed 
and  wounded.  At  one  time  it  was  cut  off  from 
the  balance  of  the  command  but  managed  to  make 
its  way  back  to  the  main  body.  The  9th  of  July 
again  saw  the  regiment  in  Vicksburg  but  they  were 
allowed  only  a  brief  respite  from  their  labors.  On 
the  29th  of  that  month  the}'  were  sent  toMorganza 
and  Port  Hudson.  Later  they  went  up  the  Mis- 
sissippi to  White  River  and  to  Memphis,  Tenn., 
and  returning  October  28,  took  part  in  tiie  battle. 
They  next  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Duvall's  Bluff, 
Ark.,  on  the  7th  of  November,  and  returned  to 
Memphis  November  30.  The}'  started  for  New 
Orleans  on  the  4th  of  .January,  1865,  and  on  the 
12th  of  February  embarked  on  Gulf  steamers  for 
F't.  Barrancas.  The  transport  encountered  a  ter- 
rible storm  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  barely 
escaped  shipwreck.  Horses,  mules  and  wagons 
were  thrown  overboard  during  the  gale  and  the 
vessel  as  soon  as  possible  i-eturned  to  New  Orleans. 
The  regiment  then  set  out  by  way  of  the  Lake  and 
Gulf  for  Ft.  Barrancas,  near  Pensacola,  Fla.,  March 
11.  There  it  joined  Gen.  Steele's  expedition,  march- 
ing through  the  quicksands  and  pines  via  Pollard, 
Ala.,  against  Spanish  P^ort  and  Ft.  Blakely,  near 
Mobile.  The  Seventy-sixth  Regiment  distinguished 
itself  in  the  siege,  storming  and  capture  of  those 
forts.  The  former  surrendered  on  the  8th  of  April, 
and  the  latter  on  April  9,  1865,  which  also  was  the 
date  of  Lee's  surrender  at  Appomattox  and  the 
end  of  the  war.  On  that  eventful  da}'  Mr.  Kenaga, 
who  up  to  that  time  had  escaped  aaj'   serious   in- 


jur}-,  was  during  his  command  of  Company  K  se- 
verely wounded,  while  making  an  assault  on  Ft. 
Blakel}'.  He  was  shot  in  both  legs,  in  the  right 
below  the  knee  and  in  the  left  near  the  ankle. 
The  latter  wound  made  necessary  three  amputa- 
tions, the  first  being  made  above  the  knee  on  May 
2.  He  returned  home  and  received  his  discharge 
from  the  service  on  the  15th  of  May.  A  3'ear  later, 
thecondition  of  the  amputated  limb  being  unfavor- 
able, it  was  decided  that  a  second  amputation  was 
necessary.  After  the  lapse  of  eighteen  months  the 
limb  was  the  third  time  amputated,  the  last  being 
near  the  body.  For  six  weeks  after  the  first  operation 
Mr.  Kenaga  remained  unconscious  and  from  May 
until  the  latter  part  of  August  was  not  able  to  sit  up. 
His  sufferings  were  severe  in  the  extreme,  and  his 
general  health  was  sadly  wrecked.  From  the  be- 
ginning until  the  close  of  his  service,  our  subject 
took  part  actively  with  his  regiment  in  all  battles 
and  skirmishes,  with  the  exception  of  tiie  siege  of 
Vicksburg,  at  which  time  he  was  detailed  in  charge 
of  a  railroad  station  at  La  Fayette,  Tenn. 

In  the  fall  of  18G5,  while  still  an  invalid,  Mr. 
Kenaga  was  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  to  the 
office  he  now  fills,  and  entered  upon  the  discharge 
of  his  duties  on  the  1st  of  December  of  that  year. 
He  has  been  re-elected  several  times  and  with  the 
exception  of  four  years,  from  1874  until  1878,  has 
held  the  office  continuously.  His  present  term  will 
expire  December  1,  1894,  and  if  he  serves  until  its 
close  he  will  have  filled  that  office  for  a  period  of 
twenty-five  years. 

On  the  5th    of   November,    1866,   Mr.   Kenaga 
married     Miss    Annie    Sinclair,    in    York,    Liv- 
ingston  County,  N.   Y.     The    lad}'    was    boi'n  in 
that  city  and  was  a  daughter  of  John  and  Margaret ' 
Sinclair.     She  died  May   16,    1879,  leaving   three, 
children,  two  sous  and    a    daughter:  William    C.,j 
Ivatharine  J.  and  Arthur  S.  On  the  26th  of  October,] 
1882,  our  subject  was  married  in  Kankakee  to  Miss  I 
Nettie  M.  Sinclair,  who  was  born  in  I'ork,  Living- 
ston County,  N.  Y.,  and  to  them   have  been   born ' 
two  children:  Mary  Louise  and  Annie  Margaret. 

The  Republican  party  has  found  in  our  subject  j 
an  earnest  supporter.     He  assisted  in  Ihe  organi-  ] 
zation  of  that  party  in  the  West  and  lias  supported 
it  ever  since  its  existence.     Socially,  he  is  a  mem- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


673 


ber  of  Kankakee  Lodge  No.  389,  A.  F.  «fe  A.  M.,  and 
of  the  Royal  Areaniini,  jModern  "Woodmen,  and  of 
Wliiltple  Post  No.  414,  G.  A.  R.  lie  was  in  18112 
clec'U'd  .Senior  A'ice-Commander  of  the  Department 
of  the  Illinois  G.  A.  R.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kenaga  are 
consistent  members  of  the Presb3'terian  Church.  If 
long  continuance  in  .in  office  of  honor  is  any  criter- 
ion as  to  the  esteem  and  confidence  felt  in  a  public 
servant,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  has  reason  to  feel 
that  his  efforts  to  discharge  his  duties  with  zeal 
and  lidelity  have  been  warmly  appreciated.  In  all 
these  long  years  he  has  demonstrated  his  capability 
and  trustworthiness  and  the  people  whom  he  has 
so  faithfully  served  have  well-grounded  faith  in 
his  competency  and  Integrity.  He  is  genial  and 
courteous  to  all  and  has  an  especially  warm  corner 
in  his  heart  for  those  who  wore  the  blue  in  the  late 
unpleasantness,  and  to  them  he  is  always  ready  to 
do  a  kindness. 


HARMON  .SCRAMLIN  is  a  retired  farmer 
and  hardware  merchant  who  makes  his 
l^  home  in  Momeuce.  He  was  born  in  Charles- 
ton, Kalamazoo  County,  Mich.,  on  the  lltliof 
May,  1841,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Mary  (.Jud- 
son)  Scraralin,  both  natives  of  New  York.  The 
father  after  residing  in  Michigan  for  a  number  of 
years  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  18.50,  and  was  a 
farmer  bj*  occupation.  His  family  consisted  of 
twelve  children,  seven  sons  and  live  daughtere. 
(See  the  .sketch  of  one  of  the  sons,  J.  II.  .Scramlin, 
on  another  page  of  this  work.) 

Gur  subject  was  reared  on  a  tarm  and  received 
the  most  of  his  schooling  in  Momence  Township, 
this  county.  He  remained  at  home  until  1860. 
In  August,  1861,  his  twin  brother,  Harmon,  en- 
listed as  a  member  of  Company  D,  Forty-second 
Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  a  prisoner  for  fourteen 
months,  two  months  of  which  were  passed  at  Belle 
Isle,  two  months  in  Libby,  and  the  remainder  of 
the  time  in  Andersonville  prison.  In  the  battle 
of  Stone    River  he  was  seriousl3'  wounded,  being 


shot  in  the  head.  In  June,  1862,  Farmon  also  en- 
tered the  arm^s  enlisting  in  Company  H,  Seventy- 
sixth  Illinois  Infanti-y.  AVith  his  regiment  he 
l)articipated  in  a  number  of  battles  and  engage- 
ments. He  was  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  which 
lasted  for  fort^'-seven  days,  and  took  part  in  the 
battles  of  Jackson,  Champion  Hills  and  others. 
On  the  9th  of  April,  186.5,  while  charging  Ft. 
Blakely,  he  was  wounded  in  the  right  arm.  After 
remaining  in  active  service  for  about  three  years 
he  was  honorably  discharged.  When  peace  was 
restored,  Mr.  Scramlin  returned  to  IMomence,  where 
he  obtained  employment  as  a  clerk  in  the  hard- 
ware store  of  W.  II.  Patterson.  He  also  learned 
the  tinsmith's  trade,  remaining  in  one  pLice  for  a 
number  of  years.  In  1871,  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  AVilliam  Astle,  and  together  they  car- 
ried on  the  hardware  business.  Later,  the  partner- 
ship was  dissolved  and  Mr.  .Scramlin  engaged  in 
the  same  line  in  Grant  Park  for  seven  years,  after 
which  he  sold  out,  and  for  two  years  traveled  on 
the  road  for  J.  F.  Temple  &  Sons,  selling  pumps. 
He  then  purchased  his  father's  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres,  situated  three  miles  north- 
west of  Momence,  and  turned  his  attention  to  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  for  the  following  seven  years, 
in  this  time  adding  forty  acres  to  the  original 
property  and  raising  considerable  stock,  including 
horses,  cattle  and  hogs.  ^On  account  of  poor  health 
he  retired  from  active  business  in  1888  and  re- 
moved to  Momence,  which  is  still  his  home. 

Mr.  Scramlin  and  Miss  Mar3'  Lamport  were 
united  in  marri.age  on  the  3d  of  October,  1872. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Mar3'  Lam- 
port, and  bj^  her  marriage  has  become  the  mother 
of  one  child,  a  daughter,  Lura  M.  Mrs.  Scramlin 
is  a  native  of  Momence  Township,  born  February 
4,  1849,  and  has  resided  here  all  her  life. 

For  many  years  our  subject  has  been  a  Mason, 
and  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Grant 
Park  Lodge.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Worcester 
Post  No.  627,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he  is  Quarter- 
master. For  some  time  he  has  held  the  office  of 
Commissioner  of  Highw.ays  and  that  of  School 
Director.  He  cast  his  first  Presidential  vote  for 
Abraham  Lincoln,  and  h.as  alwa^'S  been  a  stanch 
Republican.     AVhen    Mr.   Scramlin    came    to   Mo- 


674 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


meiice  there  were  perhaps  not  more  than  two  hun- 
dred inhabitants,  and  he  has  since  seen  it  develop 
to  its  present  population  of  two  thousand.  He 
located  here  before  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
was  built,  and  even  after  its  construction  otten 
hauled  grain  to  Manleno.  He  was  early  inured  to 
hard  work  and  owes  his  present  possessions  to  his 
habits  of  industry-  and.economJ^  He  still  owns 
his  farm  property,  which  consists  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  sections  2  and  11,  Momence 
Township,  and  also  iiis  pleasant  residence  in  the 
city.  His  father  sat  on  the  first  petit  jury  in  the 
county,  being  the  first  panel  of  jurors  after  Kan- 
kakee County  was  organized. 


P'.NRY  J.  BEEDY  owns  and  operates  a 
Iff  )|;  farm  on  section  17,  and  is  an  extensive 
stock-raiser  and  dealer  in  live-stock.  He 
was  born  in  St.  Lawrence  Count3',  N.  Y., 
on  the  23d  of  March,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of  Daniel 
and  Sarah  (.Johnson)  Beedy.  His  paternal  grand- 
father was  a  farmer  of  New  Hampshire,  in  which 
State  his  birth  occurred.  He  lived  to  a  good  old 
age  and  died  in  Vermont.  Joshua  Johnson,  the 
maternal  grandfather,  followed  the  seas  for  many 
years,  but  afterward  became  a  farmer  of  Ver- 
mont. 

Daniel  Beedy  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire, 
and  was  of  Irish  descent.  When  quite  young  he 
went  to  the  Green  Mountain  State,  where  he  was 
afterward  married.  For  some  years  he  engaged 
in  teaming  and  contracting.  Later  he  removed  to 
New  York,  where  he  lived  for  a  number  of  years, 
after  which,  going  to  Canada,  he  remained  in 
that  country  for  five  years.  In  the  fall  of  1849 
he  came  to  Illinois,  locating  near  Lockport,  in 
Homer  Township,  where  he  purchased  land,  which 
he  cultivated  for  a  year  and  a-half.  His  family 
came  from  Canada  in  the  spring  of  1850  to  this 
State,  and  in  the  following  year  he  made  a  settle- 
ment on  Rock  Creek,  on  the  old  Kellogg  farm,  in 
Rockville  Township,  this  county.  This  farm  com- 
prised two  hundred    acres,  and  this  he   rented  for 


three  years.  The  Illinois  Central  Railroad  was 
built  through  here  in  1853,  and,  desiring  to  get 
nearer  the  same,  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  Manteno  Township,  on  section  17, 
on  which  he  constructed  a  house,  which  is  be- 
lieved to  have  been  the  frame  for  the  first  school- 
house  ever  erected  in  Rockville  Township.  This 
building  he  purchased  and  removed  to  his  farm, 
adding  to  it  other  rooms  until  he  had  a  comfort- 
able home,  in  which  he  lived  until  1877,  when  he 
died,  being  then  seventy-eight  years  of  age.  For 
nine  years  he  held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  was  School  Trustee  and  the  first  Super- 
visor of  Manteno  Township.  He  was  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  to  organize  the  county,  and  served 
as  Postmaster  of  Manteno  under  Buchanan's  ad- 
ministration. Five  sons  and  five  daughters  were 
born  to  Daniel  and  Sarah  Beedy,  all  of  \vhoin  were 
married  and  had  children  of  their  own  before  the 
death  of  their  parents.  They  are  as  follows:  Pe- 
ninah  J.,  Mercy  Ann,  Austin  D.,  Langdon  J., 
Sarah  L.,  Wesley  C,  Nathan  S.,  Aurelia  M.,  Henry 
J.  and  Fannie  E. 

Henry  .1.  Beedy,  our  subject,  was  the  youngest 
boy  in  his  father's  family,  and  remained  at  home 
until  reaeiiing  mature  years.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  district  schools.  AVhen  he  was  about 
twenty  years  of  age  his  father  assisted  him  to 
make  a  start  in  business  life,  but  until  the  death 
of  the  latter  he  continued  to  superintend  the  old 
homestead.  On  the  18th  of  October,  1865,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Emil3'  E.  Hatch. 
Her  father,  Charles  P.  Hatch,  is  of  English  descent, 
and  her  mother,  who  was  in  her  maidenhood 
Lj'dia  Taylor,  is  of  Scotch  origin.  Two  daughters 
and  three  sons  have  blessed  the  union  of  INIr.  and 
Mrs.  Beedy.  Cora  I.  is  the  wife  of  Ilarvej'  A. 
Lockie,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  two  and  a-half 
miles  north  of  Manteno;  they  have  one  child,  a 
son,  Lloyd  B.  The  other  members  of  the  family 
are  Clarence  IL,  Angle  E.,  Vennis  G.  and  \'erner 
E.  (twins). 

Mr.  Beedy  is  now  engaged    in   running  a  stock 

farm,  and  buys  and  raises  both  horses  and  cattle. 

He  has    at  present  one   hundred  head    of   cattle, 

all  of  which  he  has  raised,  and  some  of  which  are 

.  of  the  Red  Polled  variety.     Mr.   Beedy   has  just 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIDCAL  RECORD. 


675 


finished  the  erection  of  a  large  new  residence,  built 
in  modern  style,  and  which  is  one  of  the  finest 
farmhouses  in  the  county. 

Our  subject  is  not  a  member  of  any  church  or 
secret  society,  but  his  wife  has  a  brother  who  is  a 
Baptist  minister,  and  her  sister's  husband  is  a  min- 
ister of  tiie  Congrega'tional  Church.  For  many 
years  Mr.  licedy  has  been  Scliool  Director,  and  has 
also  held  tlie  ollice  of  Highway  Commissioner.  lie 
is  generous  and  public-spirited,  and  has  been  quite 
active  in  securing  for  Manteno  Township  some  of 
the  best  countr}-  roads  to  be  found  in  the  State. 
Politicallj',  he  is  a  Democrat,  having  cast  his  first 
Presidential  vote  for  Douglas  and  his  last  for 
Grover  Cleveland.  He  owns  a  fine  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  eighty  acres,  the  most  of  which  has 
been  acquired  by  his  own  industry  and  good  man- 
agement. 


ICHAEL  B.  LAWRENCE,  who  is  engaged 
in  farming  on  sections  14  and  23,  Manteno 
Township,  was  born  in  Dearborn  County, 
Ind.,  just  north  of  Lawrenceburgh,  which 
is  the  county  seat,  and  which  was  named  after  his 
grandfather,  who  was  the  first  settler  there.  He 
was  a  farmer,  and  his  death  occurred  in  Dearborn 
County.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
Michael  Bottenberg,  was  a  minister  in  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  and  was  quite  a  musician.  He 
reared  a  family'  of  seven  children,  and  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty-six  years. 

The  parents  of  our  subject  were  .James  and  Mary 
C.  (Bottenberg)  Lawrence.  The  father  was  born 
in  Beaver  County,  Pa.,  in  1803,  while  the  mother, 
a  native  of  Maryland,  was  born  in  1812.  When  a 
lad  of  about  fifteen  j'cars  James  Lawrence  went  with 
his  parents  to  Indiana.  He  was  reared  upon  a  farm, 
and  thus  his  attention  was  early  turned  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  He  was  made  Tax  Collector  of 
Dearborn  County,  Ind.,  when  (piite  a  young  man. 
In  September,  18G2,  he  bought  a  farm  about  eight 
miles  northeast  of  Ottawa,  in  La  Salle  County,  111., 
where  he  lived  for  four  years.     He  was  smitten  by 


the  hand  of  death  February  28,  1858,  at  which 
time  he  was  lifty-four  _vears  and  six  months  of  age. 
In  Dcceniliei-  of  tiiat  year  his  faithful  wife  and 
com|)anion  was  also  called  to  her  final  rest.  Their 
family  comprised  seven  sons  and  two  daughters, 
of  whom  but  four  are  living:  Elizabeth,  who  resides 
with  her  sister  Rosanna,  wife  of  Samuel  .1.  Law- 
rence, of  Ncoga,  Cumberland  Count}',  111.;  Michael 
B.;  and  Philip,  who  is  engaged  in  the  poultry 
business  in  Douglass,  Kan. 

Mr.  Lawrence  of  this  sketch  was  born  .lanuary 
23,  1837,  and  passed  his  bo3hood  days  on  a  farm. 
His  schooling  was  obtained  in  both  the  Indiana 
and  Illinois  district  and  common  schools.  On  the 
28th  of  May,  18G  t,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Margaret  Tritley.  Her  father,  .Tohn  P.  Trif- 
le}', was  born  in  Switzerland,  October  1,  1808, and 
when  about  eight  3'ears  of  age  accompanied  his 
parents  to  the  United  States.  At  St.  Peter's,  St. 
Charles  County,  Mo.,  he  married.  May  22,  1832, 
Miss  Margaret  Bernard,  who  was  born  in  St.  Peter's 
January  30,  1802.  Her  father,  who  was  one  of  the 
very  first  settlers  in  that  section,  was  an  Indian 
trader.  He  came  into  possession  of  a  tract  of  land 
which  now  lies  in  the  heart  of  Peoria.  111.,  and 
which  rightfully  belongs  to  his  heirs.  In  1849 
Mr.  Tritley  emigrated  to  La  Salle  Count}',  111.,  and 
in  1866  came  to  Manteno.  He  still  lives  at  the 
age  of  eiglit}'-five  years  and  is  quite  rugged,  his 
home  being  with  Mrs.  Lawrence.  His  wife  died 
December  13,  1868.  Of  their  seven  children,  three 
live.  Mary  L.,  wife  of  J.  S.  Eddy,  resides  at  F'air- 
bury,  111.  Alvina  is  the  wife  of  Philip  B.  Lawrence, 
of  Douglass,  Kan.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawrence  have  six 
children.  Vernon  W.  is  engaged  in  the  dairy  and 
stock  business  with  his  father;  George  R.,  who 
married  Alice  Herendien,  is  in  the  crayon  portrait 
business  at  Englewood,  111.,  with  the  National  Art 
Compan}';  Nellie  J.  is  a  dressmaker  of  Manteno; 
Emma  C.  is  at  home;  Laura  M.  is  a  successful 
teacher  in  the  Manteno  schools;  Clara  L.  is  also  at 
home. 

In  September,  1868,  Mr.  Lawrence  came  to  Kan- 
kakee County,  settling  upon  the  farm  which  be- 
longed to  his  father-in-law,  John  P.  Tritley.  This 
tract  consisted  of  eighty  acres,  which  our  subject 
purchased   in    1875,  and    to    which    he    h.as   since 


676 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


added  an  adjoining  eighty  acres.  The  farm  is 
well  improved  with  a  good  house,  barn  and  farm 
buildings.  It  is  located  about  a  mile  and  a-half 
east  of  Mantcno,  and  is  well  tiled.  In  addition 
to  general  farming  Mr.  Lawrence  both  feeds  and 
raises  stock  extensively. 

For  the  past  seventeen  years  our  subject  has 
held  the  office  of  School  Director,  and  for  two 
years  served  as  Collector  of  Taxes  for  the  township. 
He  is  a  thorough  Republican,  and  has  voted  that 
ticket  continuously  since  casting  his  first  ballot  for 
Abraham  Lincoln  until  the  present  time.  He  is 
not  a  member  of  any  church  organization,  but  his 
wife  belongs  to  the  Catholic  Church.  The  family 
is  held  in  high  esteem  in  the  surrounding  neigh- 
borhood. 


^= 


E^ 


^  OHN  CROZH^^R,  formerly  an  extensive 
farmer  of  Ganier  Township,  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Kankakee.  He  is  a  native  of  the 
Keystone  State,  his  birth  occurring  in  Har- 
risburg  on  the  16th  of  May,  1825.  His  parents 
were  James  and  Mary  (Woods)  Crozier,  both  na- 
tives of  the  Emerald  Isle.  The}'  emigrated  to 
America  about  1824,  locating  in  Harrisburg,  Pa. 
His  life  occupation  was  that  of  a  weaver,  and  his 
death  occurred  in  1874.  The  inothcr  of  our  sub- 
ject was  called  to  her  final  home  in  1858.  By  her 
marriage  she  had  become  the  mother  of  four  chil- 
dren, of  wliom  our  subject  is  the  eldest;  James  is 
a  contractor  of  Topeka,  Kan.;  Margaret  became 
the  wife  of  John  McElroy,  and  died  in  1876;  and 
Mary  I.,  the  wife  of  John  Hood,  makes  her  home 
in  Monmouth,  111. 

When  ten  j-ears  of  age,  John  Crozier  went  with 
his  parents  from  Pennsylvania  to  Jefferson  County, 
Ind.,  in  1835.  He  assisted  his  father  in  opening  up 
a  farm  in  the  woods,  which  meant  much  hard  work. 
He  attended  the  district  schools  but  is  largely  self- 
educated.  He  remained  in  that  county  about  eigh- 
teen years  and  then  accompanied  his  father  to 
La  Porte  Countj',  Ind.,  where  they  rented  land.  In 
1855,  they  came  to  Kankakee  County  and  bought 


one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Bourbon- 
nais  Township,  upon  which  he  lived  and  to  which 
he  devoted  his  energies  until  1881,  at  wliich  time 
he  sold  the  farm  and  purchased  the  one  in  Ganier 
Township.  His  property  consisted  of  five  hun- 
dred acres  on  section  30  and  there  he  carried  on 
general  farming  and  stock-raising,  being  an  ex- 
tensive dealer  in  horses  and  cattle.  Having  sold 
liis  farm,  Mr.  Crozier  removed  in  1893  to  the  city 
of  Kankakee,  where  he  owns  a  comfortable  home. 
He  is  an  example  of  America's  self-made  men  and 
has  achie\'ed  his  fortune  by  strict  application  and 
correct  business  methods. 

On  the  4th  of  September,  1855,  a  wedding  cere- 
mon_y  was  performed  which  united  the  destinies  of 
Mr.  Crozier  and  Miss  Mary  Jane  Ritchie,  who  was 
born  February  27,  1830,  in  Jefferson  County,  Ind., 
and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Sophia  (Brown) 
Ritchie.  The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crozier  has 
been  blessed  with  eight  children,  two  of  whom  died 
in  infancy.  The  others  are  George,  who  is  a  car. 
penter  of  Kankakee;  Edward,  Charley,  Emory  and 
James,  who  are  at  home;  and  Annie,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Lincoln  Worrel,  a  member  of  the  police 
force  in  Kankakee. 

'Sir.  and  Mrs.  Crozier  and  their  family-  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Metliodist  Church.  In  politics,  our 
subject  is  a  Democrat,  and  though  he  takes  an  ac- 
tive interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  party  he  has 
never  aspired  to  official  positions.  He  possesses 
those  qualities  so  essential  to  success — industry, 
frugality  and  perseverance,  which  have  enabled 
him  to  overcome  the  obstacles  in  his  pathway. 


(TpX-iUFUS    A.  PERRY    is  engaged    in    farming 
IILsij^''    and  stock-raising  on  section   20,  Manteno 
lik  \\\     Township.     He  is  a  native  of  Massachusetts, 
^©1  his  birth  having  occurred  the    19th  of  Oc- 
tober,   1831,  in    Berkskire  County.     His   parents, 
Isaac  and  Nancy  (Carpenter)  Perry,  were  both  of 
English  descent  and  also  natives  of  the  Ba}'  State 
The  Perry  familj'  to  which  our  subject  belongs 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPmCAL  RECORD 


677 


was  founded  in  America  in  1648,  by  Anthonj' 
;iiid  Elizabeth  Peny,  who  came  from  England. 
The  great-grandfather  of  Riifus  A.  Peny  bore  the 
name  Ichabod.  He  married  Ruth  Fisher,  and  tlieir 
son,  Isaac  Perry,  Sr.,  who  was  born  in  Attlebor- 
ougli,  Mass.,  August  20,  1757,  married  Philena 
hinc'oln.  She  was  born  in  Taunton,  Mass.,  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1760.  Isaac  Perry,  Jr.,  tlic  father  of  our 
isubjecl,  was  one  of  six  children,  and  was  born  in 
Attleborough,  Mass.,  October  27,  1780.  His  wife, 
Nancy  Carpenter,  was  born  at  Savoy,  Mass.,  March 
12,  1794.  Her  great-grandfather,  Daniel  Carpenter, 
served  in  the  French  and  Indian  AVar.  His  son, 
Elisha,  who  w\as  a  gunsmith  bv  trade,  married  Es- 
ther Greenwood,  and  of  this  union  lieujamin,  the 
father  of  Nanc}'  Carpenter,  was  born,  .September 
II.  1768.  He  married  Nanc3'  Fisher,  of  Williams- 
burgh,  Mass.,  who  was  born  March  31,  1770. 

Both  grandfathers  of  our  subject  were  farmers 
by  occupation  in  JNIassachusetts,  and  Benjamin 
Car|)enter  reared  a  family  of  fourteen  children, 
none  of  whom  now  survive.  Five  children,  tiiree 
sons  and  two  daughters,  were  born  to  Isaac  Perry 
and  his  wife.  Philena  married  Joliu  Edgerton, 
whose  death  occurred  in  Tioga  County,  Oln'o,  about 
the  year  1884.  Their  family'  comprised  six  chil- 
dren: Mary,  Oeorge,  AVayland,  Lucy,  Almon  and 
Carrie.  Linus  married  Miss  Achsah  Thayer,  who 
died  in  Massachusetts.  They  had  a  son  .and  daugh- 
ter, Benjamin  and  Eva.  Benjamin  died  at  the 
age  of  eleven  years.  Rufus  A.  is  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  Elizabeth  completes  the  family.  The 
father  of  these  children  died  in  Massachusetts,  at 
the  age  of  fift3'-four  years,  in  February,  1835. 

Cntil  about  sixteen  3ears  of  age  Rufus  Perr\-  re- 
sided with  his  mother.  He  tiien  started  out  in  life 
for  himself,  and  for  several  3'ears  worked  for  neigh- 
boring farmers  by  the  month.  His  school  privi- 
leges were  quite  limited  and  his  education  was 
mainl3'  .-icquired  in  the  district  schools.  In  the  fall 
(if  18.')6  he  emigrated  to  Ohio,  and  lived  there  for 
iiliout  three  years.  In  the  si)ring  of  18;j',)  became 
West  to  Illinois,  and  carried  on  a  farm  while  liv- 
ing in  the  village  of  Manteno  for  some  years.  In 
1.S63  he  purch.ased  two  hundred  acres  of  land  two 
:iiid  a-half  miles  southwest  of  Manteno,  and  since 
lliat  time  he  has  devoted  his  entire  time  and  atten- 


tion to  its  improvement  and  cultivation.  His 
principal  occupation  is  that  of  general  farming, 
but  lie  also  raises  and  deals  in  cattle  and  hogs. 

On  the  19th  of  .lanuaiy,  1869,  the  destinies  of 
Mr.  Perry  and  Miss  Emma  Gilkcrson  were  united 
by  a  marriage  ceremony.  Mrs.  Perr3'  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Agnes  G.  (Warden)  Gilkcrson,  res- 
idents of  this  count3'.  By  her  marriage  she  has 
become  the  mother  of  two  daughters.  Lizzie  N. 
is  the  wife  of  David  McEwan,  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, now  located  in  Winfield,  Iowa.  Mr.  McEwan 
had  a  son,  David,  by  a  former  marriage,  and  to  him- 
self and  present  wife  has  been  born  a  daughter, 
Emma.  Agnes,  our  subject's  other  daughter,  lives 
at  home  with  her  parents. 

For  over  thirty  years,  Mr.  Perry  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Manteno  Township,  and  has  been  a  witness 
of  vast  changes  in  this  vicinit3'.  With  his  good 
wife's  assistance  and  liis  own  energ3'  and  econoraj-, 
he  li.as  accumulated  a  good  property  and  a  comfort- 
able competence.  In  his  political  preference  he  is 
a  Republican  and  uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  fa- 
vor of  the  nominees  and  measures  of  that  part3'. 
All  the  famil3'  are  members  of  the  Presb3'torian 
Church. 


NTOINE  CHEFFRE  is  a  retired  farmer 
residing  in  St.  Anne.  He  is  a  native  of 
Montreal,  Canada,  in  which  cit3'  his  birth 
occurred  on  the  15th  of  June,  1828.  Ilis 
parents,  who  were  also  natives  of  Canada,  were 
Joseph  and  Argette  (La  Vine)  Cheffre.  The  father 
of  the  former,  also  named  Joseph,  was  born  in 
France,  and  afterwards  emigrated  to  Canada,  wliere 
he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  The  mater- 
nal grandfather  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Can- 
ada, and  was  also  a  farmer  b3'  occupation.  He  lived 
to  be  seventy-two  3'ears  of  age. 

The  fatlier  was  a  stone-cutter,  .as  were  also  all  of 
his  sons.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1851,  and  settled 
upon  a  farm  one  mile  east  of  St.  Anne,  which  he 
cultivated  for  twent3-  3'ears.     He  then    sold    this 


678 


i-OKTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


property  and  located  in  Kankakee,  where  for  four 
years  lie  engaged  in  baying  and  selling  wood  and 
stone.  Returning  to  St.  Anne,  lie  made  his  home 
with  his  son  Joseph  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
a  number  of  j-earsago,  when  he  had  reached  the  age 
of  sevent3'-four  years.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the 
War  of  1812.  The  death  of  his  wife  occurred 
about  five^ears  subsequent  to  that  of  her  husband. 
Their  family  consisted  of  twelve  children,  ten 
sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  seven  sons  are 
still  living. 

Antoine  Cheffre  passed  his  b03hood  and  j'outh 
in  Canada,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a  stone- 
mason. With  his  family  he  went  to  Syracuse,  N.Y., 
in  1841,  where  he  lived  for  seven  years.  AVith 
them  he  returned  to  Canada,  and  after  remaining 
tliere  two  years  came  west  to  Illinois  with  his 
brother  Joseph.  They  landed  in  Chicago  in  18.50, 
where  they  stayed  until  the  following  j'ear. 
Coming  to  St.  Anne,  they  together  purchased  the 
farm  for  their  father,  upon  which  he  afterwards 
lived  for  a  score  of  years.  Thej'  then  sent  for 
him  to  come  with  his  family  from  Montreal,  which 
he  did,  arriving  the  same  year. 

In  October,  18.53,  Mr.  Cheffre  was  married  to 
Miss  Margaret,  daughter  of  Francis  and  Margaret 
(Bouchej')  Morsett,  both  natives  of  Canada. 
Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  five  sons  and 
two  daughters,  three  of  whom  are  now  deceased. 
Those  living  are  .Joseph,  who  married  Miss  Isadore, 
daughter  of  Max  St.  Peter.  They  have  six  chil- 
dren: Eddie,  Emma,  Walter,  Ruby  and  an  infant, 
and  reside  a  mile  and  .a-half  northwest  of  St.  Anne. 
Edward  married  Miss  Nena  St.  Peter,  and  they 
have  one  son,  Medd}'.  Their  home  is  in  St.  Anne. 
Frederick  wedded  Miss  Leona  Dumautil,  and  two 
sons,  Harry  and  Elmer,  have  blessed  their  union. 
Francis  wedded  Miss  Rosalie  Varboncaque,  and 
to  them  have  been  born  Max  and  Dora.  The  three 
younger  children,  Dennis,  Mary  and  Olive,  are 
deceased. 

When  Mr.  Cheffre  settled  in  tliis  vicinity,  the 
country  was  wild  and  but  little  inhabited.  Wild 
game  of  all  kinds  abounded,  and  even  in  the  city 
limits  of  Chicago  wild  fowl  were  often  shot.  Our 
subject  owns  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land 
in    Iroquois   County,    three   miles    south    of    St. 


Anne,  and  also  owns  his  pleasant  and  comfortable 
residence  in  that  village.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  French  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
in  regard  to  politics,  he  is  a  stalwart  Republican. 


^^- 


'if  ACOB  OBRECHT,  Deputy  Sheriff  of  Kan- 
kakee County,  now  residing  in  the  city 
of  Kankakee,  is  one  of  the  185.3  pioneers 
of  tills  county.  He  was  born  in  Alsace, 
France,  now  Germany,  on  the  12th  of  December, 
1832,  and  is  a  son  of  Michael  and  Magdelena 
(Filweber)  Obrecbt,  who  were  also  natives  of  that 
country.  The  father  was  born  on  the  29th  of 
September,  St.  Michael's  da}',  (hence  his  name), 
1802.  He  married  in  his  native  country,  and 
emigrated  to  America  with  his  family,  leaving 
Alsace  on  Easter  Monday-,  1842.  They  traveled 
by  their  own  conveyance  to  Havre,  and  took  pas- 
sage on  a  sailing-vessel  for  New  York,  where  they 
landed  after  a  V03age  of  fifty-flve  days.  Thcj' 
reached  Chicago  in  October  of  that  year,  going  by 
canal  from  New  York  to  Buffalo,  and  from  thereby 
the  Lakes  on  a  steamer  to  Chicago.  The  father 
had  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in  North  field 
Township,  Cook  County.  They  spent  eleven 
years  on  that  farm,  and  then,  removing  to  Kanka- 
kee County,  settled  in  Salina  Township,  where  the 
father  still  resides,  now  past  ninety  years  of  age 
The  wife  and  mother  died  in  May,  1878.  There 
were  ten  children  in  the  family,  seven  sons  and 
three  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living  with  the 
exception  of  one  son,  who  was  a  member  of  Com- 
pany I,  Seventy -sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  died 
from  wounds  received  in  the  war. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  attended  public  schools 
and  was  brought  up  on  a  farm.  He  was  married 
in  Kankakee  County,  in  September,  18,54,  to  Miss 
Susanna  Hertz,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
(McWay)  Hertz.  Mrs.  Obrecht  was  born  in  Berks 
County,  Pa.,  and  by  her  marriage  became  the 
mother  of  five  children,  of  whom  three  only  are 
living.  Annie  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years; 
Hannah  is  now  Mrs.  George  Buehler,  and   lives  in 


I 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

MNIVERSn  Y  OF  ILLINOIS 


-3> 


ry-o 


Adeline     Noble 


LIBRARY 

OP  THE 

HMtVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


68:? 


I.e  Mars,  Iowa;  Frank  51.  died  at  the  age  of  seven 
years;  Ellen  V.  is  tlie  wife  of  George  Oberlin,  of 
I'ilot  Township,  Kani<akee  County;  and  Mary 
Alice  became  the  wife  of  George  F.  Keller,  and  rc- 
i^ides  in  Willow  Springs,  Cook  County,  111.  Mrs. 
Olireeht,  who  was  a  consistent  member  of  the 
(ierman  Evangelical  Churcii,  died  in  February, 
KS7'J. 

Mr.  Obrocht  has  been  engaged  in  farming  since 
his  arrival  in  Kankakee  County, except  while  en- 
gaged in  his  ollicial  duties,  and  now  has  a  farm  of 
eighty  acres  in  Salina  Township.  He  is  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  has  held  various  township 
offices,  besides  being  Sheriff  and  Deputy  Sheriff  of 
the  county  for  several  years.  He  served  in  the 
latter  capacity  for  one  year  under  II.  K.  Durham, 
.ind  for  two  years  under  J.  W.  Burgess,  beginning  in 
1859.  In  1862,Mr.Obrecbt  was  elected  Sheriff,  and 
served  for  two  years,  after  which  he  returned  to  his 
farm,  but  again  accepted  the  position  of  Deputy 
Sheriff,  and  iias  served  under  Sheriff  A.  J.  Byrns 
since  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  tiiat  office,  on 
the  1st  of  December,  1890.  Mr.  Obrecht  makes  a 
capable  and  faithful  officer,  and  is  experienced  in 
his  duties.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
(German  Evangelical  Church. 


^  AD  NOBLE,  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of 
this  county  residing  on   section    22,  Rock- 

i^j  ville  Townshif),  is  a  native  of  Massachusetts. 
He  was  born  in  Hamlin  County,  June  20,1811, 
and  is  a  son  of  Elisha  and  Emily  (Levvis)  Noble. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  the  old  Bay  State,  and 
was  of  English  descent.  He  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation and  followed  that  business  throughout 
his  entire  life.  Himself  and  wife  were  both  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church;  both  died  manj-  years 
ago.  Their  family  numbered  five  children.  Cath- 
erine, the  eldest,  became  the  wife  of  William  Hike, 
and  died  in  1880.  Augustus  died  in  1882.  Elisha, 
a  mason  by  trade  and  now  a  retired  farmer,  is  liv- 
ing in  Joliet,  111.  Nathan  is  engaged  in  farming 
in  the  old  Ba)-  State;  and  Charles  is  also  deceased. 

31 


We  now  take  up  the  pei-sonal  history  of  our 
subject,  who  was  born  and  reared  upon  his  father's 
farm,  spending  his  childhood  days  in  the  usual 
manner  of  farmer  lads.  He  received  a  good  busi- 
ness education,  attending  scliool  at  intervals  until 
he  had  attained  his  majority.  From  the  age  of 
eighteen  he  has  earned  his  own  livelihood.  He 
commenced  life  for  himself  by  working  as  a  farm 
iiand  for  -^9  per  month,  and  was  thus  employed  for 
two  seasons.  He  then  turned  his  attention  to  other 
pursuits.  Securing  a  position  in  an  axe  factory  he 
was  there  employed  for  about  three  years,  after 
which  he  purchased  a  farm  near  the  old  home. 
There  he  resided  until  1811. 

The  scene  of  our  subject's  labors  then  changed. 
That  j'ear  witnessed  his  arrival  in  what  is  now 
Kankakee,  but  w.-is  then  a  part  of  Will  County. 
He  made  the  journe}'  by  way  of  the  Lakes,  and  at 
length  reached  his  destination.  At  that  time  the 
land  in  this  section  had  not  yet  come  into  market. 
However,  it  was  placed  on  sale  the  same  year,  and 
Mr.  Noble  purchased  a  wild  tract  of  one  hundred 
and  eighty  acres,  comprising  the  farm  on  which  he 
yet  resides.  In  those  early  days  he  endured  all 
the  hardships  and  privations  of  frontier  life.  He 
hauled  grain  to  market  in  Chicago,  for  there  were 
no  near  markets,  and  the  cities  of  Kankakee  and 
Manteno  were  then  unknown.  Wild  game  of  all 
kinds  was  very  plentiful,  including  deer,  of  which 
he  has  seen  as  man}-  as  eighty  in  one  herd.  Mr. 
Noble  at  once  began  the  development  of  his  land, 
and  acre  after  acre  was  placed  under  the  plow  un- 
til the  whole  amount  was  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  He  also  made  many  improvements 
upon  the  place  until  his  farm  became  one  of  the 
best  in  the  community.  He  carried  on  farming  suc- 
cessfully for  many  years,  but  though  he  still  lives 
on  the  old  homestead,  is  now  living  a  retired  life. 

Mr.  Noble  was  married  on  the  4th  of  April, 
1836,  to  Miss  Adeline  Noble,  and  b)'  their  union 
were  born  five  children,  but  three  are  now  de- 
ceased: Mary  A.  died  April  7,  1867;  Weslej',  April 
6,  1868;  and  Lewis  G.,  August  8,  1865,  in  the 
service  of  his  country.  Ciiarles  is  now  engaged  in 
farming  in  Rockville  Township;  and  Henry  is  liv- 
ing  in  Florida.  The  mother  of  this  family  was 
.  called  to  the  home  beyond  on  the  17th  of  .Tanuary, 


684 


POETRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


1889.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Chiivch, 
and  was  a  lady  whose  man}'  excellencies  of  char- 
acter won  for  her  the  high  esteem  of  her  friends 
and  acquaintances. 

Mr.  Noble  is  also  a  member  of  tlie  Methodist 
Church  and  a  faithful  worker  in  the  Master's  vine- 
yard. He  takes  quite  an  active  interest  in  politi- 
cal affairs,  and  is  now  a  supporter  of  the  Prohibi- 
tion party.  His  residence  in  this  county  covers  a 
^period  of  more  than  half  a  century.  He  is  one  of 
'  its  oldest  settlers,  and  has  watched  its  growth  and 
upbuilding  from  the  days  of  its  early  infanc.y. 
But  he  has  not  only  been  an  eye-witness  of  its  ad- 
vancement, fo)'  in  all  possible  ways  he  has  aided 
in  its  development,  and  in  the  promotion  of  its 
leading  enterprises  he  has  ever  borne  his  part. 


A.T.  AVALTER  \Y.  TODD,  a  veteran  of  tlie 
late  war  and  a  representative  of  one  of 
the  pioneer  families  of  Kankakee  Count}', 
a  famil}'  which  located  here  nearly  twenty 
years  before  the  count}'  was  organized,  is  one  of 
the  oldest  native  citizens  residing  within  its  bor- 
ders. He  was  born  on  February  27,  1840,  in  what 
is  now  Rockville  Township,  Kankakee  County,  but 
at  that  time  was  a  part  of  Will  County.  An  ex- 
tended sketch  of  his  father,  Dr.  Hiram  Todd,  who 
settled  in  the  Kankakee  Valley  in  18.35,  is  given 
on  another  page  of  this  woik. 

Maj.  Todd  was  reared  upon  a  farm,  where  he 
laid  the  foundation  of  a  strong  phj'sical  manhood, 
which  was  destined  not  onl\'  to  serve  personal  in- 
terests, but  was  to  be  a  support  to  his  country  in 
her  hour  of  direst  need.  The  sciiolastic  training 
of  young  Walter  was  superior  for  those  early  da3'S, 
when  most  boys  completed  their  education  in  the 
district  schools.  After  attending  there,  he  spent 
a  year  in  Racine  College,  of  Racine,  Wis.  His  lit- 
erary education  was  completed  in  Aurora,  111.,  where 
he  began  the  study  of  law,  preparatory  to  enter- 
ing the  Albany  (N.  Y.)  Law  School.  Subsequently 
he  attended  a  commercial  college  in  Chicago. 
About  this  time  the  great  Rebellion  broke  out,  and 


business,  professional  and  commercial,  became  a 
secondar}'  consideration.  Our  national  existence 
was  imperilled;  who  would  go  to  its  support? 

Full  of  youth  and  enthusiasm,  young  Todd,  hav- 
ing just  reached  his  majority,  enlisted  in  the  fall 
of  18C1    in  the  Fourth  Illinois   Cavalry.     Return- 
ing home,  he  raised  a  company  in  his  old  neighbor- 
hood, of  which  he  was  chosen  captain  by  acclama- 
tion in  July,   1862.     On    the  22d  of  August  fol- 
lowing, this  conipan}'  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  as  Company  I,  Sevent3'-sixth  Illi- 
nois Infantry.     In  all  the  marches  of  the  Seventy- 
sixth  Regiment,  until  some  time  after  the  sif   e   of 
Yicksburg,  Capt.  Todd  led  his  com  pan}-.     He   was 
in  command  of  the  regiment  for  three  days  on  the 
Trinity  raid,  across  the  river  from  Natchez,  in  July, 
1863,  by  special  order  of  Maj.-Gcn.  Crocker,  whc 
was  in  command.     At  that  city,  Ca[)t.  Todd  waS 
elected    by   the   oflieers    of    his    regiment   Major,; 
and  his  commission,   signed  bj'  Gov.  Yates,  tooh 
rank  June  27,  1863.     With  his  regiment  he  served 
in  the  Meridian  campaign,  the  expedition  into  ArJ 
kansas,  and   the  exi)edition  up  the  Yazoo  RiverJ 
In  the  summer  of  1864,  he  was  appointed  Inspector-^ 
General  and  Cliief  of  Infantry  of  the  Second  Di 
vision.  Nineteenth  Army  Corps,  bj'  Gen.  Reynoldsj 
and  subsequently  Inspector-(Jeneral  of  the  Second 
Brigade,    Mississippi    Reserve  Corps,  from  whicB 
he  was  relieved  by  his  own  request  at  Ft.  GainesJ 
Ala.,  in  the  spring  of  1865.     Thereupon  he  joined 
his  regiment  at  Ft.  Barrancas.     AtPensacola,  Ma| 
Todd  was   detailed  to  report  to  Gen.  Granger   a,i 
Ft.  ]Morgan,  at  the  mouth  of  Mobile  Bay,  as  In-^ 
spector-General   of    the  Thirteenth    Arm\'  CorpsJ 
The  distance  around  an   arm  of  the  Imy,  in  going 
from  Pensacola  to  Ft.  Barrancas   where   he  was 
embark,  was  about  twelve  miles.     Not  willing tha 
Maj.  Todd   should   go  that    distance   alone,  GenI 
Andrews  sent  as  escort  from  his  bod^'-guard  a  serj 
geant  and  nine  men  with  him,  being  a  part  of  thej 
Second  Maine  Cavalry.     One  of  the  men  suggeste(j 
that  they  ride  across  on  a  sand  bar,  as  the  water  wa 
not  very  deep,  and  thus,  for  some  six  miles,  the! 
traveled  through  the  water,  sometimes  mid-high 
the  liorses,  which  feat  gave  them  the  appearance,  td 
one  on  shore,  of  going  to  sea  on  horseback.     Maj 
Todd  remained  on  Gen.  Granger's  statf  until  aftej 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


685 


tlie  fall  of  Mobile,  when  he  was  relieved  to  com- 
mand his  regiment,  the  Colonel  having  been  wouud- 
ed.and  the  Lieutenant-Colonel  being  sick.  Though 
the  war  was  practically  over,  the  Seventy -sixth  was 
sent  for  a  time  to  Selma,then  to  Mobile,  and  finally 
to  Galveston,  Tex.,  where  they  were  mustered  for 
discharge,  but  were  finally  discharged  and  paid  off 
at  Chicago  August  4,  1865.  The  chief  conflicts 
in  which  Maj.  Todd  took  part  were  the  northern 
Mississippi  campaign,  the  siege  and  capture  of 
Vicksburg  and  Jackson  (Miss.),  Trinity  and  Clin- 
ton (La.),  second  raid  on  Jackson  in  1864,  siege 
of  Ft.  Blakely,  Spanish  Fort  and  the  capture  of 
Mobile. 

With  the  soldier's  true  reward — consciousness  of 
duty  well  performed — Maj.  Todd  returned  home, 
and  until  1873  devoted  his  energies  to  farming. 
Politically  he  has  always  been  a  Republican,  and 
lias  taken  an  active  interest  and  part  in  the  affairs 
of  his  county.  For  two  terms  he  served  as  Super- 
visor from  Rockville  Township.  In  1873  he  w.as 
elected  County  Clerk,  holding  the  oltlce  for  one 
term,  and  in  1880  was  elected  County  Treasurer, 
which  position  lie  held  six  years.  From  1886  un- 
til 1891  he  was  engaged  in  the  hardware  business, 
but  is  now  looking  after  his  farms  and  dealing  in 
real  estate.  Socially  he  belongs  to  Whipple  Post 
No.  414,  G.  A.  R.,  Department  of  Illinois,  of  Kan- 
kakee; Kankakee  Lodge  No.  389,  A.  F.  ife  A.  M.; 
Kankakee  Chapter  No.  78,  R.  A.  M;  Ivanhoe  Com- 
mandery  No.  33,  K.  T.,  of  Kankakee;  Grove  Cit^- 
Council,  R.  A.;  and  King's  Forest  Camp,  M.  W.  A. 

In  Westchester,  Ohio,  November  19,  1868,  Alaj. 
Todd  and  INliss  Sena  Gerard  were  united  in  mar- 
riage. The  lady,  who  is  the  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Maria  Geraid,  is  a  native  of  Newtown,  Hamilton 
County,  Ohio.  At  the  time  of  her  marriage  she 
was  a  teacher,  having  come  to  Kankakee  County 
in  1867.  Of  this  union  were  born  three  children: 
Laura,  a  graduate  of  the  Kankakee  High  School; 
Church  Gerard,  who  is  in  the  Chicago  National 
liank  of  Chicago;  and  Hiram  Eugene,  who  is  also 
a  graduate  of  the  Kankakee  High  School. 

Maj.  Todd  and  his  wife  and  children  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  He  has  ever  been 
public-spirited  and  progressive,  ready  at  all  times 
te  bear  his  part  in  whatever  tends  to  benefit  the 


community.     For  five  years  he  served  as  Treasurer 

of  the  Kankakee  County  Agricultural  Society;  he 
h.as  also  served  on  the  School  Board  of  Kankakee, 
and  for  four  years  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  for  the  Eastern  Illinois  Hospital  for  the 
Insane,  his  term  closing  with  the  change  of  ad- 
ministration in  1893.  As  a  soldier,  citizen  and 
otlicial,  Maj.  Todd  has  ever  been  found  faithful  to 
the  duties  and  obligations  devolving  upon  him, 
and  while  he  doubtless  has  enemies,  as  every  maiu 
called  into  public  life  must  have,  the}'  are  remark- 
ably few,  and  are  such  from  political,  rather  than 
personal  reasons.  For  over  fifty-three  years  Mr. 
Todd  has  been  a  resident  of  Kankakee  County, 
and  there  are  few  men  better  known  or  more  gener- 
ally liked  than  he. 

When  the  first  militia  company  was  organized 
at  Kankakee  in  1883,  Company  H,  Fourth  Illinois 
National  Guards,  now  Company  L,  Third  Illinois 
National  Guards,  he  generously  waived  his  rank, 
worthily  earned  in  active  service  in  the  war,  and 
accejited  a  commission  as  captain  of  this  company, 
taking  it  to  the  Slate  encarai)ment  at  Springfield, 
and  remaining  with  it  until  quartered  in  the  arm- 
ory built  for  it,  when  he  resigned. 


^ 


^  OHN  F.  CAMPBELL  is  an  extensive  farmer 
residing  on  section  20,  Sumner  Township. 
In  addition  to  four  hundred  and  forty  acres 
in  his  home  farm,  he  owns  about  sixteen 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  in  Iowa,  Kansas  and  Illi- 
nois, and  raises  and  deals  extensively  m  horses 
and  cattle. 

Our  subject  was  born  in  Fountain  County,  Ind., 
on  the  20th  of  October,  1840,  and  is  a  son  of 
James  Camplx'U,  who  was  of  Scotch  extraction  and 
a  native  of  Ohio.  His  mother,  who  was  Priscilla 
Mick  in  her  maidenhood,  w.as  of  German  descent, 
and  born  in  Kentucky.  Mr.  Campbell  was  an  ac- 
tive and  extensive  farmer,  and  for  half  a  century 
was  a  Methodist  minister,  taking  up  that  calling 
when  but  twenty-three  years  of  age.     About  1826 


686 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


he  removed  from  Ohio  to  Fountain  County,  Ind., 
where  he  was  among  the  earl}'  settlers,  and   where, 
in  addition  to  carr\'ing  on  a  farm,  he  was   a  local 
preacher.     His  marriage   was   celebrated  in    1836, 
and   for  twenty  j-ears  his  home   was   in    Indiana. 
About    1846    Mr.    Campbell    went    to    Crete,   111., 
which  was  his  place  of  residence  for  four  j'ears,  af- 
ter which  he  removed  to  what  is  now  Yellowhead 
Township,  this  county,  but   which    was  not   then 
organized.     lie  purchased  a  tract  of  land  of  three- 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  from  speculators,  and  here 
he  lived  for  twenty-one  years.     This  was  unim- 
proved, and  at  the  time  when  he  sold   it,  in    1867, 
he  had  it  placed  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation. 
He  next  bought  a  tract  of  land  in  Sumner  Town- 
ship, and  resided  there  until  188.5,when  he  removed 
to  Grant  Park  and  retired  from   all   business  jjur- 
suits.     He  was  called  from  this  life  on  the  6th  of 
January,  1888,  and  to  his  memory  has  been  erected 
a  beautiful  monument  in  the  Grant  Park  Ceme- 
teiy,    where    by    his    side    reposes    the    wife    and 
mother,  whose  death    occurred    August    7,    1886. 
They  were  both  faithful   and   consistent  members 
of  the  IMethodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  wliich  faith 
they  had  continued  nearly  a  lifetime.     Mr.  Camp- 
bell was  an  old-line  Whig,  and  later  became  a  Re- 
publican.    He  was  a  strong  anti-slavery  man,  and 
fought  in  defense  of  his  countiy,  being  a  member 
of  Company  H,  Seventy-sixth  Illinois  Infantry.  He 
served  his  country  honorably  and  faithfullj-  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  being  Postmaster  of  the  regi- 
ment,    lie  was  with  Gen.  Grant  on  his  Mississi[)pi 
campaign,  and  was  also  activelj'  engaged   in  the 
siege  of  Yicksburg  and   Ft.  Blakel}'.     He    was   a 
valiant  soldier,  as  was  also  his  father,  who  fought 
in    the    War    of   1812,  and  his  grandfather,  who 
served  as  a  soldier  during  the  Revolution. 

John  Campbell  is  the  third  in  order  of  birth  in 
his  father's  family,  which  consisted  of  eleven  cliil- 
dren,  the  eldest  of  whom  is  Clinton  C,  a  business 
man  of  Chicago,  residing  at  Grant  Park;  Eliza- 
beth is  the  wife  of  Alonzo  Curtis,  a  general  mer- 
chant and  banker  of  the  same  place;  William  II.  is 
a  stock-dealer  and  farmer  near  Great  Bend,  Kan.; 
Melville  C.  is  a  commission  merchant  at  the  stock- 
yards, and  carries  on  a  ranch  near  that  city;  Win- 
field  S.  is  a  prominent  .stockman  and   lawyer   liv- 


ing in  Sumner  Township;  Mary  A.  became  the 
wife  of  O.  B.  Campbell,  a  practicing  physician  of 
Cleveland,  Ohio;  Margaret  A.  is  the  wife  of  Ben- 
jamin Garland,  a  stockman,  who  makes  his  home 
in  Caldwell,  Kan.;  James  P.  is  a  prominent  stock- 
raiser  of  Clark  Count}',  Kan.;  and  two  who  died 
in  infanc}'  complete  the  family. 

Mr.  Campbell  of  this  sketch  received  a  good 
common-school  education,  and  was  but  six  j'ears 
of  age  when  his  parents  with  their  family  removed 
to  Illinois.  He  has  always  made  the  most  of  his 
educational  advantages,  and  when  twenty  years 
of  age  began  the  study  of  law.  He  has  been 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  that  profession  since 
1861,  and  with  his  brother  W.  S.  has  an  ofBce  in 
Manteno.  Much  of  his  attention  has  been  de- 
voted to  agricultural  pursuits  and  the  raising  of 
live-stock.  When  eighteen  years  of  age  he  left 
home,  and  for  four  years  rented  land,  much  of  his 
time  being  spent  in  breaking  i)rairie  during  that 
period.  In  1864,  Mr.  Campbell  purchased  the 
farm  which  he  now  owns  on  section  20,  it  at  that 
time  com|)rising  onl}'  eight}-  acres.  He  has  been 
exceptionally  successful  in  his  farming  and  busi- 
ness operations,  and,  as  stated  at  the  beginning 
of  this  sketch,  now  owns  over  two  thousand  acres 
of  land  in  Illinois,  Iowa  and  Kansas. 

Mr.  Campbell  was  married  on  the  4th  of  October, 
1860,  to  Miss  Emily  S.,  daughter  of  Luman  and 
Lucy  Ilewes.  Mr.  Ilewes  was  born  in  Connecti- 
cut, being  of  Welsh  origin.  In  Vermont  he  mar- 
ried Lucy  Elwell,  a  native  of  that  Slate,  and  of 
Welsh  origin.  About  1836  they  came  to  Will 
County,  where  they  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives. 
Mrs.  Canipbell  was  born  in  Will  County,  Septem- 
ber 15,  1839,  and  is  the  youngest  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren,' of  whom  twelve  grew  to  maturity.  By  the 
marriage  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  one  child  was 
born,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Camp- 
bell have  an  adopted  son  and  daughter,  who  are 
brother  and  sister:  Will  E.  lives  at  Gilmore  Citj 
Iowa,  and  Frances  is  the  wife  of  Delbert  Rice 
who  is  an  artist  and  painter  by  trade,  residing  is 
Crete,  111.  Mrs.  Campbell  is  a  member  of  th^ 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Campbell  is  much  interested  in  the  welfar^ 
of  the  party  with  which  he  atliliates,  and  throughl 


Dl 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHTCAL  RECORD. 


687 


out  ttiis  section  he  is  well  known  as  a  stanch  Re- 
pultlican.  Almost  his  entire  life  has  heen  spent  in 
this  county,  in  whose  success  and  development  lie 
has  been  an  important  factor. 


^  R.  GEORGE  C.  MEKRICK,  residing  on 
section  1,5.  IManteno  Township,  is  a  re- 
(p^jj^-  tired  physician  and  merchant.  He  is  a 
native  of  Chautauqua  Count}-,  N.  Y., 
having  been  born  December  11,  1824.  lie  is  a  son 
of  Sylvester  and  Mercy  (Loveland)  Merrick,  the 
former  born  in  Massachusetts,  and  the  latter  m 
Connecticut.  About  twocenturiesago.one  Thomas 
Merrick  emigrated  to  America  from  Wales,  and 
from  him  have  descended  the  Merrick  families  in 
this  country.  Both  of  the  grandparents  of  our  sub- 
ject lived  to  a  good  old  age,  one  being  over  eighty 
and  the  other  being  past  ninety  years  at  the  lime 
of  their  deaths. 

Sylvester  Merrick  followed  the  occupation  of  a 
farmer,  and  was  also  a  singing-teacher  and  band- 
master for  man}'  3'ears.  His  earl}-  life  was  spent 
in  Delaware  County,  N.  Y.,  and  from  there  he 
went  to  Chautauqua  Count)',  his  home  being  near 
Chautauqua  Lake,  where  our  subject  was  born.  In 
1824,  going  West,  he  located  at  Fremont,  Ohio,  fol- 
lowing agricultural  ]>ursuits  in  that  vicinty  for 
fifteen  years.  He  died  there  in  18.')1,  aged  sixty- 
one  years.  He  was  an  hoiiorablc  and  upnght  man, 
and  was  for  years  an  Elder  in  the  I'resbyterian 
Church.  To  himself  and  wife  were  born  five  sons 
and  a  daughter:  James;  Williston;  Sarah,  now  de- 
ceased, as  is  also  the  next  younger,  Frederick; 
George  C.  and  Lyman.  -James  is  now  past  eight}' 
years  and  Lyman  is  over  sixtj'-three. 

T^ntil  reaching  man's  estate  Dr.  iNIerrick  resided 
witli  his  parents  on  the  home  farm.  Early  in  life 
he  manifested  a  great  love  for  books,  and  was  of  a 
studious  disposition.  His  primary  education  was 
received  in  Fremont,  Ohio,  in  the  common  schools. 
In  his  youth  he  attended  Starling  Medical  College, 
of  Columbus,  Oliio,  and  afterward   entered    Rush 


Medical  College,  at  Chicago,  from  which  institu- 
tion he  was  graduated  in  18.")  1.  On  the  17th  of 
July  of  that  year  Dr.  Jlerrick  and  Miss  Mary 
Elizabeth  Peck  were  united  in  marriage.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Joel  M.  and  Amanda  (Purdy)  Peck, 
both  natives  of  Norwich,  N.  V.  iNIrs.  Merrick  was 
born  in  Pl3-moutli,  N.  Y.,  November  3,  1828,  and 
started  for  her  future  home  in  Troy,  Wis.,  .June 
12,  1849.  It  is  a  singular  coincidence  that  on  the 
same  day  our  suliject  left  Fremont,  Ohio,  going  to 
Troy,  wliere  they  afterwards  met  and  were  married. 

To  the  Doctor  and  his  wife  have  been  born  four 
sons  and  one  daughter.  Charles,  who  is  engaged 
in  the  clothing  and  furnishing-goods  business  in 
El  Paso,  Tex.,  married  ]\Iiss  Laura  Shidler,  of 
Fowler,  Benton  County,  Ind.  They  have  four 
children.  Mar}-  C,  Lawrence,  Ross  and  Sylvester. 
The  Last-named  was  born  just  one  hundred  years 
after  the  birth  of  his  grandfather,  Sylvester  Mer- 
rick. Frederick  W.  married  Miss  Grace  Frisbee, 
of  Kankakee.  They  make  their  home  in  Tacoma, 
Wash.,  on  Puget  Sound,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
merchandising.  They  have  one  son,  Oscar.  Mary 
Helen  is  the  wife  of  .John  Barnard,  of  Fowler,  Ind., 
where  he  is  engaged  in  running  an  elevator  and 
tile  factory,  and  also  is  the  owner  of  a  number  of 
farms.  Their  family  comprises  fourchildren,5Iary 
Elizabeth,  George  O.,  Ruth  and  Fred  INIerrick. 
George  Peck  married  Miss  Grace  Thompson,  of 
Evauston,  111.,  which  place  is  now  their  home.  He 
is  a  practicing  lawyer  of  Chicago,  his  olHce  being  at 
108  Dearborn  Street.  Theu-  one  child,  a  son,  is 
named  George  Clinton.  The  Doctor's  youngest 
son,  Oscar,  is  engaged  in  business  with  his  brother 
Frederick,  in  T.acoma. 

In  the  fall  of  1851,  about  three  months  after 
his  marriage,  Dr.  Merrick  removed  to  Kankakee 
County,  where  he  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  With  the  exception  of  three  years  spent 
in  Ottumwa,  Iowa,  he  has  since  made  this  county 
his  home.  He  began  his  career  in  business  with 
nothing  except  his  knowledge  of  medicine  and  a 
span  of  horses.  By  his  energy  and  economy  he  has 
accumulated  a  snug  fortune  and  a  comfortable 
home,  located  on  the  northern  edge  of  Manteno. 
He  also  owns  three  farms,  and  has  shown  that  he 
is  a  man  of  business  ability.     In  the  early  part  of 


688 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


his  residence  in  this  count}-  he  served  as  Supervisor 
of  Rockville  Township.  His  first  purchase  of  farm 
land  was  a  tract  of  eight}'  acres  in  that  township, 
which  he  bought  at  the  rate  of  1 1.25  per  acre. 
Three  years  later  he  sold  the  farm  for?525  per  acre. 
At  that  time  wild  game  w.as  plentiful,  and  tmce  a 
herd  of  forty  deer  was  seen  in  their  dooryard. 
After  selling  his  farms  tiie  Doctor  moved  to  the 
village  of  Manteno  witii  his  family,  and  there 
built  a  business  house  and  a  residence.  He  en- 
gaged in  the  hardware  and  drug  business,  to  which 
lie  afterward  added  general  merchandise. 

In  1880  our  subject  sold  out  his  business,  and 
after  giving  his  sons  a  start  in  life  made  Kankakee 
his  place  of  residence  for  ten  years.  lie  has  re- 
cently settled  on  a  farm  of  three  hundred  acres 
just  north  of  ]\Ianteno,  of  which  he  became  the 
owner  about  1880.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  while  his  wife  is  an  Epis- 
copalian in  faith,  lie  is  independent  in  politics, 
having  been  a  Whig  in  earl}'  life,  afterward  a 
Republican,  and  at  the  last  election  casting  his  bal- 
lot for  the  Democracy.  He  is  not  in  any  sense 
partisan,  believing  one  should  be  an  American 
first  and  a  politician  afterward.  The  Doctor  was 
the  prime  mover  in  organizing  the  first  Presbyte- 
rian Church  in  Rockville,  which  has  since  been  re- 
moved to  Manteno.  Though  modest  and  retiring 
in  manner.  Dr.  Merrick  is  a  man  of  strong  charac- 
ter, and  whatever  he  does  is  based  upon  convic- 
tions of  rjofht. 


^I^- 


<Sj^LNATHAN  WRIGHT,  deceased,  was  for 
b]  twenty-four  years  a  resident  of  Manteno. 
/i~^  He  was  born  in  Conway,  Mass.,  June  20, 
1831.  and  was  a  son  of  Phineas  M.  and  Abigail 
(Howes)  AVright,  the  former  a  native  of  West- 
ham|)ton,  Mass.,  and  the  latter  of  Ashfield.  They 
were  both  of  English  descent.  The  father  was  a 
farmer  in  tlie  Bay  State,  and  removed  to  Illinois 
in  18G4,  locating  in  the  village  of  Manteno.  He 
purchased  a  small  farm  just  west  of  the  corporate 
limits  of  the    town,   and    afterwards    made   addi- 


tions of  adjoining  land  to  his  original  purchase. 
He  departed  this  life  in  .lanuary,  1888,  at  the  age 
I  of  seventy-nine  years.  His  wife,  who  is  still  liv- 
I  ing,  is  now  eighty-two.  Their  family  consisted  of 
I  five  children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
I  others  who  grew  to  manhood  were  EInathan,  Al- 
binus,  Howes,  Ephraim  and  Charles. 

EInathan  Wright  was  reared  to  farm  life,  and 
remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  arriving  at 
mature  years.  He  obtained  a  good  common-school 
1  education,  and  after  his  marriage,  in  18,56,  he  at 
i  once  removed  to  Ohio.  For  some  three  years  he 
cultivated  a  farm  near  Bellevue.  In  March,  1859, 
he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  for  two  years  rented 
a  farm  near  Manteno,  after  which  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  on  section 
20,  about  a  mile  southwest  of  the  village,  where 
he  lived  for  four  or  five  years,  and  in  the  mean- 
time kei)t  making  additions  to  his  property  until 
he  possessed  over  one  thousand  acres  of  land. 
Desiring  to  live  nearer  the  town,  he  next  moved 
to  a  farm  on  section  21,  which  was  his  home  for  a 
number  of  years. 

On  the  otii  of  March,  1856,  Mr.  "Wright  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Harriet  Prince, 
daughter  of  Clark  and  Priscilla  (Allen)  Prince, 
both  natives  of  AVindsor,  Mass.  Mrs.  Prince  died 
in  Hinsdale,  that  State,  .lune  17,  1870,  and  four 
years  later  her  husband  came  West  and  i)urchased 
a  farm  adjoining  that  of  Phineas  Wright,  to  the 
west  of  Manteno.  His  death  occurred  October  6, 
1879.  He  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church  while  in  the  East,  and  became  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  denomination  after 
coming  to  Illinois.  For  many  years  he  was  a 
Deacon  in  the  former  church. 

Eight  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wright,  four  sons  and  four  daughters.  Edwin  C. 
died  on  the  7th  of  March,  1875,  when  nearly  eigh- 
teen years  of  age.  The  other  members  of  the 
family  are  all  living.  Abigail  H.  is  the  wife  of 
George  L.  Cooley,  who  is  engaged  in  farming 
near  Amherst,  Mass.  Frank  M.,  who  married  Miss 
Eva  Houck.  of  Princeton,  is  one  of  the  leading 
merchants  of  Manteno,  and  also  has  extensive 
creamery  and  dairy  interests.  They  have  three 
children,  Clark  F.,  Ruth  P.  and  Dorothy.     Harriet 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


689 


]\I.  is  the  wife  of  Robert  C.  Giikerson,  who  caiTies 
oil  a  market  in  Kankakee.  Tiiey  liave  a  son  who 
IS  named  for  his    grandfather,    Elnalhan    Wright.' 

^  George  1,.  wedded  Miss  Elizabeth  Seager,  tiie 
adopted  daugliter  of  Nelson  Seager,  and  to  them 
has  been  born  a  daughter,  Helen.  Carrie  P.,  who 
has  been  a  successful  teacher  for  several  years,  was 
for  three  years  in  the  Chicago  schools,  and  is  now 

-  a  teacher  in  the  Western  Female  Seminary  of  Ox- 
ford, ( )hio.  Luther  K.  and  Mar3'  IJ.  make  their 
home  witli  their  mother. 

For  some  years  after  landing  in  Kankakee  County, 
Mr.    Wright   engaged  in  sheep-raising  on  a  large 

I  scale  in  connection  with  his  farming.  He  after- 
wards embarked  in  the  dairy  line,  and  at  one  time 
owned  three  large  dairy  farms  and  had  in  his  employ 
a  large  number  of  persons.  He  furnished  means  of 
obtaining  a  liveliliood  for  from  ten  to  twenty 
families,  and  interested  so  many  in  the  dairy  Inisi- 
ness,  that  now  most  of  the  farms  in  this  townshii) 
are  dairy  farms,  and  Manteno  is  the  leading  town 
in  this  portion  of  the  State  in  the  export  of  dairy 
products.  Mr.  Wriglit  principally  shipped  to  the 
New  Orleans  markets,  where  tlie  best  prices  could 
be  obtained. 

In  April,  1883,  Mr.  Wright  with  his  family  re- 
moved to  their  tine  and  comfortable  new  home  in 
Manteno.  On  the  25th  of  July  of  that  j'ear,  the 
whole  community  was  shocked  at  the  sad  and 
painful  intelligence  of  the  drowning  of  their 
esteemed  fellow-citizen,  Elnathan  Wright.  He  was 
as  usual  superintending  the  work  on  his  home 
farm  during  the  morning  of  that  day.  At  about 
eleven  o'clock  he  started  for  his  large  pasture  on 
wliat  is  known  as  his  "stone  house"  farm,  in  order 
to  look  after  some  valuable  stock.  He  was  obliged 
to  cross  Rock  Creek,  which  was  then  very  much 
swollen  by  recent  heavy  rains.  Before  reaching 
the  bridge  for  some  eight  or  ten  rods,  the  water 
was  nearly  waist  deep  and  running  quite  swiftly. 
How  he  met  his  deatli  has  never  been  known,  as 
no  one  was  with  him.  He  was  last  seen  a  little 
after  eleven  o'clock  by  the  young  son  of  ex- 
Sheriff  Brousseau,  wiio  was  working  in  a  hayfield 
near.  It  is  supposed  that  in  returning,  as  the  day 
was  very  sultry  and  the  bridge  was  half  » mile 
out  of  his  waj-,  he  concluded  to  remove  his  cloth- 


ing and  wade  across  the  stream.  The  current  was 
veiy  rapid,  and  the  water  was  some  nine  feet  deep 
ill  places,  and  as  he  could  not  swim,  he  was 
swept  away,  it  is  supposed,  and  thus  met  his  death. 
He  was  a  kind  husband  and  an  affectionate  father, 
and  the  community  has  deeply  deplored  his  loss 
as  a  friend  and  citizen.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
energy  and  ambition,  and  Was  just  preparing  to 
retire  from  his  more  active  business  life  in  the  en- 
joyment of  his  large  new  home,  wliich  had  been 
completed  but  three  months. 

Mr.  Wright  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  with  which  he  had  been  connected  for 
seventeen  years.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Education  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  was 
active  in  all  public  improvements.  He  has  done 
as  much  for  Manteno  as  any  other  one  man.  His 
friends  knew  him  but  to  love  him,  and  no  death 
in  Manteno  h.as  been  more  sincereh'  mourned. 


-^^ 


OLIVER  W.  BARNARD  is  a  farmer  and  stock 
man,  residing  on  section  26,  Manteno  Town- 
ship. He  was  born  in  the  village  of  Econ- 
omy, Wayne  County,  Ind.,  on  the  4tli  of  August, 
1828,  and  is  one  of  eleven  children  born  to  Will- 
iam and  Sallie  (Williams)  Barnard.  His  paternal 
grandfather,  Uriah  Barnard,  was  a  native  of  Nan- 
tucket Island  and  followed  the  occupation  of  a 
farmer.  He  was  the  father  of  nine  children  and 
lived  to  be  over  four-score  years.  Richard  Will- 
iams, our  subject's  maternal  grandfather,  was  born 
in  North  Carolina,  and  was  tiie  son  of  a  (Quaker 
preacher.  He  himself  belonged  to  that  faith  and 
was  an  elder  in  the  church. 

William  Barnard  was  born  in  Surry  County, 
N.  C.,  and  was  of  English  origin.  When  fourteen 
years  of  age  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  two  years 
later  to  W.ayne  County,  Ind.  In  his  early  life  he 
followed  the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  and  joiner,  but 
afterward  became  a  farmer.  In  1835  he  located  in 
La  Porte  County,  Ind.,  which  was  his  home  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  not  a  pub- 
lic man  but  was  of  a  quiet  and  un.assumiug  dispo- 


690 


PO^iTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


sition.  He  was  a  strong  Abolitionist,  and  like  his 
ancestors,  belonged  to  the  Society  of  Friends,  who 
were  active  in  anti-slavery  movements.  To  himr 
self  and  wife  were  born  seven  sons  and  four  daugh-' 
ters,  nine  of  whom  arc  yet  living:  Oliver  W.;  Nel- 
son; Milo,  who  is  deceased;  Polly  Ann,  widow  of 
Wiley  P.  Maulsby,  who  was  killed  by  the  explos- 
ion of  a  boiler  at  Dexter,  Iowa,  in  1887;  Clinton; 
Rlioda,  the  widow  of  Amos  St.  Clair,  and  who  first 
became  the  wife  of  Josiah  AVelch,  who  lost  his  life 
in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  and  by  whom  she  had 
two  children;  Uriah  W.;  Job;  Elizabetli,  wife  of 
John  Park,  of  Oswego,  Kan.,  by  whom  she  lias 
three  children;  Rachel,  now  deceased;  and  Milton 
C.     The  sons  are  all  married  and  have  families. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  Oliver  W.  Barnard 
were  spent  on  his  father's  fann.  His  education 
was  received  in  the  common  schools  of  La  Porte 
and  Porter  Counties,  Ind.  He  has  alwa_ys  been  a 
student  and  has  pursued  a  wide  and  varied  course 
of  reading.  He  learned  tlie  carpenter's  trade,  and 
from  time  to  time  has  done  considerable  work  in 
that  line.  On  the  22d  of  May,  1856,  he  came  to 
Kankakee  County  and  located  upon  section  26,  in 
Manteno  Township.  "With  the  exception  of  three 
3'ears  spent  in  Kankakee  for  the  purpose  of  giving 
his  children  better  educational  advantages,  he  has 
made  his  home  on  section  26  since  first  settling 
there.  His  original  farm  consisted  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  and  to  this,  as  his  means  af- 
forded, he  has  added  additional  land  until  he  now 
has  in  his  possession  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  which  is  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in 
the  township.  He  has  expended  a  large  amount 
in  tiling  and  drainage  and  lias  a  comfortable  house, 
barns  and  other  farm  buildings  upon  it. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1850,  Mr.  Barnard  and 
Miss  Mary  Jane  Williams  were  united  in  marriage. 
The  lady  is  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Jane 
(Harrington)  Williams,  the  former  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  Two  sons 
and  two  daughters  graced  the  union  of  our 
subject  and  his  wife.  Francena  Loretta  married 
Alexander  Baird,  a  farmer  living  near  Dennis, 
Kan.  They  have  seven  children,  two  sons  and 
live  daughters:  Mary,  Kate,  Florence,  Elsie,  Eu- 
nice,  Vernon  and   Alexander  Warren.     Delonson 


Elroy  wedded  Miss  Katie  L.  Bordwell,  and  is  gen- 
eral superintendent  of  a  large  windmill  factor}'  in 
Chicago.  They  have  three  living  children:  Rudy, 
Lela  and  Glen.  Landon  Elmer  died  when  about 
two  years  of  age.  Amelia  Izetta  is  the  widow  of 
Ira  Barton  Dole,  whose  death  occurred  in  Chicago 
in  May,  1888.  He  was  a  salesman  for  Kennedy 
&  Co.,  bakers.  They  had  three  children,  two  of 
whom  survive:  Clarence  Arthur  and  Ira  Burton. 

Though  not  an  oflice-seeker,  Mr.  Barnard  for  the 
sake  of  upholding  the  principles  which  he  espoused 
in  the  Greenback  platform,  ran  for  Congress  in 
the  Ninth  Congressional  District  in  1882,  and  was 
com]jlimented  witli  the  largest  vote  of  anj'  candi- 
date in  the  party  for  that  offlce.  He  was  a  strong 
anti-slavery  man  and  voted  for  the  Republican 
candidates  and  principles  until  Grant's  last  elec- 
tion. He  supported  Peter  Cooper  and  then  adopted 
the  principles  of  the  Greenback  party.  He  now 
affiliates  with  the  People's  party.  Since  the  or- 
ganization as  a  company  of  the  County  Fair  As- 
sociation, IMr.  Barnard  has  served  as  one  of  its  di- 
rectors. He  is  an  author  and  poet  of  considerable 
ability,  and  many  of  his  poems  have  been  pub- 
lished in  standard  literary  works. 


iiy^i  ILO  R.  PETERS,  who  Owns  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  ten  acres  in  the  corporate 
i'  limits  of  the  village  of  Manteno,  and  on 
which  he  makes  his  home,  is  also  a  dealer 
in  hardware,  lumber  and  farm  implements  there. 
His  birth  occurred  on  tlie  20th  of  March,  1832,  in 
Ryegate  Township,  Caledonia  County,  Vt.  He  is 
a  son  of  Samuel  and  Margaret  (Nelson)  Peters, 
the  former  a  native  of  the  Green  Mountain  State, 
and  the  latter  of  New  Hampshire.  Our  subject's 
paternal  grandfather,  Andrew  B.  Peters,  was  of 
English  descent,  liis  p;rents  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica about  1765,  settling  in  Bradford,  Vt.  That! 
town  was  his  home  until  1846,  when  he  died  atj 
the  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  During  his  en- 
tire life  he  was  a  public  man,  and  in  one  town- 
ship occupied    the   olliee  of   Justice  of    the    Peacej 


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PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


693 


tor  forty-seven  years,  during  tliat  time  also  hold- 
ing various  positions  of  honor  and  responsiliilit}'. 
On  Ihi"  maternal  side,  the  grand fatiicr,  Robert 
Nelson,  was  of  Scotcii  parentage,  his  birth  having 
occurred  iu  Aberdeen,  Scotland.  He  settled  in 
New  Hampshire  with  his  parents  in  a  Scotch  com- 
munity, and  one  of  his  sons,  Natlian,  still  resides 
on  tlie  old  homestead.  When  over  eiglitj-  years 
of  age  he  departed  this  life,  iu  1846. 

Samuel  Peters  was  a  tanner  and  shoemaker  for 
many  years  in  the  East.  In  March,  1842,  he  re- 
moved from  Vermont  to  New  Hampshire,  locat- 
ing on  a  farm  near  Haverhill,  where  he  lived  for 
lhirt3--six  years.  His  death  occurred  in  1878,  at 
which  time  he  was  over  eight}-  years  of  age.  He 
was  prominent  in  public  and  local  affairs,  and 
occupied  at  different  times  a  number  of  townshi|) 
cilices.  His  family  comprised  nine  children,  of 
whom  six  yet  survive:  Eliza  A.,  wife  of  Myron 
Bailey,  residing  in  Littleton,  N.  H.;  Lydia  B., 
now  the  wife  of  Andrew  Warden,  of  Barnet,  Vt; 
Milo  R.;  Margaret  F.,  wife  of  James  B.  True- 
worthy,  of  Lowell,  Jlass.;  Helen  M.,  who  married 
Paul  Seager,  of  Otto  Township,  this  county;  and 
Chastine,  now  Mrs.  Frank  Smilli,  living  near  Port- 
land, Me. 

The  education  of  Mr.  Peters,  of  this  sketch,  was 
acquired  in  the  common  schools  of  those  carl}' 
da^'s  in  '\'ermont.  He  was  reared  upon  a  farm, 
and  remained  with  his  parents  until  arriving  at 
his  majority.  Ou  the  26th  of  October,  1857,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Ella  F.,  daughter  of  tiie  Rev. 
John  T.  and  Jane  B.  (McDougall)  Ricliardson. 
The  former  was  of  English  descent,  the  latter  of 
Scotch  parentage,  and  both  were  natives  of  Circle- 
ville,  Ohio.  Of  their  family  of  nine  children,  five 
are  yet  living:  John  Homer,  Ellen  F.,  Joseph  A., 
Ada  A.  and  Clara  J.  To  our  subject  and  his  esti- 
mable wife  two  sons  and  four  daugliters  have 
been  born:  Nellie  May;  Margerie  J.,  who  is  the 
wife  of  William  M.  Harvey,  telegraph  operator 
and  station  agent  at  Manteuo;  George  M.,  Mamie 
A.,  Ernest  W.  and  Florence  E. 

On  the  17th  of  February,  1855,  Mr.  Peters 
landed  in  Kankakee  County  aud  located  in  Mau- 
teno,  wliere  he  worked  at  carpentering  for  sev- 
eral years.     In  1860  he  bought  one    hundred  and 


sixty  acres  of  railroad  land,  located  on  section 
18,  Manteno  Township,  where  he  lived  for  seven 
years.  He  again  engaged  in  carpentering,  con- 
tracting and  building  in  Manteno  from  1808  to 
1878.  During  that  time  he  added  to  his  original 
farm,  which  he  still  owns,  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  making  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in 
all.  In  1878  he  opened  a  lumber  yard  and  the 
hardware  business,  which  he  is  still  engaged  in 
carrying  on.  A  year  previously  lie  purchased  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  ten  acres  located  witiiin 
the  corporate  limits  of  Manteno,  and  upon  this  is 
situated  his-  residence.  He  also  is  the  owner  of 
four  hundred  acres  of  timber  land  near  Dc  Soto, 
Clarke  County,  Miss. 

With  one  exception,  Jlr.  Peters  has  longer  re- 
sided in  Manteno  than  any  other  person.  When 
he  located  here  in  1855,  tlie  country  was  a  wilder- 
ness and  there  were  but  six  houses  in  the  village. 
Lie  and  his  wife  are  respected  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  with  which  they  have  been 
connected  for  a  number  of  years.  Politically,  he 
is  a  stanch  Republican. 


<|i^LDER   WILLIAM   H.   VAN  DOREN   is   a 

fe  substantial  and  well-known  farmer  who 
Ij^^!  makes  his  home  on  section  26,  Norton 
Township.  He  is  a  minister  in  the  Wesle3'an 
Methodist  Church,  with  which  he  has  been  con- 
nected since  1857,  and  to  Christian  work  he  has 
devoted  thirty  of  the  best  years  of  his  life,  during 
that  time  establishing  a  number  of  churches,  lie 
is  numliered  among  the  iionored  pioneers  of  Illi- 
nois, dating  his  I'esidence  in  this  State  from  1839. 
He  was  born  in  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  near  the 
city  of  Troy,  on  the  1st  of  December,  1823.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Christian  Van  Doren,  was  a 
native  of  New  Jersey  and  served  throughout  the 
War  of  the  Revolution.  At  its  close  he  purchased 
land  in  JMontgoniery  County,  N.  Y.,  buying  it  for 
twelve  and  a-half  cents  \wr  acre.  He  reared  his 
family  aud  spent  his  remaining  da^'s  in  that  local- 
ity.    The    ^^•ln  Doren    famil}'   came  from  Holland 


694 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  were  among  tlie  jjioneers  of  New  Jersey.  Our 
subject's  father,  Abraham  Van  Doren,  was  born  on 
the  10th  of  September,  1783,  in  Montgomery 
County,  N.  Y.  On  arriving  at  his  majority  lie 
married  Persis  Brigliam,  who  was  born  in  Vermont 
and  reared  in  Massachusetts.  Jlr.  Van  Doren  was 
a  mechanic  and  located  n«ar  Tro\',  afterward  mov- 
ing to  Sloanville,  of  tlic  same  State.  After  a  resi- 
dence there  of  several  3-ears  he  went  to  Charleston, 
in  Montgomery  County.  The  year  1839  witnessed 
his  arrival  in  Illinois.  He  located  at  Farmington, 
a  place  twenty-four  miles  west  of  Peoria,  where  he 
resided  until  his  death  in  1852.  After  surviving 
her  husband  for  several  years,  Mrs.  Van  Doren  de- 
parted this  life  on  the  22d  of  November,  1865, 
and  was  buried  near  Farmridge  Cemetery,  in  La 
.Salle  County'.  Abraham  Van  Doren  was  a  soldier 
in  tiie  AVar  of  1812,  and  was  a  man  of  noble  char- 
acter. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  sketch 
is  the  youngest  of  a  famih'  of  two  sons  and  a 
daughter,  who  grew  to  mature  years.  Abram,  who 
is  now  retired,  lives  near  Chicago.  The  sister, 
Sarah  Catherine,  became  the  wife  of  Isaac  T.  Van 
Doren,  but  is  now  deceased.  Her  husband  is  at 
the  present  time  Postmaster  of  Grand  Ridge,  La 
Salle  County. 

LTutil  fifteen  years  of  age  William  H.  Van  Doren 
lived  in  New  York,  aud  in  1838,  with  his  sister, 
went  to  Indiana.  The  following  year  he  joined 
his  father  in  Fulton  County,  111.,  and  there  grew 
to  manhood.  In  addition  to  a  good  common- 
school  education  he  attended  for  one  term  the 
Galesburg  Academj',  from  which  he  returned  to 
his  home  on  account  of  his  father's  poor  health. 
He  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  at  which  he 
worked  for  several  years.  In  1857,  he  moved  to 
Knox  County,  working  as  a  blacksmith  for  seven 
j-ears.  He  next  went  to  La  Salle  County,  which  was 
his  home  for  the  four  years  following,  and  in  1867 
became  a  resident  of  Kankakee  County,  where  he 
purchased  land  in  Norton  Township.  On  this 
farm  he  still  resides.  It  consists  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  and  is  now  well-improved  and 
desirable  propert}',  but  which  at  the  time  of  his 
purchase  was  wild  prairie. 

On  the  6th   of  August,    1845,  a   marriage  cere- 


mony united  the  destinies  of  Mr.  Van  Doren  and 
Miss  Rlioda  R.  Barrett,  who  was  born,  reared  and 
educated  in  Knox  County.  The  wife  departed 
this  life  ou  the  27th  of  August,  1855.  By  her 
marriage  were  born  four  children.  On  the  16th 
of  May,  1856,  in  Fulton  County,  Mr.  Van  Doren 
wedded  Miss  Hannah  Chapman,  who  was  born  in 
England  and  emigrate*!  to  Illinois  when  a  child  of 
seven  years  with  her  father,  Joseph  Chapman,  who 
was  one  of  the  honored  pioneers  of  Fulton  County. 
By  his  first  wife  Mr.  Van  Doren  had  four  children: 
Ruth,  who  died  in  1872;  Albert  Henry,  a  farmer 
of  Norton  Township;  Silas  IL,  M.  D.,  a  graduate 
of  the  Bennett  Medical  College  of  Chicago,  and 
now  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Saybrook,  McLean  County,  111.;  and  Mary  C,  wife 
of  Robert  Hunter,  a  farmer  of  this  county.  Bj'' 
the  last  union  were  born  Charles  L.,  M.  D.,  also  a  j 
graduate  of  the  Bennett  Medical  College,  and  aj 
practicing  phj'sician  of  Vermilion  County,  111.; 
Frank  E.,  also  a  physician,  in  Ilerscher,  111.; 
George  C,  a  man  of  good  education  and  editor  of 
the  Buckingham  News,  who  died  on  the  27th  of 
March,  1883;  Rlioda  E.,  who  departed  this  life 
when  but  nineteen  years  of  age,  ou  the  5th  of 
April,  1883;  Walter  F.,  a  pharmacist  residing  at 
Saunemin,  Livingston  County,  and  a  successful; 
business  man  there;  Clara  B.,  a  successful  teacher; 
Henry,  residing  at  home;  and  Jennie  M.,  who 
died  in  May,  1881,  aged  three  years. 

Dr.   Frank  E.   Van  Doren,  mentioned  above,  a 
physician  and  surgeon,  who  has  practiced  in  and  , 
around  Ilerscher,  111.,  for  almost  ten  3-ears    most ' 
successful!}',    is  a  man  possessed  of  great  energy  ; 
and    determination.      He  made  a  great  success  of  , 
his   profession.     During  Februar}',  1893,  his  mosti 
estimable  wife  was  taken  ill;  the  best  of  medical  aid 
and  kind  assistance  by  their  many  friends  availed 
nothing,  and  she  died  the  same  month.     She  was  a  j 
devout  Christian,  being   an   active  member  of  the  i 
Presb3'terian  Church  and  a  teacher  in  the  Sunday- j 
school.     Dr.  Van    Doren,    after   his  wife's  death,] 
disposed  of  his  business  to  Dr.  Emmet  Enos,  who] 
now  is  the  resident  physician  of  Ilerscher.     At  the] 
present  writing  Dr.  Van  Doren  is  in  California. 

Mr.  Van  Doren  is  a   man   of  unblemished  char- 
acter and  is  in  every  respect  worthy  of  the  confi- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIIJCAL  RECORD. 


695 


(lent'c  and  high  regard  in  whieli  he  is  lield  by  all 
wlio  have  come  in  contact  with  him.  His  minis- 
terial work  in  various  portions  of  the  State  has 
made  him  well  known,  and  his  labors  in  the  cause 
of  Christianity  have  been  untiring. 


AMUEL  L.  KNIGHT  was  numbered  among 
the  honored  pioneers  of  Kankakee  County 
and  was  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of 
the  county  seat,  where  he  located  in  an 
early  day.  lie  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  Norwich  on  the  19th  of 
April,  1802.  His  boyhood  days  were  quietly 
passed,  .and  on  attaining  his  majority  he  embarked 
in  business  for  himself,  taking  up  the  occupation 
of  farming,  which  he  followed  in  Cattaraugus 
County-,  N.  Y.,  being  thus  employed  for  several 
jears. 

On  tlie  Mth  of  April,  1820,  Mr.  Knight  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lucena  L.  Parker, 
and  unto  them  were  born  three  children,  two  sons 
and  a  daughter:  Camden,  Solon,  and  Helen,  who  is 
the  wife  of  George  V.  Iluling.  After  his  marriage 
Mr.  Knight  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  which 
he  continued  in  the  East  for  a  number  of  years. 
At  length  he  determined  to  try  his  fortune  on  the 
prairies  of  the  West,  and  in  the  summer  of  1843 
emigrated  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Plainfield,  Will 
County,  where  he  spent  about  two  years.  In  1845 
he  removed  to  Joliet,  where  he  engaged  in  various 
kinds  of  business  during  a  period  of  six  years.  In 
1851,  he  became  a  resident  of  Kankakee  County, 
settling  in  Bourbonnais  Giove.  After  Kankakee 
had  been  chosen  as  the  count3'  seat  he  removed  to 
tills  city  in  Jul_y,  1853,  embarking  in  the  lumber- 
ing business  in  connection  with  his  son  Solon,  who 
remained  for  the  greater  part  of  that  summer  in 
Chicago  buying  lumber,  which  he  shii)ped  to  his 
father  at  this  place. 

i\Ir.  Knight  was  prominently  connected  witli  the 
early  history  of  this  community,  and  was  the  first 
Postmaster  here,  the  name  of  the  office  then  being 


Clarksville.  It  is  said  that  the  mails  were  so 
small  at  that  time  that  he  could  and  did  frequently 
deliver  them  in  a  dinner  pail.  He  was  honored 
with  a  number  of  public  otlices  of  trust  and  re- 
sponsibility, the  duties  of  which  were  ever  faith- 
fully and  promptly  performed.  In  1857  he  was 
elected  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  at 
different  times  served  in  the  offices  of  Trustee, 
Town  Supervisor,  City  Clerk,  etc.  He  continued 
his  business  as  a  dealer  in  lumber,  stone  and  lime, 
and  led  an  active  and  useful  life.  Indolence  and 
idleness  were  utterly  foreign  to  his  nature.  On 
the  contrary  energy,  enterprise  and  perseverance 
were  numbered  among  his  chief  characteristics. 
His  honorable,  upright  dealings  won  him  univer- 
sal confidence  and  the  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he 
was  brought  in  contact.  He  was  a  public-spirited 
and  progressive  citizen  and  took  an  active  inter- 
est in  all  that  pertained  to  the  welfare  of  the  com- 
munity, in  the  upbuilding  of  which  he  bore  so 
prominent  a  part.  His  death  occurred  at  his  home 
in  Kankakee  on  the  15th  of  March,  1879,  and  was 
mourned  by  a  large  circle  of  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances, who  ever  held  him  in  the  highest  regard. 


~!~Il 


^^  ICHAEL  F.  RILEY,  senior  member  of   the 
Jp     \\\    firm  of  M.  F.  Riley  &  Co.,  is  an  extensive 
11      li  general  merchant  of  Reddick,  111.     He  is 
^  n  representative,  enterprising  and  public- 

spirited  citizen,  and  has  been  successfullj'  engaged 
as  a  merchant  in  Reddick  for  the  past  twelve 
years.  At  the  time  when  he  started  in  this  line 
his  capital  comprised  but  $1,800,  with  which  he 
purchased  stock.  He  now  carries  $16,000  worth  of 
stock,  a'ld  his  business  is  constantly  increasing. 

Mr.  Riley  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  on 
the  12th  of  May,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  Francis 
and  Mary  (Bradley)  Riley,  botli  natives  of  Ire- 
land, who  came  to  the  United  Slates  in  childhood. 
Our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood  in  Illinois, 
and  is  well  educated.  He  is  the  eldest  of  a  fam- 
ily of  two  sons  and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom 
grew    to   maturity,  and   all,  with  one  exception, 


696 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


are  now  mariied.  After  his  marriage  the  fatlier 
resided  in  New  York  for  about  seven  j^ears,  when 
he  came  West,  landing  in  Will  Counts'  in  1856, 
wliere  he  opened  up  a  farm,  on  which  he  still  re- 
sides, now  retired  from  the  active  duties  and  la- 
bors incident  to  farm  life,  and  enj03nng  the  rest 
he  has  so  well  earned  and  truly  deserves.  He  has 
been  very  successful  as  a  farmer,  and  owns  sev- 
eral well-improved  farms  both  in  Will  and  Kan- 
kakee Counties. 

Michael  Rilej-  completed  his  common-school  edu- 
cation by  a  course  of  study  in  commercial  lines 
in  the  .Joliet  Academy.  He  returned  to  the  farm 
in  this  county,  and  took  charge  of  it  for  his  fa- 
ther until  twenty-five  years  of  age.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1880,  he  came  to  Reddick,  and  until  the  fol- 
lowing April  engaged  in  buying  grain  for  other 
parties.  He  purchased  two  lots  on  a  good  busi- 
ness street,  on  which  he  erected  a  store  building, 
22x40  feet,  and  one  story  in  height.  Here  he  en- 
gaged in  the  general  mercantile  business,  still 
continuing  to  buy  grain  for  his  former  employers. 
In  May,  1882,  the  present  partnership  was  formed, 
tlie  building  enlarged  and  their  stock  of  goods  in- 
creased. From  tune  to  time  they  have  added  to 
their  storeroom  fresh  supplies  of  goods,  and  now 
carry  an  immense  stock  of  general  merchandise, 
in  addition  to  which  they  deal  largely  in  lumber, 
grain,  coal  and  agricultural  implements.  The  firm 
has  also  built  and  is  running  a  large  creamer^'  in 
Reddick.  Tlirough  long  years  of  honest  dealing 
and  fair  prices  they  have  established  a  reputation 
which  has  brought  them  a  fine  and  increasing 
trade. 

On  the  11th  of  December,  1881,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Riley  and  Miss  Margaret 
Riley  in  Livingston  County,  which  was  the  birth- 
place of  the  lady.  Her  fatlier,  Bernard  Riley,  is 
a  prominent  farmer  of  that  count}'.  He  is  now 
erecting  a  fine  residence  in  Kankakee,  in  which  he 
will  make  his  home  in  the  future.  Five  chil- 
dren have  l)een  boin  to  our  subject  and  his  wife: 
Frank,  Mary,  Alice  (who  died  in  infancy),  Alice 
May  and  Edward. 

Mr.  Riley, has  taken  quite  an  active  part  in 
local  politics  and  was  elected  Township  Clerk  in 
Will    County,    in   which    capacity    he    served    for 


three  consecutive  terms.  His  first  Presidential 
ballot  was  cast  for  Gen.  Hancock,  and  for  every 
nominee  of  the  Democratic  party  for  President 
he  has  given  his  support.  He  has  served  as  a  dele- 
gate to  both  county  and  State  conventions,  and 
has  been  a  resident  of  Illinois  nearly  his  whole 
lifetime  and  of  this  county  for  fifteen  years. 


®? N_,JI4  _-J ^ 


■^  OSEPH  L.  CLARK,  ex-County  Surveyor,  re- 
siding in  Momence,  was  born  in  Naples, 
N.  Y.,  on  the  6th  of  May,  1832.  Col.  William 
Clark,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary-  War,  and  was  the 
leader  of  a  party  of  twelve  men  who  purchased 
the  township  of  Nai)les,  Ontario  County,  N.  Y., 
where  he  removed  with  his  family,  and  assisted 
materially  in  the  clearing  and  development  of 
that  section. 

The  parents  of  our  subject,  Lorenzo  and  Laura 
(Turner)  Clark,  resided  for  many  years  in  New 
York.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Binghamton, 
Mass.,  and  removed  to  Naples,  N.  Y.,  with  his  par- 
ents when  he  was  but  three  3'ears  of  age.  He  was 
the  youngest  son  in  his  father's  family,  and 
throughout  life  followed  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing. After  his  father's  death  he  carried  on  the 
old  homestead,  w^here  he  resided  until  his  death, 
when  sixty-nine  years  of  age.  He  was  a  popular 
and  prominent  man  and  held  many  official  posi- 
tions, from  Justice  of  the  Peace  to  Assemblyman, 
having  been  elected  to  the  General  Assembly  in 
the  fall  of  1844.  He  was  a  Whig  and  a  great  ad- 
mirer of  Henry  Claj-,  and  was  in  favor  of  a  high 
protective  tariff.  He  occupied  the  rank  of  Major 
in  the  State  mihtia.  His  wife  was  of  Welsh  de- 
scent, and  lived  to  be  eighty-one  years  of  age, 
dying  at  the  old  homestead  in  Naples,  on  the  1st 
of  March,  1874. 

In  the  family  were  twelve  children,  nine  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity:  Milan  O.,  Noah  T.,  Bela 
T.,  Cynthia  M.,  William  W.,  II.  Amanda,  Laura 
A.,  .Toseph  L.  and  Edmund  C.  Six  are  now  liv- 
ing, are   married  and  have  families.     Milan,  Bela 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


697 


:ind  Cyntliia  are  now  deceased.  Rela  was  the  fiist. 
Surveyor  of  Kankakee  County.  lie  was  a  soldier 
ill  the  .same  company  and  regiment  to  wiiich  our 
sul)jeet  belonged  and  served  for  alxmt  a  year  and 
a-half.  being  mustered  out  on  account  of  failing 
health,  hi  1873  he  died  at  his  home  in  Ganier 
Township. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were  passed 
on  the  farm,  whicii  was  his  birthplace  and  wiiere 
he  received  a  good  common-school  educaliun, 
which  he  supplemented  b_v  a  course  of  stud\-  in 
the  High  School  of  Naples,  and  later  attended 
Medina  Academy.  Wlien  he  was  aliout  sixteen 
years  of  age  he  started  in  life  for  himself.  In 
1S51  he  first  came  to  Illinois  and  purchased  a  farm 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Aroma  Town- 
ship, Kankakee  County,  to  which  he  has  added, 
until  iiis  present  possessions  now  amount  to  five 
hundred  and  tlurty-one  acres.  For  a  time  he 
rented  his  land,  teaching  school  in  the  winter  and 
working  at  his  trade  of  carpentering  in  the  sum- 
mer season. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war,  l\Ir.  Clark 
enlisted  in  Company  D,  Forty -second  Illinois  In- 
fantry, and  was  in  tlie  service  of  his  country  for 
three  years.  He  participated  with  his  regiment  in 
the  battles  of  Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  and 
nearly  all  of  the  engagements  of  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign. He  was  once  struck  with  a  piece  of  spent 
shell,  but  although  he  was  knocked  down,  would 
not  acknowledge  himself  wounded.  He  w.as  mus- 
tered out  immediately  after  the  close  of  the  At- 
lanta campaign. 

On  the  2d  of  Ma}',  1865,  jMr.  Clark  married 
Miss  Mary  L.,  daughter  of  Col.  Lyman  and  Mary 
C.  (McNeill)  Wooster,  of  Ganier  Township,  v,ho 
were  of  Scotch  descent.  Five  children  were  born 
to  our  subject  and  his  wife:  Mary  L.,  ]\Iabel  C, 
Charles  E.  (who  died  in  infancy),  Elwin  and  Car- 
rie. 

In  1881,  Joseph  L.  Clark  was  elected  County 
Surveyor,  which  office  he  held  till  189.3,  when  he 
refused  to  serve  longer.  He  has  also  held  numer- 
ous other  local  positions,  and  has  been  Justice  of 
the  Peace  for  many  years.  When  he  first  came  to 
Illinois  the  country  was  very  wild  and  but  little 
inhabited,  there  being  but  three  hundred  residents 


in  Momence.  He  has  witnessed  the  marvelous 
development  of  the  county,  which  now  ranks 
among  the  foremost  of  the  State,  and  which  is 
settled  with  a  highly  intelligent  and  thrifty  class 
of  good  citizens.  Mr.  Clark  casts  his  vote  in 
favor  of  the  nominees  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  is  a  member  of  Worcester  Post  No.  627, 
G.  A.  R,  He  isnota  memberof  any  church  or  secret 
society,  but  is  one  of  the  substantial  and  highly 
lespccted  citizens  of  the  county  and  community 
in  which  he  dwells,  and  whose  history  would  be 
sadly  incomplete  were  his  name  omitted  from  its 
records. 


txHIHr 


^OHN  D.  PETERSON,  a  farmer  residing  on 

section    21,    Norton    Township,    Kankakee 

if^l  i    ^°""^.^''  •'^"''  whose  postofHcc  is   Bucking- 


ham.  111.,  came  here  and  settled  on  the  raw 
prairie  eighteen  years  ago.  He  is  a  native  of  Nor- 
way, born  July  8,  1842.  His  father,  John  Peter- 
son, emigrated  with  his  family  to  the  New  World 
in  1857,  taking  passage  in  a  sailing-vessel,  and 
landing  in  fjuebec,  in  June  of  that  year.  They 
went  directly  to  La  Salle  County,  wdience,  after  liv- 
ing some  five  years,  the}'  removed  to  Livingston 
Count}'.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
and  carried  on  a  farm  in  that  county  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1873. 

The  boyhood  days  of  our  subject  were  passed  in 
his  n.ative  land,  and  at  the  time  of  the  family's 
emigration  to  the  United  States  he  was  a  lad  of 
fifteen  years.  He  received  good  common-school 
advantages  both  in  Norway  and  Illinois.  Until 
he  arrived  at  his  majority  he  worked  upon  a  farm 
during  the  summer  season,  attending  school  in  the 
winter.  With  his  father  he  rented  land  in  Liv- 
ingston County,  and  farmed  there  for  several 
years.  Removing  then  to  Kankakee  Count}',  Mr. 
Peterson  purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  prairie  land,  where  he  still  resides.  For  many 
years  past  he  has  been  considered  one  of  the  enter- 
prising and  successful  agriculturists  of  the  com- 
nuuiity.     He  has  ever  been  industrious  and  frugal, 


698 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  now  has  a  valuable  and  well-improved  farm 
of  two  hundred  acres,  situated  midway  between 
Herscher  and  Buckingham.  On  his  place  he 
erected  a  large  and  substantial  residence,  commo- 
dious barns,  sheds  and  outbuildings. 

In  Livingston  County,  on  the  27th  of  February, 
1875,  Mr.  Peterson  and  Miss  Cairie  Dyvig  were 
united  in  marriage.  The  lady  is  also  a  native  of 
Norway,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  Dyvig,  who 
settled  in  Livingston  County.  By  the  union  of 
our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born  five  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  .Joseph,  Clara,  Amelia,  John  and 
Josephine. 

Since  becoming  a  voter,  Mr.  Peterson  has  been 
identified  with  the  Republican  party,  his  first  bal- 
lot being  cast  in  1868  for  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant.  He 
has  never  been  a  politician  or  wished  for  public 
office.  His  whole  time  and  attention  he  has  de- 
voted strictly  to  his  farming  interests  and  house- 
hold affairs.  During  the  nearly  twenty  years  of 
his  residence  in  this  locality,  Mr.  Peterson  has  won 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  has 
come  in  contact.  He  has  made  his  own  way  in 
the  world,  and  good  success  has  crowned  the  labor 
of  years. 


4^ 


i^Jl.  HIRAM  TODD,  deceased,  was  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  history  of  the 
territory  now  called  Kankakee  County 
from  its  first  settlement  until  his  death. 
He  was  jjrobablj'  the  first  physician  in  the  county, 
and  his  business  relations  made  him  known  far 
and  near.  A  native  of  Vermont,  he  was  born  in 
Poultney,  November,  18,  179.5,  and  was  a  son  of 
Thomas  Todd,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Row- 
ley-, Mass.,  where  had  lived  his  direct  ancestors 
since  1664.  One  of  them,  John  Todd,  represented 
that  place  in  Gejieral  Court  from  1664  until  1686, 
and  represented  Charlestown  in  the  same  body  as 
early  as  1637.     He  was  a  native  of  England. 

In   1783  Thomas  Todd  married  Betsy  Dagget,  a 
native  of  Sutton,  Mass.,  where  they  lived  for  sev- 


eral years.  Their  next  home  was  in  Douglass, 
Mass.,  and  in  March,  1795,  they  went  to  Poultnej', 
Vt.,  where  tiie  mother's  death  occurred  July  28, 
1829,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  The  father 
passed  away  November  20,  1848,  when  eighty- 
eight  years  of  age. 

Iliiam  Todd  attended  school  in  Schenectady, 
N.  Y.,  and  by  bis  own  exertions  earned  enough  to 
pay  for  his  board  and  tuition.  From  an  early  age 
he  was  dependent  upon  his  own  resources.  In 
1817  he  went  to  Kingston,  Canada,  and  in  1820  to 
Lebanon,  Ohio,  where  he  began  the  study  of  med- 
icine. Three  years  later  he  began  practice  in  Hen- 
deison,  Ky.,  and  on  the  25th  of  January,  1826, 
was  graduated  from  the  Ohio  Medical  College  of 
Cincinnati.  Returning  to  Lebanon,  Ohio,  he 
opened  an  office.  On  the  22d  of  June  following, 
he  was  appointed  Surgeon  of  the  First  Regiment 
of  Infantry,  Second  Brigade  and  First  Division, 
Ohio  Militia,  by  its  Commander,  Col.  W.  A.  Can- 
non. 

In  Franklin,  Ohio,  May  21,  1828,  the  Doctor 
married  Lydia  Church,  a  native  of  Vermont,  and 
soon  afterward  went  to  Ft.  Waj'ne,  Ind.  Subse- 
quently he  made  his  home  in  Logansport,  where 
he  carried  on  practice  and  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising as  a  partner  of  Jordan  Vigus.  Logansport 
was  then  an  Indian  trading-post,  and  the  Doctor 
was  implored  by  the  Indian  agent  to  tr^'  to  check 
the  ravages  of  smallpox  among  the  red  men. 
Other  pliysicians  had  refused,  but  he  undertook 
the  work  and  was  remarkably  successful,  in  so 
much  that  the  Indians  ever  afterward  welcomed 
him  as  a  friend.  At  this  time  he  also  made  judi- 
cious investments  in  real  estate.  In  connection 
with  capitalists  of  Indiana,  he  bought  large  tracts 
of  land  both  in  Indiana  and  Illinois  upon  the  con- 
clusion of  the  Camp  Tippecanoe  Treaty.  In  1834, 
in  connection  with  Messrs.  Clark  and  Andrews,  he 
laid  out  La  Porte,  Ind.,  and  took  up  bis  residence 
there.  In  the  fall  of  1835  he  came  to  Illinois  to 
look  after  his  landed  interests,  for  he  owned  the 
greater  part  of  eight  thousand  acres  along  the 
Kankakee  and  Iroquois  Rivers.  From  that  time 
he  was  a  prominent  figure  in  this  community.  He 
made  a  location  about  a  mile  below  Waldron,  and 
July   16,  1836,  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  the 


I 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


699 


first  postoftice  within  tlie  limits  of  what  is  now 
Kankakee  County.  The  name  of  Kankakee  was 
given  to  the  ofHce. 

After  about  two  years,  tlie  Doctor  and  his  wife 
returned  to  La  Fayette  for  a  brief  period,  but 
again  came  to  their  Illinois  home  in  tlie  fall  of 
1839.  He  was  also  the  first  Postmaster  of  Rock- 
ville,  his  commission  bearing  date  1812.  and  for 
thirty  years  the  office  was  held  by  some  member 
of  his  family.  Upon  the  bank  of  the  beautiful 
Kankakee  their  home  was  located.  The  Doctor's 
first  deed  for  land  within  the  present  limits  of  this 
county  included  five  sections  reserved  to  Shaw- 
waw-nas-see,  whose  deed  to  Hiram  Todd,  C^rus 
Tabor,  of  Logansport,  Ind.,  and  Allen  Hamilton, 
of  Ft.  Wayne,  Ind.,  was  dated  March  22,  1833, 
and  was  filed  for  record  three  days  later  in  Cook 
County,  from  the  fact  that  the  land  then  lay  in 
that  count}'.  Dr.  Todd  found  that  the  hardships 
and  privations  of  pioneer  life  were  injuring  his 
health,  but  there  were  few  physicians  in  the  local- 
ity, and  his  services  were  so  constantly  in  demand 
that  he  felt  he  must  minister  to  his  suffering  fel- 
low-mortals. The  exposure  and  hard  work  con- 
tinued to  prey  upon  him  until  the  llth  of  July, 
1849,  when  he  was  called  to  his  final  rest. 

The  life  of  Dr.  Todd  was  one  of  rich  experi- 
ence. He  was  reared  and  educated  in  New  Eng- 
land, but  much  of  his  later  life  was  spent  on  the 
frontier,  where  he  not  only  bore  the  hardships  of 
the  pioneer  himself,  but  aided  others  in  carrying 
their  burdens.  He  was  of  a  verj'  genial  and  social 
disposition,  a  man  of  broad  charity  and  kindness 
of  heart,  and  in  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all 
who  knew  him,  he  held  an  enviable  jjosition.  His 
home  was  the  abode  of  that  old-time  hospitality, 
which  always  afforded  a  guest  a  warm  welcome. 
In  politics  he  was  a  lifelong  Whig.  Few  men  will 
be  more  kindly  remembered  than  Dr.  Todd,  and 
the  history'  of  Kankakee  County  would  be  incom- 
plete without  the  record  of  this  honored  pioneer. 
His  wife  was  truly  his  companion  and  heli)niate. 
She  shared  witii  him  the  adversity  and  prosperity 
of  life,  its  sorrows  and  its  joj's,  and  by  her  sym- 
pathy' and  helpfulness  aided  him  greatly  in  his 
lifewoik.  She  died  December  26,  1871,  at  the 
age  of  three-score  years  and  ten,  and  her  remains 


and  those  of  her  husband  were  laid  side  by  side  in 
Mt.  Grove  Cemetery.  This  worthy  couple  had  a 
family'  of  six  children,  three  of  whom  are  living: 
Frances  T.,  widow  of  Maj.  Rodney  S.  Bowen,  of 
Wilmington;  Hiram  Church;  and  Walter  Wilson 
Todd. 

Dr.  Todd  has  the  honor  of  having  laid  out 
several  towns  in  this  section.  He  owned  the 
land  and  laid  out  tlie  villages  of  Momence  and 
Rockville,  and  also  owned  the  land  on  which 
Waldron  was  laid  out. 


"'jMy^p*^  ^1  p^ 


y,r  LLEN  S.  WALTON,  who  owns  and  oper- 
l@£Jj|  ates  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  21,  Rock- 
ville Township,  has  the  honor  of  being 
numbered  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  this 
count}'.  Almost  his  entire  life  has  here  been 
passed,  for  his  parents  removed  to  this  county  in 
1846,  when  he  was  but  two  years  of  age.  His 
birth  occurred  in  La  Porte,  Ind.,  May  22,  1844. 
His  father,  Ualph  Walton,  was  a  native  of  Dur- 
iiam,  England.  In  1792,  he  accompanied  his  par- 
ents on  their  emigration  to  America,  the  voyage 
being  made  in  a  sailing-vessel.  The  family  lo- 
cated in  Essex  County,  N.  Y.,  where  Mr.  Walton 
grew  to  manhood  and  was  married.  He  wedded 
JNIiss  Catherine  Culver,  a  native  of  New  York.  In 
1830  they  emigrated  AVestward,  locating  in  Lorain 
County,  Ohio,  among  its  early  settlers.  Four 
years  later  Mr.  Walton  removed  with  his  familj'to 
La  Porte,  Ind.,  where  he  purchased  a  tract  of  raw 
land  and  Degan  farming.  His  property  he  im- 
proved and  cultivated  and  thereon  made  his  home 
until  1846,  when  he  again  resumed  his  Westward 
journey.  This  time  he  located  in  what  is  now  Kan- 
kakee County,  but  was  then  a  part  of  AVill  County, 
settling  upon  the  farm  which  is  still  the  home  of  our 
subject.  Here  he  purchased  ninety  acres  of  land 
from  the  Government  at  the  usual  price  of  ^1.2r) 
per  acre,  erected  thereon  a  log  cabin  of  one  room 
and  in  true  pioneer  st3'le  began  life  in  the  West. 
In  that  cabin  home  he  lived  many  \ears,  until  he 


700 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD, 


erected  the  residence  in  which  his  son  Allen  now 
lives.  Wljen  he  first  located  here  Chicago  was  the 
nearest  market  and  he  hauled  his  grain  to  that 
place  with  an  ox-team.  There  were  still  some  In- 
dians living  in  tiie  neigliborhood  and  wild  game  of 
all  kinds  was  plentiful. 

Ralpli  Walton  had  served  as  a  soldier  in  the 
War  of  1812.  lie  was  quite  a  well-educated  man 
and  a  prominent  citizen.  In  politics  he  was  a 
Whig  in  early  life,  but  on  the  dissolution  of  tliat 
part^-,  joined  the  ranks  of  tlie  new  Republican 
part}^  In  religious  belief  he  was  a  Metliodist. 
His  death  occurred  in  August,  1862,  and  his  re- 
mains were  interred  in  Deselm  Cemetery.  His 
wife  survived  him  for  aljout  twenty  years  and 
passed  away  in  1883.  She  too  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church,  and  both  were  highly  re- 
spected people.  Thejr  had  a  familj'  of  eleven 
children,  as  follows:  Calvin  L.,  Jane  A.,  Se3'mour  L., 
Celia  C,  Alfred  A.,  Adam  Clarke,  Louisa  S.,  Ralph 
L.,  Ellen  and  Allen  S.  (twins),  and  Martha  A. 
Of  these  seven  are  living  and  six  have  families. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew  to  manhood 
upon  his  father's  farm  amid  the  wild  scenes  of 
frontier  life.  He  was  earlj-  inured  to  the  arduous 
labors  of  the  field,  and  after  his  father's  deatli  he 
remained  upon  the  old  homestead  and  operated 
the  farm  for  his  mother  for  a  number  of  3'ears. 
March  31,  1874,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Celia  Hedges,  daughter  of  Josepli  and  Jane 
P.  (Diamond)  Hedges.  After  his  marriage  he  pur- 
chased the  old  homestead  and  thereon  the  young 
couple  began  their  domestic  life.  Their  union 
was  blessed  with  a  famil3^  of  seven  children,  but 
three  are  now  deceased.  Raj-,  the  first-born,  died 
January  24,  1884;  Daisj',  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth,  died  Februarj'  26,  1883;  and  one  child  died 
in  infanc}'.  The  other  ciiildren  are  Harry  D.,  Os- 
car B.,  Fred  J.  and  Albert  L.  The  Walton  liouse- 
hold  is  the  abode  of  hospitality  and  its  members 
rank  high  in  social  circles. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Walton  is  a  Republi- 
can. He  has  held  a  number  of  minor  offices  but 
has  never  been  an  aspirant  in  that  direction.  He 
is  a  public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen  who 
manifests  a  commendable  interest  in  all  that  per- 
tains to  the  welfare  of  the  communitv  and  aids  in 


the  promotion  of  all  worth\'  enterprises.  Through- 
out his  entire  life  he  has  followed  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  since  coming  to  the  county  has  lived 
upon  the  farm  which  is  still  his  home.  He  carries 
on  general  farming  and  stock-raising  and  does  a 
good  business.  As  before  stated,  he  now  owns  one 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  land,  comprising  a 
well-improved  and  valuable  farm.  He  has  been 
connected  with  the  development  of  this  tract 
many  long  3-ears  and  the  greater  part  of  its  im- 
provements stands  as  a  monument  to  his  -thrift 
and  enterprise. 


_V 


/^EORGE  DAY  was  a  native  of  England,  hii 
(1/  I-—,  birth  having  occurred  in  Hcnstridge,  Som| 
%^i  ersetshire,  on  the  9th  of  June,  1822.  Hi| 
parents,  James  and  Fannie  (-Belling)  Da3',  wer 
also  born  in  England,  as  were  their  ancestors  fo| 
man3'  generations.  Their  family  consisted  of  fiva 
children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  only  onl 
of  whom  is  now  living,  .John,  who  resides  in  Mill^ 
borneport,  England. 

Our  subject  was  reared  to  manhood  on  a  farn 
and  about  the  year  1840  was  married  to  Miss  Faal 
nie,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Martha  (Mogg)  JenkJ 
ins,  who  were  also  natives  of  England.     Mrs.  Day 
was  born  June  11,  1820,  in   Dorsetshire,  Englandl 
In  18.57,  Mr.  Day  came  to  America,  leaving   hiq 
famil3'  in  England  for  three  years.     He    made 
settlement  in  Huron  County,  near  Bellevue,  Ohio 
where   he  followed   agricultural   pursuits   for  te| 
years.     He    then    removed    to    Illinois,   bu3ang 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  acres  ii 
Manteno  Township,  which  was  his  place  of  res^ 
dence   for   seventeen   3''ears.      He    then    sold   tiij 
homestead  and  located    in   the   village,  where  h| 
lived  a  retired  life  for  eight  3'ears. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Day  were  born  six  childreii 
Louisa  was  twice  married,  her  first  husband  beinl 
John  Cooper,  a  farmer  of  Ohio.  He  was  also  bora 
in  England,  and  by  their  marriage  were  born  twi 
ciiildren:     William   H.   and    Mary    Louisa.      Mfl 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

HWIVERSiry  OF  ILLINOIS 


i^^L-^'7-n--^L^^t^- 


^   jr^,ji^ 


qAu/UJ.         Q/foUr^yx^o^    (O.     X^X-C 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILUNOIS 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


7(1.) 


I 


Cooper  died  May  17,  1877,  aoed  forty-one  years. 
Louisa  then  bewiine  the  wife  of  .Joseph  (iruher,  and 
by  iier  second  union  had  one  eiiilil,  a  daughter, 
who  is  now  deceased.  Jane  is  the  wife  of  Joshua 
l'il)cr,  who  is  engaged  in  fanning  near  Peotone, 
111.  Tliey  have  six  living  children:  James  II., 
George  E.,  Roy,  Arthur,  Alvin  and  Hosa.  Anna 
D.  became  the  wife  of  William  Curl,  who  owns 
and  operates  a  farm  near  Mantcno.  Their  family 
comprises  four  children:  Mary  J.,  Anna,  Jlyrtilla, 
Albert  W.  and  George  N.  Martha  G.  died  wlien 
Iwo  years  of  age.  Alice  E.  is  at  home  with  her 
mother.  Henry  G.,  who  married  Ellen,  daughter 
of  James  Piper,  is  engaged-in  tiie  transfer  business 
in  Chicago.  They  have  a  famil}'  of  three  children: 
Matie,  Emil}'  and  George. 

Mr.  Day  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  as  is  also  his  wife,  who  still  survives 
liim.  He  was  called  to  his  final -i-ew^rd,- on  the 
24th  of  February,  1892,  at  which  time'  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years,  eight  months 
and  twenty-three  da3's.  He  was  an  industrious, 
hard-working  man,  much  respected  for  his  upright- 
ness and  true  worth.  In  his  political  views  he 
was  a  stalwart  Republican  and  took  great  interest 
in  the  welfare  and  development  of  this  region. 


-*j- 


^>^¥r<W 


^^  AIMUEL  TAYLOR,  a  wealthy  citizen  and 
^^^  one  of  the  extensive  land-owners  of  Rock. 
l\i^3)  ^'"^  Township,  resides  on  section  20.  He 
was  born  in  Devonshire,  England,  in  1827, 
and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Taylor. 
There  were  only  two  children  in  tiiis  family.  The 
younger  brother,  Alexander,  died  in  1886.  The 
father  was  a  farmer  and  made  that  work  his  business 
throughout  his  entire  life.  Emigrating  to  Amer- 
ica, he  spent  the  last  years  of  his  life  in  Canada, 
where  he  died  in  1882. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  died  when  Samuel 
was  aliout  two  j-ears  of  age,  and  he  then  went  to 
live  in  the  home  of  his  uncle,  Alexander  Taylor, 
with  whom  he  came  to  America  when  a  lad  of  ten 
summers.     They  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  a  sailing- 

32 


vessel,  whicli  after  a  voyage  of  seven  weeks  and 
tliree  da\s  dr(>pi)ed  anchor  in  tlic  liarl)or  of  Now 
York.  Landing  in  that  cit}',  Alexander  Taylor 
and  his  nephew  made  their  way  at  once  to  Ohio, 
locating  in  Huron  County.  Soon  after  reaching 
the  Buckeye  State  our  subject  started  out  in  life 
for  himself.  He  was  then  only  aljout  eleven  years 
of  age — quite  young  to  enter  upon  life's  battle. 
During  the  first  year  he  worked  out  as  a  farm 
hand  for  nine  months,  receiving  $4  per  month  for 
his  laltors,  and  during  the  three  months  of  the 
winter  season  he  attended  school.  For  six  j'eais  he 
was  thus  emploj'ed,  after  whicli  he  commenced 
farming  for  himself.  Having  by  his  industry, 
economy  and  good  management  acquired  a  small 
capital,  he  purchased  a  farm,  not  very  large  in  ex- 
tent it  is  true,  but  still  it  gave  him  a  start  in   life. 

Hoping  to  better  his  financial  condition,  Mr. 
Tayjar  emigrated  from  Ohio  to  Illinois  in  1853 
He  and  D.  W.  Dole  started  on  the  journey  by  team, 
but  the  roads  were  so  bad  that  they  returned,  left 
the  team  and  came  to  Chicago  by  rail.  From  Chi- 
cago to  Momence  they  walked,  and  then  came 
down  the  river  to  J.  W.  Smith's  in  Bourbonnais 
Township.  Purchasing  one  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  of  partially  improved  land  on  section  3, 
Rockville  Township,  he  gave  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  its  cultivation  until  about  1862,  when  he 
removed  to  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides,  and 
which  has  been  his  home  continuously  since,  with 
the  exception  of  about  two  years,  a  part  of  which 
period  was  spent  in  California.  The  old  home- 
stead now  comprises  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land.  Mr.  Taylor  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  and  does  a  good  business. 
He  has  labored  earnestly  and  success  has  rewarded 
his  well-directed  efforts.  As  his  financial  resources 
have  increased  he  lias  made  additional  purchases 
from  time  to  time,  until  his  landed  possessions  now 
aggregate  some  twelve  hundred  acres  of  land,  all 
of  which  is  situated  in  Rockville  Township,  and  is 
well-improved  and  valuable  property. 

Mr.  Taylor  has  been  twice  married.  In  1856, 
he  wedded  Miss  Fidelia  J.  Dole,  sister  of  D.  W. 
Dole,  and  unto  them  were  born  six  children:  Ella, 
who  diecj  in  1888;  Wilbur,  who  died  in  1885; 
Julia  and  Jennie,  both  deceased;  ^^linnie,  now  the 


706 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


wife  of  Oliver  Schreffler,  a  general  mercliant  of 
Rockville;  and  Edwin,  who  is  engaged  in  farming 
in  Rockville  Township.  Tlie  mother  of  this  fam- 
ily died  in  November,  1876,  and  her  remains  were 
interred  in  Deselm  Cemetery.  Mr.  Taylor  was 
again  married,  August  19,  1879,  his  second  union 
being  with  Mrs.  Maria  E.  (Harter)  Reed,  widow  of 
Emanuel  Reed,  who  died  June  16,  1877.  By  her 
former  marriage  she  had  three  children:  Eldon 
M.,  in  business  in  Kankakee;  Hiram  H.,  cashier  in 
a  business  house  in  Chicago;  and  Ina  F.,  wife  of 
Edwin  Taylor,  youngest  son  of  our  subject. 

Mr.  Taylor  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  Republican  party.  He  has  never 
been  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office-seeking,  yet 
has  served  in  the  position  of  Road  Commissioner. 
A  public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen,  he  man- 
ifests .an  active  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the 
welfare  of  the  community,  and  alwaj-s  aids  in  the 
support  of  public  enterprises  calculated  to  benefit 
the  town  or  county.  Among  the  pioneer  settlers 
Mr.  Taylor  is  numbered,  for  his  residence  in  this 
community  covers  the  long  period  of  forty  years. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  first  jury  ever  impaneled 
in  Kankakee.  He  has  witnessed  almost  the  entire 
growth  and  development  of  the  county  and  has 
aided  in  making  it  what  it  is  to-da}-,  one  of  the 
leading  counties  in  this  great  commonwealth.  As 
for  his  success  in  life,  Mr.  Taylor  deserves  ail 
credit;  starting  out  for  himself  at  the  early  age  of 
eleven  years  he  has  steadil^^  worked  his  wa}'  up- 
ward from  an  humble  position  to  one  of  wealth. 
Mrs.  Taylor  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church. 


--^^l 


H. 


li«^ 


m 


■iflOHN  M.  LIVINGSTON  for  over  thirty 
years  has  been  engaged  in  agricultural  pur- 
suits on  section  9,  jManteuo  Township.  He 
_  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  born  in 
Harrisburgli,  Lewis  County,  on  the  1st  of  Jul}', 
1836.  He  is  the  onl}'  son  of  Richard  and  Annis 
(Humphrey)  Livingston,  who  were  the  parents  of 
two  daughters,  Sarah  and  Mary,  both  of  whom  are 


now  deceased.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  Richard  Livingston,  was  a  farmer  in  New 
York  during  the  most  of  his  life  and  died  in  that 
State  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two  years. 
His  father  was  one  of  three  brothers  who  emi- 
grated to  America  from  Scotland  and  who  were  all 
officers  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  The  ma- 
ternal grandfatlier,  Ashball  Humphrey,  came  from 
Massachusetts  to  New  York,  where  he  followed  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  as  a  means  of  livelihood  and 
where  he  lived  until  eighty-four  years  of  age. 

Richard  Livingston  for  many  years  was  also  a 
farmer  in  the  Empire  State,  but  in  1859  came 
West  to  Illinois  to  make  his  home  with  his  son, 
our  subject,  who  had  located  here  two  years  previ- 
ously. The  father  returned  to  New  York,  but 
after  remaining  there  for  a  short  time  only,  be- 
came a  permanent  resident  of  this  State.  He  de- 
parted this  life  in  1885,  having  then  attained  the 
age  of  seventy-nine  j-ears.  His  wife,  who  is  still 
surviving,  is  now  eiglity-three,  and  lives  with  her 
son.  Both  slie  and  her  husband  were  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church  in  New  York,  but  never  iden- 
tified themselves  with  any  church  organization  in 
the  West,  as  there  is  no  Baptist  Church  in  the 
neighborhood. 

INIr.  Livingston  of  this  sketch  was  reared  to  the 
life  of  a  farmer  from  his  early  boyhood,  and  has  fol- 
lowed that  calling  up  to  the  present  time.  He  re- 
mained under  the  parental  roof  until  reaching 
mature  years  and  attended  botli  the  district  and 
high  scliools  in  his  native  State.  On  the  28th  of 
December,  1859,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  ISIinorris  and  Dorothy  (Bar- 
rett) Beebe,  who  were  botli  born  near  Rochester, 
N.  Y.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Livingston  have  three  chil- 
dren, Frank,  Minnie  and  Burton,  wlio  have  been 
given  good  educational  advantages. 

In  1858,  our  subject  first  located  in  Illinois,  at 
which  time  he  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty  acres 
near  Crete,  Will  County,  wlierc  he  lived  until 
1861.  He  then  sold  that  property  and  became  the 
owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section 
9,  Manteno  Township,  to  the  cultivation  of  which 
he  has  since  devoted  his  energies.  When  he  pur- 
chased this  place  there  had  been  scarcely  any  im- 
provements upon  it  and  the  house  w.as  very  small 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIUCAL  RECORD. 


707 


and  uncomfortable.  This  is  all  now  iliangod,  for 
lie  has  erected  a  large  and  pleasant  iionie,  good 
barns  and  a  number  of  other  buildings,  the  farm 
being  considered  one  of  the  best  in  the  township. 
It  is  located  a  mile  and  a-cjuarter  from  ^lanteno. 
Mr.  Livingston  is  held  in  the  highest  regard  in 
this  coniMiunity  and  has  taken  an  important  part 
in  its  welfare;  lie  has  held  the  otTice  of  School 
Director  for  a  number  of  years  and  is  active  in 
llu'  cause  of  education.  Politically  he  is  a  stanch 
Kcpublican,  and  though  not  himself  a  member  of 
any  religious  denonunation,  contributes  liberally 
to  the  Presbyterian  Church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a 
member. 


II^ETER  GRANGER,  of  Manteno  Township, 
^1  )|  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  pioneer 
families  of  Kankakee  County.  His  father 
is  David  Granger,  who,  emigrating  from 
Canada,  settled  in  this  county,  Mhere  he  still  lives, 
iu  1848.  He  was  born  in  Canada,  on  the  18th  of 
.Januar}',  1808,  and  has  consequently  attained  the 
good  old  age  of  eighty-five  years.  On  arriving  at 
manhood  he  wedded  Elizabeth  Roy,  whose  death 
occurred  at  the  age  of  sevent\-eight  years,  August 
li),  1883.  They  were  the  parents  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, eight  of  whom,  two  s(^ns  and  six  daughters, 
are  living  at  this  writing,  in  1892.  The  father 
and  his  son  Ambrose  reside  together  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Bourbonnais  and  the  latter  still  owns  the 
old  homestead. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Canada 
on  thelUthof  September,  18  14,  and  was  about  four 
years  of  age  when  his  parents  emigrated  to  Kan- 
k.ikee  County,  and  he  well  remembers  the  wild  ap- 
pearance of  the  country  in  the  early  days  of  its 
liistory.  When  the  family  took  up  their  residence 
in  this  portion  of  the  State  there  was  no  settle- 
ment north  of  them  nearer  than  Chicago. 

On  the  17th  of  September,  18G7,  Mr.  Granger 
was  united  in  marriage  w^ith  Miss  Olive,  daugiiter 
iif  .Tosei)h  Dupuies,  of  Kankakee,   who  settled  at 


Bourbonnais  in  1851.  Mrs.  Granger's  mother  de- 
parted this  life  in  1881. '  Her  family  coini)rised 
eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  now  residents  of 
Kankakee  County.  Mr.  Granger  and  his  wife 
have  a  pleasant  home  in  Kankakee,  which  was  re- 
cently erected.  Though  they  have  no  children  of 
their  own  they  took  to  their  hearts  and  home 
EmmaTrudell,  who  is  now  their  adopted  daughter 
and  goes  liy  the  name  of  Emma  Granger. 

JMr.  Granger  owns  a  gfn>d  farm  of  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  in  Manteno  Township  and 
eighty  acres  elsewhere.  For  many  years  he  en- 
gaged in  the  cultivation  and  improvement  of  his 
farm  and  then  removed  to  Kankakee.  He  will  re-oc- 
cupy the  farm  for  a  time,  as  he  contemplates  making 
some  valuable  improvements  in  tillage  and  drain- 
age upon  his  pl.ice,  but  he  expects  eventually  to 
return  to  his  home  in  Kankakee.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Granger  are  numbered  among  the  intelligent  and 
respected  citizens  of  the  community  in  which  they 
dwell.  Both  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  Church. 


ILLIAM  RAUWORTH  is  one  of  the  ex- 
\V^y#/  tensive  farmers  and  a  large  stock-dealer  of 
%'  Rockville  Township.  He  now  resides  on 
section  5,  where  he  owns  a  valuable  farm  of  four 
hundred  acres.  He  is  a  native  of  England,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  the  town  of  Sheffield, 
Yorkshire,  on  the  29th  of  December,  1837.  His 
parents,  Benjamin  and  Martha  (Armstead)  Rau- 
worth,  were  natives  of  the  same  locality.  The 
father  carried  on  a  wholesale  and  retail  butcher- 
shop  in  ShefHeld.  In  18(!2  the  family  came  to 
America  and  located  at  Wilton  Center,  Will 
County,  111.,  where  the  father  bought  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres.  In  the  fall  of  18C3 
he  returned  to  England  to  settle  up  business,  and 
while  there  sickened  and  died,  in  June,  1864.  His 
wife  spent  her  last  da^ys  in  Illinois,  where  she 
died  in  1884.  The  parents  of  our  subject  were 
members  respectively  of  the  Baptist  and  Epis- 
copal Churches  while  in  England,  but  after  com- 


708 


POxtTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


ing  to  this  country,  Mrs.  Rauworth  was  identified 
witli  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Tlie  family 
numbered  seven  children:  John,  a  farmer  and 
stock-dealer,  residing  in  Will  County;  William,  of 
this  sketch;  Joseph,  who  died  in  infancy;  Samuel, 
who  died  in  1878;  Thomas,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Alice,  wife  of  William  Robinson,  living  in  AVill 
County;  and  Sarah,  wife  of  Alexander  Armstrong, 
a  resident  farmer  of  Iowa. 

In  the  public  schools  of  his  native  land  William 
Rauwoith  acquired  a  business  education.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  druggist 
and  learned  that  trade,  which  he  followed  until 
his  emigration  to  the  New  World.  The  last  two 
j'ears  of  his  stay  in  England  were  spent  as  a  drug- 
gist in  the  city  of  London.  In  April,  1862,  he 
bade  adieu  to  his  old  home  and  crossed  the  briny 
deep.  He  first  located  near  Wilton  Center,  AVill 
County,  111.,  on  the  farm  purchased  by  his  father, 
as  given  above,  which  was  his  home  until  1875. 
when  he  removed  to  Rockville  Township  and  pur- 
chased two  hundred  and  eight}'  acres  of  land  on 
section  5.  This  fai-m  he  has  since  made  his  home, 
and  he  has  added  by  purchase  till  he  owns  four 
hundred  acres  all  in  a  body.  It  is  one  of  the  de- 
sirable places  of  the  community.  His  land  is  well 
cultivated,  but  he  devotes  his  principal  time  and 
attention  to  stock-raising.  He  is  doing  an  exten- 
sive and  successful  business  in  this  line,  and 
always  keeps  on  hand  an  excellent  grade  of 
horses,  cattle  and  hogs. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1867,  Mr.  Rauworth  was 
married  to  INIiriam  Sollitt.  Mrs.  Rauworth  was 
born  in  Sheffield,  England,  September  4,  1845,  and 
in  1850  came  with  her  parents,  John  B.  and  Anna 
(Dodds)  Sollitt,  to  the  United  States.  After  a 
short  time  spent  in  Chicago,  they  moved  to  a 
farm  in  Will  Township,  Will  County,  111.  The 
father  died  in  Grant  Park,  Kankakee  County,  July 
21,  1888.  His  wife  now  lives  in  Peru,  Ind.  Seven 
children  have  been  born  of  our  subject's  union: 
Charles  E.,  Clara  A.,  Edith  E.,  Jesse  S.,  Sidney  H., 
Oliver  AV.  and  Mary. 

In  his  political  atliliations  Mr.  Rauworth  is  now 
a  Prohibitionist.  He  was  for  many  years  an 
ardent  supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  but  on 
account  of  his  views  on  the  temperance  question, 


he  has  recentl.y  joined  the  ranks  of  the  Prohibition 
party.  A  public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen, 
he  manifests  an  active  and  commendable  interest 
in  all  that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  the  commu- 
nity and  its  upbuilding.  He  is  truly  American  in 
sentiment  and  principle.  It  was  a  fortunate  day 
for  him  when  he  decided  to  seek  a  home  in  the 
New  World,  for  here  he  has  met  with  prosperity, 
has  secured  a  pleasant  home,  and  made  many 
warm  friends,  by  whom  he  is  held  in  high  regard. 
Mrs.  Rauworth  and  the  children  belong  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


~o2- 


■SO~ 


^i^^  EYMOUR  J.  ALLEN,  wl-.o  is  engaged  in 
^^^  farming  on  section  15,  Rockville  Town- 
lil/ni)  ship,  is  numbered  among  the  honored  pio- 
neers of  the  county,  having  here  made  his 
home  since  1847,  or  for  forty-six  consecutive 
years.  He  was  born  in  Eric  County,  N.  Y., on  the 
29th  of  Januaiy,  1831,  and  comes  of  a  family  of 
English  origin.  His  parents,  George  W.  and  Sa- 
phrona  (Bessey)  Allen,  were  both  natives  of  the 
Empire  State.  They  had  a  family  of  five  children, 
but  two  are  now  deceased.  Albert  B.  died  in  1888, 
and  Sarah  A.  departed  this  life  in  1859.  The 
other  members  of  the  family  are  Se3'mour;  Man- 
dane,  widow  of  Jlilton  Bloom;  and  Erancis  M.,  a 
farmer  now  residing  in  Whiteside  County,  111. 
The  father  of  our  subject  followed  farming 
throughout  his  entire  life.  His  last  years  were 
spent  in  Whiteside  County,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1886.  His  wife  passed  away  long  pre- 
vious, being  called  to  her  final  rest  in  1848. 

No  important  event  occurred  during  the  bo}'- 
hood  of  our  subject,  which  was  spent  in  the  usual 
manner  of  farmer  lads.  He  acquired  a  good  Eng- 
lish education,  attending  the  public  schools  at  in- 
tervals until  twenty  years  of  age.  He  was  a  lad 
of  thirteen  years  when,  in  1844,  with  his  parents, 
he  left  the  East  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Du 
Page  County,  111.  IMuch  of  the  trip  West  w.as 
made  by  teams  and  they  were  upon  the  road  for 
five  weeks.     After    two   years   spent    in  U a  Page 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


709 


County  the  family  came  to  what  is  now  Kankakee 
County,  but  was  tlien  a  part  of  Will  County,  lo- 
cating in  Rockville  Township,  where  the  father 
rented  land  for  two  years. 

Our  subject  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
and  .assisted  his  father  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
home  farm  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he 
began  business  for  himself.  Purchasing  an  ox- 
team,  he  engaged  in  breaking  prairie,  carried  on 
farming  to  some  extent,  and  also  operated  a  thresh- 
ing-machine for  twelve  seasons.  At  length  he  left 
Illinois  and  went  to  Iowa,  purchasing  two  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Shelbj-  County.  For 
thirteen  j-ears  he  retained  possession  of  that  tract, 
but  in  1868  sold  out  and  bought  the  farm  on  which 
he  now  resides  on  section  15,  Rockville  Township. 
It  comprises  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land, 
all  of  which  is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  well  improved.  He  has  made  many  of  the 
improvements  upon  the  place  himself  and  they 
stand  as  a  monument  to  his  thrift  and  industry. 
He  now  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock-rais- 
ing .and  is  doing  a  successful  business. 

On  New  Year's  Day  of  1856,  Mr.  Allen  was 
joined  in  mai-ri.age  with  Miss  Sarah  J.  Grimes, 
daughter  of  Willard  and  Sarah  Grimes.  Three 
children  were  born  of  this  union:  Eva  C,  wife  of 
Henr}-  Hartzog,  a  farmer  residing  in  Rockville 
Township;  Sarah  A.,  wife  of  .John  G.  Bray,  who 
carries  on  agricultural  pursuits  in  Kansas;  and 
Elden,  now  deceased.  In  February,  1879,  Mrs. 
Allen  passed  from  among  the  living,  being  much 
beloved  and  lamented.  November  8,  1882,  Mr. 
Allen  wedded  Charlotte  M.,  daughter  of  George 
W.  and  Lois  Evans.  Mrs.  Allen  by  a  former  mar- 
riage has  two  children,  Emily  E.  and  Robert  L. 
Fisher. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Allen  is  a  Republican 
and  warmly  advocates  the  principles  of  that  party, 
having  cast  his  first  vote  for  Gen.  Scott.  He  has 
served  his  township  as  Road  Commissioner  and 
Supervisor  for  eight  years.  A  public-spirited  and 
progressive  citizen,  he  is  interested  in  all  that  per- 
tains to  the  welfare  of  the  community,  and  ever 
does  his  part  toward  supporting  public  enterprises 
calculated  to  benefit  town  and  county.  He  has 
witnessed  almost  the  entire  growth  of   Kankakee 


County.  He  has  experienced  the  hardships  of 
pioneer  life  when  this  community  was  a  frontier 
settlement,  and  he  has  seen  the  development  of 
this  region  from  a  wild,  unsettled  place  until  it  has 
become  one  of  the  leading  counties  of  the  State. 
He  well  deserves  mention  among  its  worthy  citi- 
zens and  honored  pioneers. 


'if  OHN  W.  RAYMOND,  who  carries  on  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock-raising  on  section 
.30,  Rockville  Township,  was  born  in  Os- 
wego County,  N.Y.,  October  23,  1826.  The 
family  is  of  English  descent.  His  parents  were 
Nathan  and  Maria  (Williamson)  Rajmond,  and 
unto  them  were  born  eight  children,  the  eldest  of 
whom  is  our  subject.  Aaron,  the  second  in  order 
of  birth,  is  now  engaged  in  farming  in  Van  Buren 
County,  Mich.;  Eliza,  wife  of  Silas  Vanbenschoten, 
died  in  1868;  Hannah  died  at  the  age  of  two 
years;  Maria,  who  died  in  1865,  was  the  wife  of 
Austin  Raymond;  Mary,  widow  of  Joseph  Har- 
mon, is  living  in  the  Empire  State;  Delia,  wife  of 
Erastus  Dickens,  died  in  1870;  Ileniy,  who  en- 
listed as  a  private  in  the  late  war  in  1861,  and  was 
killed  in  an  engagement  at  Sabine  Pass,  in  Texas, 
was  the  youngest  of  the  familj-.  The  father  of 
our  subject  was  a  tanner  by  trade,  but  carried  on 
farming  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  He  died  in 
1889,  at  the  veiy  advanced  .  age  of  eighty-seven 
years  and  eight  days.  The  mother  passed  away 
some  years  previous,  being  called  to  the  eternal 
home  in  1864. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  and  reared 
upon  a  farm,  and  in  the  public  schools  received  a 
good  business  education  that  fitted  him  for  the 
practical  duties  of  life.  In  his  parents'  home  he 
remained  until  he  had  attained  his  majority,  when 
he  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  He  had  little 
but  a  young  man's  bright  hope  of  the  future  and 
a  pair  of  willing  hands,  for  his  capital  consisted 
of  only  forty  cents.  Fie  wc>rked  as  a  farm  hand 
during  the   summer   season,    and    in    the    winter 


710 


JfORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


months  engaged  in  teaching  school.  He  taiiglit 
his  first  tei-m  of  school  at  the  age  of  nineteen  and 
his  last  at  the  age  of  fifty,  so  his  experience  in 
that  profession  covers  quite  a  range  of  years. 

Mr.  Raymond  was  married  in  the  Empire  State, 
December  18,  1856,  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of 
Edward  and  Mary  Bulger.  Four  children  have 
been  born  of  their  union,  as  follows:  Clara  B., 
wife  of  Myron  Kahler,  a  farmer  of  Rockville  Town- 
ship; Nellie,  wife  of  Rev.  B.  P.  Millar,  a  resident 
of  Chicago;  Jennie,  wife  of  Nelson  Hazelton,  a 
farmer  of  Will  County;  and  Nettie,  wife  of  B.  M. 
Sclirefler,  who  is  engaged  in  the  butchering  busi- 
ness in  Kankakee. 

The  year  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Raymond  left 
the  State  of  his  nativity  and,  witli  his  wife,  emi- 
grated Westward  to  Illinois.  He  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  Rockville  Township,  Kankakee  County, 
and  rented  land  for  a  period  of  nine  3'ears,  after 
which  he  purchased  the  farm  on  which  he  is  now 
living.  It  comprises  one  hundred  and  seventy' 
acres  on  section  30,  and  is  a  beautifully  imjjroved 
tract  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  In  con- 
nection with  the  cultivation  of  his  land,  he  car- 
ried on  stock-raising.  As  he  liad  no  capital  when 
lie  came  to  the  West,  he  has  gained  his  entire 
inoperty  in  the  years  of  his  residence  here.  The 
obstacles  in  his  path  he  overcame  b^'  determined 
effort,  and  his  good  management,  business  ability 
and  fair  dealing  have  won  him   prosperit}'. 

Mr.  Ra_ymond  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  to  the  support  of  which  he  con- 
tributes liberally.  He  also  gives  his  aid  for  the 
advancement  of  any  enterprise  or  interest  calcu- 
lated to  prove  of  public  benefit.  The  community 
recognize  in  him  a  valued  citizen  and  a  man  of 
sterling  worth.  Mr.  Raj'mond  cast  his  first  Presi- 
dential vote  for  Gen.  Scott,  and  since  that  time 
has  voted  with  the  Republican  party,  of  whose 
principles  he  is  a  stanch  advocate.  His  fellow- 
citizens,  appreciating  his  worth  and  ability,  have 
frequently  called  upon  him  to  serve  in  positions 
of  public  trust.  He  held  the  office  of  School 
Treasurer,  and  has  also  served  as  Road  Commis- 
sioner and  School  Trustee.  He  held  the  office  of 
School  Director  for  nearl}'  twent^'-one  years,  and 
did  effective  service  for  tiie  cause  of  education  by 


his  earnest  efforts  in  its  behalf.  For  ten  years 
Mr.  Raymond  also  served  as  Postmaster  of  Rock- 
ville. His  public  duties  have  ever  been  discharged 
in  a  prompt  and  faithful  manner,  with  credit  to 
himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents. 
His  career  has  l>een  an  honorable  one,  and  has 
gained  him  universal  confidence  and  esteem. 


^EORm-:  N.  GUILFORD,  who  owns  and  op- 
J-—  erates  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
^^J^l  on  section  17,  Rockville  Township,  claims 
Michigan  as  the  State  of  his  nativity.  His  birth 
occurred  on  Piairie  Ronde,  in  Kalamazoo  Count}', 
March  16,  1838.  The  father,  Erastus  Guilford, 
was  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1802,  and  was  of 
Puritan  descent.  After  attaining  to  years  of  ma- 
turity, he  married  Elizabeth  McElvain,  a  lady  of 
Scotch  descent.  Mr.  Guilford  was  a  well-educated 
man.  On  leaving  the  old  Bay  State  in  1824,  lie 
removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  the  distil- 
ling business  until  1827.  He  then  went  to  Ypsi- 
lanti,  Mich.,  but  soon  afterward  returned  to  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  until  1829.  In  that  year,  in 
compan}'  with  two  others,  he  walked  from  the 
Buckeye  State  to  Kalamazoo  County,  Mich.,  where 
he  arrived  with  only  ^1  in  his  pocket.  He  then 
staked  out  a  claim  about  fifteen  miles  southwest  of 
the  city  of  Kalamazoo,  upon  which  he  built  a  small 
log  cabin.  Not  long  afterward  he  organized  a 
colony  of  about  twelve  young  men  (only  three 
couple  married)  and  returned  to  Michigan.  The 
following  3-ear,  1830,  he  plowed  the  first  furrow 
ever  turned  in  Kalamazoo  Countj^  for  previous  to 
that  time  the  few  settlers  who  were  living  there 
had  subsisted  on  what  they  could  make  by  hunt- 
ing and  fishing.  Mr.  Guilford  purchased  his  farm 
from  the  Government  at  ^1.25  per  acre,  and  en- 
gaged in  its  cultivation  and  improvement  through- 
out the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  married  in 
1831,  and  reared  his  family  on  the  old  homestead. 
The  death  of  Mr.  Guilford  occurred  on  the  12th 
of  January,  18.52.  He  had  helped  to  organize 
Kalamazoo  County,  and   was  one  of  its   honored 


PORTRAIT  AKD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


711 


pioneers  and  prominent  citizens.  He  held  a  nuni- 
l)er  of  townsliip  oflices,  and  in  his  political  senti- 
ment was  a  Whig.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a 
Methodist.  The  raotlier  spent  the  last  j'ears  of  her 
life  at  the  home  of  our  subject,  her  death  occur- 
ring in  1882.  They  had  a  family  of  five  sons: 
James,  a  farmer  residing  in  Branch  County',  Mich.; 
.lohn,  who  follows  farming  in  Lake  County,  Ind.; 
George,  of  this  sketch;  Albert,  who  died  at  his 
home  in  South  Dakota,  in  1890;  and  Austin,  a 
ranchman  living  in  Denver,  Colo. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  Mr. 
Guilford,  whose  name  heads  this  reOrd.  He  was 
only  thirteen  years  of  age  w-jien  his  father  died. 
Upon  the  home  farm  he  remained  during  his  boy- 
hood and  youth,  and  in  the  summer  months  he 
aided  in  the  labors  of  the  fai'm,  while  in  the  win- 
ter season  he  attended  the  public  schools.  He  be- 
gan to  earn  his  own  livelihood  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen, by  teaching  school.  In  the  fall  of  1862,  he 
left  Michigan  and  came  to  Kankakee  Count}',  111., 
where  during  the  winter  he  engaged  in  teaching 
school  at  §20  per  month,  boarding  himself.  He 
had  a  school  of  fifty-seven  pupils.  In  the  spring 
he  returned  to  his  old  liome,  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  year  18Go,  when  he  again  came 
to  this  county.  During  liis  previous  residence 
here  he  had  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty  acres 
on  section  17,  Hockville  Township,  the  same  upon 
which  he  now  resides.  Its  boundaries,  however, 
have  smce  been  extended  by  additional  purchase, 
until  it  now  comprises  a  quarter-section  of  valua- 
ble land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  well 
improved  with  all  the  accessories  of  a  model  farm. 

November  20,  1870,  was  celebrated  the  marriage 
of  George  N.  Guilford  and  Miss  Ellen  M..  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Ann  (Brevorte)  Gay.  Her 
parents  were  of  Dutch  descent.  Three  children 
have  been  born  of  the  union  of  our  subject  and 
his  wife:  Lora  M.,  Edna  A.  and  Orra  L.  The  fam- 
ily is  one  of  prominence  in  the  community.  Its 
members  rank  high  in  social  circles,  and  the  (!iiil- 
ford  household  is  the  abode  of  hospitalitv. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Guilford  is  a  stanch  Republican. 
He  joined  tliat  party  on  its  organization  and  has 
since  been  one  of  its  warm  advocates.  He  has 
held  the  office  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  long 


I  period  of  twelve  year^,  was  also  School  Director, 
Tax  Collector  and  Postmaster  of  Deselm.  His  pub- 
lic and  private  life  are  alike  above  reproach. 
Whatever  offices  he  has  been  called  upon  to  fill,  he 
has  discharged  his  duties  with  a  promptness  and 
fidelity  that  have  won  him  the  commendation  of 
all  concerned.  He  is  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and 
strict  integrity,  held  in  high  regard  for  his  many  ex- 
cellencies of  character,  and  is  well  known  through- 
out the  communit}'. 


«^ 


<#> 


?RED  S.  BREEN.  the  editor  and  publisher 


^■j  of  the  Manteno  Independent,  was  born  on 
the  20th  of  March,  1869,  in  Manteno,  and 
is  a  son  of  John  1).  and  Lidora  M.  (Gilmore)  Breen. 
His  paternal  grandfather  was  the  owner  of  an  ex- 
tensive cotton  plantation  near  Shelbyville,  Ky., 
where  his  death  occurred  many  3'ears  ago.  On  the 
maternal  side  his  grandfather,  James  Gilmore,  em- 
igrated to  Illinois  from  Ohio  in  the  year  1850. 
He  located  in  Rockville  Township,  Kankakee 
County,  where  he  carried  on  a  farm  and  also  did 
considerable  contracting  and  building  until  re- 
cently. In  1889,  he  retired  from  active  duties 
and  has  since  been  a  resident  of  Kankakee.  He  is 
a  native  of  New  York  and  is  now  in  his  seventj-- 
fourth  year.  His  family  comprised  three  sons  and 
two  daughters.  Two  sons,  Joseph  and  John,  were 
soldiers  in  the  Civil  War,  having  enlisted  in  Ohio. 
The  former  died  on  his  way  home  from  Anderson- 
ville  prison  and  John  died  while  a  prisoner  in 
Libby. 

John  D.  Breen  was  a  native  of  Louisville,  K3'., 
where  he  was  reared  to  manhood,  after  which  he 
clerked  on  a  steamboat  on  the  Mississippi  River 
for  a  number  of- years.  About  the  year  1855,  go- 
ing to  Chicago,  he  served  as  book-keeper  for  some 
time  in  that  city.  In  1858,  he  arrived  in  Manteno, 
where  he  taught  school  for  some  fourteen  ^-ears. 
During  his  residence  here  he  held  a  number  of 
offices  of  trust  and  responsibility,  and  served  as 
Postmaster  for  four  years,  receiving  his  appoint- 
ment   from    President   Garfield.     He   was  also  an 


712 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


efficient  Police  Magistrate  and  a  popular  auc- 
tioneer. His  death  occurred  on  the  30th  of  March, 
1890.  His  wife,  who  survives  hirn,  is  now  making 
her  home  in  Manteno  with  her  children.  She  was 
born  in  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  and  is  of  Irish  and 
Pennsylvania  Dutch  extraction.  By  her  marriage 
she  became  the  mother  of  eight  children,  seven  of 
whom  are  yet  living:  Myron  W.  and  Cassius  C. 
are  married  and  the  others  in  order  of  birth  are 
James  W.,  Fred  S.,  Frank  (who  died  at  the  ago  of 
four  years),  Eva  A.,  Sadie  A.  and  Jennie  N. 

The  early  years  of  Fred  S.  Breen  were  passed  in 
Manteno  and  his  education  was  obtained  in  the 
public  schools.  When  only  twelve  years  of  age 
his  tastes  and  inclination  led  him  in  the  direction 
of  the  printing  and  publishing  business.  He 
therefore  learned  the  printer's  trade,  and  while  his 
father  was  Postmaster  was  his  assistant  in  the  of- 
fice. In  1889,  he  purchased  the  Manteno  Indepen- 
dent of  the  former  owner  and  proprietor,  W.  R.  De 
Veling,  and  at  once  assumed  the  management  and 
control  of  the  paper.  He  has  proved  himself  able 
as  an  editor  and  is  carrying  on  the  paper  very 
successfully.  Mr.  Breen  is  a  Republican  in  poli- 
tics, but  edits  the  Independent  OTi  i\\e  independent 
basis.  He  is  a  rising  and  promising  young  man, 
full  of  the  enterprise  and  public  spirit  of  the  times. 
He  is  at  present  serving  as  Town  Clerk  and  is  also 
a  Notary  Public. 


W 


(V  j^^ILLIAM  McELVAIN,  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion 28,  Rockville  Township,  belongs  to 
a  well-known  family  of  Kankakee  County, 
one  that  has  long  been  identified  with  its  upbuild- 
ing and  progress.  He  well  deserves  representa- 
tion in  this  volume,  and  we  feel  assured  that  this 
record  of  his  life  will  prove  of  interest  to  many  of 
our  readers. 

Mr.  McElvain  was  born  in  Kalamazoo  County, 
Mich.,  July  6,  1837.  His  father,  Greer  McElvain, 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  of  Scotch 
descent.  In  early  life  he  left  the  Keystone  State 
and  removed  to  Ross  County,  Oiiio,  where  he  made 


his  home  until  his  emigration  to  Michigan.  With 
four  companions  he  started  to  Kalamazoo  County. 
They  had  only  three  horses  among  them,  so  they 
had  to  take  turns  in  walking.  In  the  meantime 
Mr.  McElvain  was  married  to  Miss  Mahala  Han- 
son. In  1847,  accompanied  by  iiis  family,  he  left 
Michigan  and  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  what  is 
now  Kankakee  County,  but  was  then  a  part  of 
Will  County.  He  made  a  location  in  Rockville 
Townshi|),  ])urchasing  a  partially  improved  farm 
of  two  hundred  acres  on  sections  21  and  28.  Some 
of  the  land  had  been  broken  and  a  double  log 
house  had  been  erected.  That  cabin  was  the  home 
of  the  family  for  seven  years.  In  true  pioneer 
style  they  began  life  in  this  community,  and  the 
family  experienced  many  of  the  hardships  of  the 
frontier.  Occasionally  bands  of  Indians  would 
visit  the  neighborhood,  and  wild  game  of  all  kinds 
was  plentiful.  The  cities  of  Manteno  and  Kanka- 
kee had  not  then  sprung  into  existence;  Wilming- 
ton was  their  regular  trading-post, and  they  hauled 
their  grain  to  Chicago,  from  where  they  also 
brought  with  teams  the  lumber  used  in  building  the 
home  of  our  subject.  Greer  McElvain  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  in  iK)litics 
was  a  Republican.  He  died  February  4,  1871, and 
his  remains  were  interred  in  the  Deselm  Cemetery. 
The  mother  survived  him  about  two  years,  passing 
away  in  1873.  She,  too,  was  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church,  and  both  were  people  of 
sterling  worth,  held  in  high  esteem  by  their  many 
friends. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McElvain  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: David,  a  retired  farmer  residing  in  Kanka- 
kee; John,  of  Chicago;  Mary  J.,  wife  of  Calvin 
Walton,  who  resides  in  Englewood;  William,  of 
this  sketch;  Ann  E.,  wife  of  John  Guilford,  who 
lives  near  Lake  Village,  Ind.;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Matthew  Harris,  of  this  county;  Maggie  S.,  wife  of 
Fred  Hartzberg,  of  Kankakee;  Greer,  who  died  in 
1872;  Ellen,  wife  of  Charles  Putnam,  who  resides 
in  Chicago;  and  Janet,  who  died  in  1890,  and  was 
the  wife  of  Eber  Forbes. 

No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  during 
the  childhood  days  of  our  subject,  which  were 
passed  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  in  at- 
tendance at  the  common  schools  during  the  winter 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


^*(t.^«!J«SK;.>=-  1 


iSSgfflSi"^^ 


Col.  John    W. Paddock 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


715 


season  and  in  working  upon  the  farm  during  the 
summer  months.  He  remained  upon  the  old  home- 
stead with  his  parents  until  after  they  had  passed 
away,  and  3-et  resides  at  that  place.  Indeed  it  has 
been  his  home  ever  since  he  came  to  Illinois.  Much 
of  his  childhood  was  there  passed,  and  the  work  of 
his  manhood  has  there  been  performed.  In  1876  Mr. 
McElvaiu  was  married  to  Mrs.  Rhoda  (Noble) 
Stanton,  widow  of  Richard  Stanton.  By  her  former 
marriage  she  had  one  daughter.  Flora  E.  Four 
children  have  been  born  of  the  union  of  our  sub- 
ject and  his  wife,  all  daughters,  namely:  Mahala 
J.,  Susie  M.,  Agnes  R.  and  Hattie  P.  The  familj- 
is  widely  known  in  this  community,  the  McElvain 
household  being  the  abode  of  hospitality,  and  its 
members  rank  high  in  social  circles.  Mrs.  McEl- 
vain holds  membership  with  the  Methodist  Church. 
In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr .  McElvain  is  a 
Republican.  He  has  never  been  an  office-seeker, 
preferring  to  devote  his  entire  time  and  attention 
to  his  business  interests.  He  now  owns  a  valuable 
tract  of  land,  and  carries  on  general  farming  and 
stock-raising  with  success.  Mr.  McElvain  is  pos- 
sessed of  more  than  ordinary  musical  talent,  being 
quite  an  expert  performer  on  the  violin. 


V. 


•5-^-i-^* 


r 


E*^* 


JOHN  W.  PADDOCK  was  born  in  Camillus, 
Onondaga  County,  N.  Y.,  February  14, 1815. 
His  parents  were  .lames  and  Ann  Paddock, 
his  father  being  a  miller  and  a  farmer.  The 
Paddock  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  this  coun- 
try, their  first  settlements  being  made  in  the  Ply- 
mouth Colony  as  early  as  J  630.  The  Plymouth 
Colony  records  show  that  Robert  Paddock  was  at 
that  time  a  member  of  the  colony,  and  subse- 
quentl}'  recite  the  fact  of  the  allotment  of  lands  to 
him,  and  record  that  he  was  the  Constable  of  Dux- 
bury  about  1643,  and  show  the  date  of  his  death 
and  the  record  of  the  meml)crs  of  his  family.  His 
descendants  afterward  emigrated  to  Yarmouth, 
and  from  there  to  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.;  thence 


to  Washington  County,  from  there  to  Onondaga, 
N.  Y.,  and  then  to  Illinois. 

David  Paddock,  the  grandfather  of  John  AV.  of 
this  article,  lived  near  West  Point  at  the  time  of 
the  Revolutionary  War,  was  a  soldier  in  Capt. 
Watterbury's  compan3'.  Seventh  New  York  Con- 
tinental Volunteers,  and  was  engaged  in  the  cam- 
paigns up  and  down  the  Hudson,  and  in  the  battle 
of  Saratoga.  The  father  of  John  W.,  James,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  War  of  1812;  the  mother  of  John 
W.,  Ann  McClaur3-,  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent. 
Her  parents  emigrated  to  New  York  from  the  North 
of  Ireland  with  the  Clintons,  of  Revolutionary  fame, 
and  were  related  to  that  family.  The  David  Will- 
iams who  was  the  captor  of  Maj.  Andre  was  re- 
lated to  the  wife  of  David  Paddock  above  spoken 
of,  and  the  name  of  the  subject  of  this  article  was 
John  Williams  Paddock,  the  Williams  being  in 
recognition  of  the  relationsliip  to  the  Williams 
family.  The  origin  of  the  Paddock  family  was 
Welsh.  Windsor,  in  his  history  of  Duxbury,  states 
the  fact  that  there  was  a  tradition  that  Robert,  one 
of  the  ancestors,  was  one  of  the  minors  who  came 
over  in  the  "Mayflower."  Be  that  so  or  not,  it  is 
certain  that  by  blood  and  tradition  the  subject  of 
this  article  was  descended  from  a  line  of  men  who 
were  thoroughly  endowed  with  the  spirit  of  libert}-, 
and  whose  convictions  of  what  was  right  had  all 
through  the  years  that  have  gone  impelled  them 
to  brave  every  hardship  and  danger  to  maintain 
their  principles.  They  were  Puritans,  Pilgrims, 
Federalists,  Whigs  and  Nationalists. 

Col.  Paddock's  preliminarj-  education  was  ac- 
quired in  the  schools  of  his  native  place,  whence 
he  removed  to  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  where  he  com- 
l)leted  his  academic  course  of  studies.  In  the  otHce 
of  J.  R.  Ilickox  he  studied  law;  from  there  in  1836, 
with  his  father,  he  removed  to  I-ockport,  AVill 
County,  111.,  being  the  teacher  of  the  lirst  school  in 
that  village.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  of  this 
State,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  1837.  In  .June,  1853,  he  located  in  the 
city  of  Kankakee,  then  but  a  prospective  town, 
and  in  the  fall  of  that  3'ear  he  removed  his  family 
to  this  place.  Previous  to  his  settlement  in  this 
county  he  traveled  and  practiced  at  Middleport, 
Ottawa,  Joliet  and  Chicago.     After  his  establish- 


716 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRAPinCAL  RECORD. 


nieiit  at  Kankakee,  lie  was  connected  with  all  tlie 
important  cases  in  both  Kankakee  and  Iroquois 
Counties.  Pi!i'lia[)s  the  most  celebrated  cases  with 
wiiicli  his  name  was  connected  were  those  of  the 
C'hiniqu\-  trials.  lie  w.as  occupied  in  the  vigorous 
prosecution  of  his  professional  duties  until  18()2, 
when  lie  was  elected  to  the  Constitutional  Con- 
vention as  a  Union  man,  and  on  the  Union  ticket. 
He  refused  to  sign  the  now  Constitution  and  con- 
tributed largely  to  its  defeat  by  the  pec>i)le.  In 
the  fall  of  that  year  he  entered  the  United  States 
army.  In  early  life  lie  was  an  old-line  Whig,  ))ut 
upon  the  dissolution  of  that  party  became  an  ardent 
supporter  of  Douglas,  was  an  ardent  and  eloipient 
speaker,  and  an  effective  anil  \aKial)le  ally  of  that 
great  Democratic  leader.  When  the  tocsin  of  war 
was  sounded  and  the  question  arose  of  loj'alty  or 
disloyalty,  lie  forsook  a  remunerative  practice,  and 
at  his  own  exiiense  traveled  his  Congressional  Dis- 
trict, delivering  stirring  speeches  in  favor  of  the 
vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war  for  the  Union. 

He  greatly  aided  Capt.  \'aughn  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  company  of  volunteers  afterward  as- 
signed to  the  Fifty-third  Illinois  Infantry,  and 
projected  the  organization  of  the  Seventy-si.vth 
Illinois  Infantry.  With  this  regiment  he  proposed 
entering  the  service,  but  six  companies  still  re- 
mained after  the  Seventy-sixth  was  filled.  He  re- 
mained with  them  and  subsequently  went  with 
them  to  Chicago,  where  they  were  incorporated 
with  the  four  conqianies  of  the  then  organizing 
Third  Hoard  of  Trade  Regiment,  and  in  October, 
1862,  he  was  commissioned  Lieutenant-Colonel 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirteenth  Illinois  In- 
fantry. IJefore  leaving  for  the  seat  of  war  he  was, 
in  presence  of  the  regiment  at  Camp  Hancock,  pre- 
sented with  a  superb  sword  by  his  fellow-towns- 
man, James  W.  Perry,  of  Kankakee.  The  One 
Hundred  and  Thirteenth  joined  Sherman  in  his 
expedition  against  Vieksburg  in  the  fall  of  1862, 
and  witnessed  that  terrible  but  unsuccessful  strug- 
gle. Col.  Paddock  participated  actively  in  the 
battles  of  Chickasaw  Rayou  and  of  Arkansas  Post, 
after  which  the  regiment  was  divided,  part  going 
to  Springfield,  HI.,  the  remainder  being  assigned 
to  Young's  Point,  La. 

They  were  also  engaged  in  the  movements  which 


resulted  in  the  capture  of  Yieksl)urg,  .Tuly  4, 1863, 
Col.  Paddock  being  in  command  at  the  time.  He 
was  with  Oen.  Sherman  on  the  Rolling  Pork  ex- 
pedition, and  during  the  greater  portion  of  the 
time  consumed  in  the  siege  of  Vieksburg  com- 
manded lli(!  foice  assigned  to  the  protection  of  the 
landing  of  the  Yazoo,  whence  Grant  drew  his  sup- 
plies. In  August,  1803,  Col.  Paddock  was  ordered 
to  report  to  Gen.  Iluilbiit,  at  Memphis,  an  order 
which  lie  at  once  preriared  to  obey  in  company 
with  his  regiment,  then  badly  stricken  with  dis- 
ease. He  reached  IMemphis,  but  owing  to  the  re- 
turn of  that  dreaded  fever,  contracted  while  on 
the  lield,  he  was  sent  to  the  officer's  hosjiital  lo- 
cated in  tliat  city.  There,  after  lingering  in  great 
pain,  he  died  Sunday  evening,  August  16,  1863, 
attended  by  the  chaiilain  of  his  regiment. 

His  remains  were  brought  home  and  interred  on 
the  2Uh  of  August  at  Kankakee,  followed  to  the 
grave  b^'  one  of  the  largest  funeral  corteges  in  the 
history  of  the  county.  Col.  Paddock  was  a  man 
of  commanding  presence;  he  stood  six  feel  high, 
was  well  proportioned  in  his  body,  had  long  llowing 
black  hair,  large  blue  ej'es  and  full  round  face,  and 
was  of  light  and  buoyant  spirits.  To  him  all  men 
were  equal  and  every  man  was  to  be  treated  as  a 
man.  He  felt  no  condescension  in  listening  to  the 
complaints  of  the  [loor  and  lowly,  and  to  assert 
and  defend  their  rights  was  always  a  gratification 
to  him;  nor  did  he  feel  any  elevation  in  being  as- 
sociated with  the  wealthy  or  the  great.  He  was 
actuated  throughout  life  with  a  broad  spirit  of 
charity  and  was  imbued  with  an  intense  love  of  his 
country  and  its  institutions.  The  principles  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  he  exemplified  in 
his  life  and  his  death.  His  funeral  sermon  was 
preached  by  the  Rev.  C.  P.  Thomas,  of  the  Uni- 
tarian Church,  at  Chicago,  from  which  we  take 
the  following  extracts: 

"We  have  met  to  do  honor  to  the  noble  dead; 
we  have  come  here  to  the  home  which  was  so  dear 
to  him  to  pay  to  his  memory  this  last  tribute  of 
respect  and  love.  A  generous,  manly,  honorable 
man  has  p.assed  sudden I3'  awny  from  us,  and  gone 
out  into  solemn  mystery.  Another  great  heart, 
which  beat  wit.h  an  intelligent,  wise,  determined 
love  of  his    country,  is  stilled   forever.     I    could 


PORTRAIT  A>D  r.ir.OKAl'IlIf  AI.    IMXORD. 


7i: 


nut  iu)w  reooiint  the  storv  of  his  noble  life  liyie 
iiinony;  his  neii>hl)ors  and  frienrls,  wlio  Unew  it  so 
iiuich  lietter  than  I.  and  who  loved  it,  too.  I  nepd 
not  remind  you,  1  am  sure,  while  his  silent  ft)rni 
is  before  us,  of  the  great  heart,  more  thoughlfnl 
of  others  than  of  himself,  which  our  brother  carried 
in  his  bosom;  of  the  sterling  iinalities  which  made 
him  the  good  citizen,  the  earnest  patriot,  the  firm 
friend,  the  hater  of  all  meanness,  the  lover  of  all 
that  was  honorable,  true  and  brave. 

"Nor  need  I  remind  you  how  he  labored  for 
his  country;  how  he  went  out  all  unused  to  such 
labor,  with  a  holy  puriiose  in  his  soul;  how 
l)ravely  he  shared  the  perils  of  war;  iiow  finally 
he  was  smitten  with  disease;  how  the  other  day 
the  tidings  came  of  his  decline,  and  how  of  the 
next  intelligence  he  came  wrapped  in  the  folds  of 
the  holy  llag  for  which  he  had  fought  so  man- 
fully; came  in  silence  and  in  gloom,  with  no  word 
of  greeting  on  his  lips,  no  joy  of  a  wanderer  re- 
turning to  the  dear  old  home  flashing  from  his 
eyes.  You  will  not  forget  that  manhood,  you  will 
not  cease  to  be  iiilhienced  by  that  intelligence, 
iTor  to  cherish  the  thought  of  that  devoted  and 
self-sacriticing  frieiid-<hip  which  was  his.  I  am 
told  how  thoughtfully  he  cared  to  the  last  for 
those  under  his  command.  1  am  told  h(;w  the 
boys  loved  him,  linding  in  him  the  same  nobility 
and  generosity  which  wim  the  affection  and  re- 
spect of  his  neighbors;  I  am  told  how  he  robbed 
himself  of  his  blankets  to  put  them  benc^ath  a  sick 
soldier;  how  he  drove  miles,  weak  and  ill  himself, 
to  obtain  something  which  could  all(>viate  the 
sufferings  of  a  dying  youth." 

His  last  letter,  written  on  the  field  of  N'icks- 
burg,  contains  this  sentiment,  speaking  of  the  as- 
sault about  to  be  made:  "I  may  fall;  1  hoi)enot,  but 
if  1  do, may  (lod  jirotect  jou  and  the  children.  I 
hope  to  survive  and  see  yon  all  again,  but  slunild 
this  be  my  last,  let  the  clustering  recollections  of 
the  past  assure  you  that  my  last  prayer  was  for 
you  and  oui-  children.  Tell  my  boys  to  stand 
b}-  their  country's  cause  at  all  times,  love  and 
obe3'  their  mother,  and,  though  1  never  come 
back,  Ood  will  i)rosper  them." 

Tiie  following  from  the  pen  of  Col.  i^ord,  who 
was  a  vonni,'  olllcer  in  the  regiment  of  Col.  Pad- 


dock, is  a  fair  estimate  of  his  relation  to  the  .serv- 
ice: "Lieut.-Col.  I'addock,  of  the  Ofie  Hundred' 
and  Thirteenth  Regiment  of  Illinois  Infantry,  was 
a  conspicuous  and  pleasing  figure  in  the  personnel 
of  th:it  regiment,  and  the  remembiance  of  his  face 
and  form  and  character  must  always  awaken  feel- 
ings of  friendly  admiration  and  regret  in  the 
minds  of  those  who  knew  him  and  served  with 
him. 

"A    Demiicrat   in  his  political  alUliations  and  a 
politician  of  inlluence;  a   lawyer  by  profession;  a 
m:ui  in  middle  life  with  a   large   family    to   whom 
he  was  devoted;  having   apparently   no    taste  for 
military  life  in   itself,  and  but  little  of   the    pl^^- 
sical  hardness  required  of  the  campaigner,  it  was 
naturally  a  matter  of  some  surprise  among  those 
who  met  him  for  the  first    time    in   the    regiment 
that  he  should  be   in    the  service  at  all.     Longer 
ac(piaintance,  however,  made   it  sufliciently  clear 
why  he  was,  and  emphasized  both  the  integrity  of 
his  motives  and  the  degree  of  his    personal  sacri- 
fice.    His  more  conspicuous  traits  as  the}'  became 
unfolded  to  his  regimental  .associates  were  a  broad 
and    general    impulse  of  kindliness    to  everyone, 
a  ready  and  genial   humor,  and  an    intense   form 
of  patriotic  zeal.     He  had   but  a  small  opinion  of 
tactics,  and   was    impatient   of  the    petty  regula- 
tions and  restraints  of  milil.lry  routine.   The  caste 
distinctions,   also,    of    rank    in    the   army,    which 
others  gradually  come   to   accept   and    recognize, 
made  little  impression   upon   him.     The    men  and 
ollicers  whom  he  had  known  in  civil  life  were  just 
as  much  his   neighbors  in    the  service   as   before, 
whether  in  commission  or  in  the  ranks,  with  the  dis- 
tinction that  he  felt  a  more  iicrsonal    responsibil- 
ity for  the  well-being  of  the  l.'iller.     He  could  as- 
sert himself  and    his   right  on   occasions  of  duty 
or  emergency,  but  his  ruling  sentiment  was  one 
of  comradeship  with  all  men  wIki  had  undertaken 
with  him    to  resent  and    redress   the    evil    which 
threatened  the  country.     On  this  common  ground 
all  men  were  equal  with  him,  :ind  the  military   or- 
ganization was  nothing  save  a  means   to  an  end 
which  all  e(pially  sought.     That  end  was  the  over- 
whelming of  the  enemy  and  the  restoration  of  the 
Union — not  in  some  remote  future,  but  at  once. 
He  would  have  massed  an  irresistible  column  with 


718 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


which  to  cut  the  Confederacy  in  two  in  a  single 
campaign.  He  seemed  to  suffer  a  sense  of  per- 
sonal indignity  that  his  late  political  allies  should 
have  betrayed  him  as  well  as  his  country,  and 
his  resentment  and  his  patriotism  intensified  eacli 
other.  He  was  in  a  service  which  was  distasteful 
to  him,  at  a  sacrifice  of  everything  most  cher- 
ished and  desired,  but  he  could  not  do  less,  or 
look  hack,  until  the  end.  So  beneath  his  genial 
good-nature  tliere  was  always  a  restless  impatience 
of  delay,  au  impetuous  instinct  to  go  on  to  the 
speedy  deliverance  of  the  country,  and  then  to  his 
own  deliverance  from  his  self-imposed  task.  His 
hour  of  triumpli  at  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg,  after 
his  regiment  had  devoted  more  than  half  a  year 
and  s.acrificed  many  lives  to  accomplish  it,  was  all 
too  brief.  The  fatigue  and  exposure  which  tlie 
campaign  liad  made  necessary,  and  the  miasma  of 
the  region  in  which  his  regiment  was  encamped, 
proved  tooraucli  for  a  constitution  wholly  unfitted 
for  the  field,  and,  almost  before  his  men  knew  of 
his  serious  illness,  his  eager,  iiopoful  spirit  had 
fled." 

Col.  Paddock  was  a  devoted  luisband,  a  kind 
father,  a  faithful  brother,  an  honorable  and  enter- 
prising citizen,  a  genial  and  generous  compan- 
ion, an  eloquent  advocate,  a  safe  counselor,  an 
earnest,  patriotic  soldier  and  a  brave,  gallant  and 
vigilant, yet  kind  and  humane,  officer.  Equally  as 
a  lawyer,  soldier  and  citizen,  he  left  a  record 
to  which  his  descendants  may  point  with  just 
pride. 

Our  subject  was  twice  married,  liis  first  wife 
being  Frances  Birch,  by  whom  he  had  two  chil- 
dren, Henry  C.  and  Emma  J.  Henry  C.  was  after- 
ward a  Lieutenant  in  the  Twenty-fifth  Illinois 
Regiment,  and  was  desperately  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Ft.  Blakelj'.  Subsequently  he  was  for 
five  j'ears  Superintendent  of  the  public  schools  of 
Kankakee  County,  and  now  resides  in  Page  County, 
County,  Iowa,  with  his  sister  Emma.  Our  sub- 
ject's second  wife  was  Helen  Tiffanny,  who  was  a 
descendant  of  the  Ransorae  family,  of  Erie  County, 
N.  Y.,  pioneers  of  that  county  from  Massachusetts 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century.  By  this  mar- 
riage he  had  ten  children,  two  d3ing  in  infancy. 
The  surviving  children  were  .Fames  H.,  of  Sjiring- 


field.  III.;  Daniel  H.,  of  Kankakee;  Helen  F.,  now 
married  to  D.  F.  Sherman,  of  Portland,  Ore.;  John 
W.,  of  Portland,  Ore.;  Mar^'  R.,  now  married  to 
George  F.  Lovell,  of  Kankakee,  111.;  Portia  S.,  prin- 
cipal of  the  Lincoln  School,  of  Kankakee;  Lucia, 
now  married  to  W.  W.  Cobb,  of  Kankakee;  and 
Catherine  A.,  who  was  drowned  in  1884  in  a  pleas- 
ure excursion  on  the  K.inkakee  River. 


^^>^^<! 


(Q>-- 


'\|'  OHN  MANN,  who  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  on  section  26,  Rock- 
ville  Township,  is  numbered  among  the  hon- 
_  ored  pioneers  of  Kankakee  Countj^.  He 
located  here  in  1842,  and  his  residence  therefore 
covers  a  period  of  more  than  half  a  century.  He 
is  familiar  with  the  history-  and  the  hardships  of 
its  pioneer  days  and  has  been  an  eye-witness  of 
almost  its  entire  development.  To  its  early  settlers 
the  county  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude  which  can 
never  be  repaid  for  what  the}'  have  done  in  its  be- 
half. They  were  its  founders,  and  upon  the 
foundation  they  laid  has  been  built  a  county  among 
the  best  in  the  State.  Mr.  Mann  aided  in  its  prog- 
ress and  development  and  well  deserves  recogni- 
tion in  its  history. 

His  life  record  is  as  follows:  Born  on  the  30th 
of  March,  1824,  he  is  a  native  of  Richland  County, 
Ohio,  and  a  son  of  Alexander  and  Maria  (Buinpus) 
Mann.  The  father  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 
About  1802,  he  removed  to  Richland  Count}',  Ohio, 
becoming  one  of  its  erliest  settlers.  He  was  a 
farmer  throughout  his  entire  life  and  in  that  county 
carried  on  his  chosen  occupation  until  1842,  when 
he  removed  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Will  County, 
and  three  3-ears  later  moved  to  the  part  of  that 
county  now  included  in  Kankakee  County.  Here 
he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days,  his  death  oc- 
curring June  25,  1867.  His  remains  were  interred 
in  Bloom  Ccmeter}'.  His  wife  survived  him  for  a 
number  of  years.  She  passed  away  on  the  3d  of 
May,  1889,  and  was  laid  to  rest  by  the  side  of  her 
husband.  This  worthy  couple  had  a  large  family  of 
children,  as  follows:  John,  of  this  sketch;  Frederick 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


719 


I  W.,  a  farmer  residing  in  Rockviilc  Township;  Ann 
Maria,  wife  of  A.  H.  .VUen;  William  A.,  who  died 
in  1852;  Isabella,  wife  of  James  Sterling,  who  is 
living  in  Kankakee;  ,Iane  E.,  wife  of  James  Ii)un- 
derdale;  Melvina,  wife  of  F.  M.  Allen;  Catherine, 
who  died  in  1889;  Samuel  J.,  a  farmer  of  Rockville 
Township;  Addison, who  is  living  in  the  same  town- 
ship; and  Celesta,  wife  of  John  Mcintosh,  of  Ne- 
braska. 

We  now  take  up  the  personal  history  of  John 
Mann,  who  is  so  widel^^  and  favorably  known  in 
this  comnuinity.  In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer 
lads  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  j'outh  were 
((uietly  passed,  and  in  the  common  schools  he  ac- 
quired his  education.  With  the  family  he  came  to 
the  West  in  1812.  They  made  their  journey  by 
teams  and  located  first  in  Joliet,  where  they  spent 

'  the  winter.  In  the  spring  they  located  upon  a 
tract  of  land  just  across  the  line  from  Rockville 
Township,  in  Will  County,  where  they  made  their 
home  until  1845.  The  father  then  pre-empted  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  Government  land  in 
lioukville  Township,  the  farm  on  which  our  subject 
now  resides.  A  small  log  house  was  erected,  which 
was  the  home  of  the  family  for  a  number  of  years. 
They  endured  many  of  the  trials  and  privations 
incident  to  pioneer  life.  Their  nearest  market  was 
Chicago.  All  kinds  of  wild  game  were  plentiful  in 
those  days  and  Jlr.  Mann  has  hunted  deer  upon 
the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Kankakee.  He  re- 
mained upon  the  home  farm  until  twenty-seven 
years  of  age,  when  an  important  event  in  his  life 
was  celebrated. 

It  was  then,  on  the  1st  of  January,  1851,  that 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza  M.  Bloom, 
who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  January  7,  1829, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  David  and  Polly  A.  Bloom. 
Ten  children  were  born  unto  them:  Florence, 
wife  of  W.  S.  Rowe,  a  farmer  of  Benton  County, 
Ind.;  Alexander,  an  engineer  residing  in  Manteno; 
Warren  L.,  a  resident  farmer  of  Rockville  Town- 
ship; Frederick,  a  carpenter  of  Kankakee;  Walter 
S.,  an  agriculturist  of  Rockville  Township;  John, 
who  died  in  infancy;  Herman,  D.  James,  Elvena, 
and  Maria  M.,  who  are  still  under  tlie  parental  roof. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mann  began  their  domestic  life 
upon  a  small  farm  of  forty  acres,  which  [jrevious 


to  his  marriage  our  subject  had  purchased  from  the 
(iovernmcnt.  He  now  owns  one  hundred  and 
thirty  acres  of  valuable  land,  where  he  carries  on  ' 
general  farming  and  stock-raising.  In  his  business 
he  has  met  with  good  success  and  now  has  one  of 
the  desirable  farms  of  the  community.  His  land 
is  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  is  well 
improved  with  all  the  accessories  of  a  model  farm. 
His  possessions  stand  as  monuments  to  his  thrift 
and  enterprise.  Mr.  Mann  has  led  a  busy  and  use- 
ful life,  3'et  has  found  time  to  devote  to  public  in- 
terests. He  has  served  his  township  as  Treasurer 
seven  years,  and  Road  Commissioner,  and  was  one 
of  the  Committee  that  divided  Kankakee  from  Will 
County,  and  sat  on  the  first  jury  empaneled  in 
the  new  county.  He  exercises  his  right  of  fran- 
chise in  support  of  the  Republican  party  and  takes 
quite  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs,  keeping 
himself  well  informed  on  the  issues  of  the  day.  He 
has  ever  borne  his  part  in  the  work  of  advance- 
ment and  progress  in  the  count}'  and  is  recognized 
as  a  public-spirited  and  progressive  citizen. 


♦^^1 


'Q' 


^®r 


\P^^^ 


l^ANIEL  SHREFFLER,  who  is  engaged  in 
I  Jlj  agricultural  pursuits  on  section  4,  Rock- 
f^}^  ville  Township,  is  one  of  the  pioneer  set- 
tlers of  the  county,  dating  his  residence 
in  this  community  from  1844.  He  was  born  upon 
his  father's  farm  in  Union  Count}',  Pa.,  July  30, 
1831,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of  twelve  children, 
whose  parents  were  Peter  and  Regina  (Fulmer) 
Shreffler.  Both  were  natives  of  the  Keystone 
State,  and  the  father  was  of  German  descent.  He 
was  a  weaver  b}'  trade,  but  in  his  later  life  followed 
farming  in  connection  with  that  business.  In 
1833  he  removed  from  Pennsylvania  toSandusk}', 
Ohio,  and  purchased  a  farm,  on  which  he  located. 
During  the  summer  months  he  operated  his  land, 
while  in  the  winter  season  he  engaged  in  weaving. 
For  eleven  years  he  made  his  home  m  Ohio,  and 
then  came  to  Illinois,  making  the  trip  Westward 
by  team.  lie  first  located  in  Limestone  Township, 
Kankakee  County,  and   purchased   three  hundred 


720 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


and  twent}'  acres  of  Government  land,  upon  which 
he  resided  until  liis  death.  He  passed  awaj-  Ma.y 
'26,  1871,  and  was  laid  to  rest  on  the  old  lionic- 
stead.  In  politics,  Mr.  .Slirctller  was  a  Democrat, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Evanoelical  Cluirch. 
His  wife,  who  was  also  a  member  of  the  same 
ciinrch,  survived  her  husband  for  about  four  years, 
and  died  8epleral)er  27,  187;'). 

Our  subject  was  one  of  tlie  following  cliildren: 
Leo,  who  died  M.ay  8,  1888;  .I.acob,  a  retired 
farmer  residing  in  Kankakee;  Micliael,  who  died 
March  10,  1884;  Aaron,  a  farmer  of  Alma,  111.; 
Moses,  who  died  Septcmljer  20,  188.3;  Euos,  who 
died  .June  0,  1878;  Elizabeth,  widow  of  David 
Briggs,  and  a  resident  of  Salina  Township;  Mary 
A.,  who  died  .Inly  6,  1885;  Peter,  who  died  August 
13,  1863;  Daniel,  our  subject;  Sarah  E.,  wife  of 
Andrew  Yates,  a  farmer  of  Limestone  Townsliip; 
and  .Joseph  E.,  also  a  farmer  of  that  township. 

The  education  of  Daniel  Slireftler  was  all  ac- 
quired in  a  log  sclioolhoiise.  He  was  reared  to 
manhood  amid  the  w'dd  scenes  of  frontier  life,  and 
was  earl}'  inured  to  the  hard  labor  of  developing 
a  farm.  He  came  to  this  count}'  with  his  parents 
when  thirteen  years  of  age,  and  made  his  home 
under  the  parental  roof  until  twenty-four  3'ears  of 
age,  although  on  attaining  his  majority  he  began 
to  earn  his  own  livelihood.  He  rented  a  part  of 
his  father's  farm,  and  afterward  purchased  a  por- 
tion of  the  old  homestead,  upon  wliich  he  lived 
until  1868.  He  then  bought  eiglitj-  .acres  of  land 
on  section  I,  Rockville  Township,  his  present 
home,  where  he  has  now  cariied  on  farming  and 
stock-raising  for  .about  a  quarter  of  a  century. 

Mr.  Shretller  was  married  August  30,  18.i.5,  to 
Miss  Harriet  Deselms,  who  was  born  in  Sandusky 
County,  Ohio,  April  15,  1839,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Harriet  (Atkins)  Deselms,  the  former 
a  native  of  Virginia,  and  the  latter  of  Mar3iand. 
They  had  a  family  of  six  children,  of  whom  Mrs. 
Shreffler  is  the  eldest;  Jennie  died  February  30, 
1882;  Rhoda  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  Harsh;  Mary  is 
the  wife  of  William  Myers,  of  Joliet;  Phrebe  died 
in  1853;  John  is  a  postal  clerk  on  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad,  and  resides  in  Kankakee.  The 
Deselms  family  came  to  this  county  in  1853,  locat- 
ing in   Rockville  Township,   where   the   husband 


and  father  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  the  section  where  the  town  of  Desehn 
now  stands.  The  postolHce  at  that  place  was 
named  in  his  honor.  He  resided  there  until  his 
death,  whicli  occurred  in  1876.  The  motlier  died  in 
1882,  and  tiiej'  were  both  laid  to  rest  in  Deselm 
Cemetery.  Both  were  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  and  were  highly  respected  peo- 
ple. 

Five  children  grace  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Shrelfler:  Sophrona,  wife  of  Albert  Mc'iruder,  a 
merchant  of  Kankakee;  Clark  W.,  a  farmer  of 
Rockville  Township;  Jesse  II.,  who  is  living  in 
Kankakee;  Irvin  R.,  who  graduated  from  the  Val- 
paraiso Normal  College  of  Indiana  in  1892;  and 
Alta,  who  completes  the  family.  Tliis  family  has 
a  pleasant  iiome  in  Rockville  Township,  and  the 
members  of  the  household  rank  high  in  the  social 
circles  in  whicli  thej-  move. 

Mr.  Shietller's  residence  in  this  county  covers  a 
period  of  .almost  half  a  century.  When  he  came 
here  Chicago  was  the  trading-post,  and  all  lumber 
for  building  purposes  vvas  liaiiled  b}-  team  from 
that  place.  The  city  of  Kankakee  liad  not  yet 
sprung  into  existence.  Indians  were  still  seen  in 
the  neighliorhood.  In  the  work  of  improvement 
and  development,  our  subject  has  cvei-  borne  his 
part,  and  has  aided  matcriall}'  in  the  progress  and 
advancement  of  this  county.  He  gives  his  support 
to  all  pulilic  enterprises,  and  is  recognized  through- 
out tlie  community  as  a  valued  citizen,  as  well  as 
one  of  the  substantial  farmers  of  Rockville  Town- 
ship, and  an  honored  pioneer  of  Kankakee  County. 
In  politics,  lie  is  a  Reiniblicau,  and  himself  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 


'li  AMES  FLEMING,  a  retired  farmer  residing 
on  section  36,  Norton  Township,  has  been 
a  resident  of  Illinois  for  fifty  jcars,  and  of 
this  county  for  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  born  in  County 
Derry  on  the  31st  of  May,   1819.     His  parents, 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL,  RECORD. 


721 


Natlianiel  and  Xancy  (Disart)  Floniing,  were  also 
natives  of  Ireland,  mihI  s|n'nt  tlii'ir  entire  lives  in 
that  eountrv. 

Our  snbject  is  laiyely  self-edueuted,  as  in  liis  na- 
tive land  lie  had  but  limited  school  advantages. 
In  1841  he  decided  to  seek  another  country  in 
which  to  make  his  way.  He  accordingly  went 
to  Londonderry,  wliere  he  took  passage  on  a  sail- 
ing-vessel, whose  destination  was  Philadelphia,  at 
which  port  lie  arrived  in  due  time,  in  June  of  that 
year.  He  spent  a  little  over  a  year  in  Pittsburgh, 
Pa.,  where  he  was  employed  in  a  rolling  mill.  In 
the  fall  of  1842,  he  started  Westward  and  located 
on  Fox  Kiver,  in  La  Salle  County.  He  purchased 
a  piece  of  wild  /irairie,  and  proceeded  to  open  up 
a  farm.  He  afterward  added  to  iiis  original  pur- 
chase, and  owned  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
in  all,  which  he  brought  under  good  cultivation, 
and  upon  which  he  made  many  improvements. 

On  the  28th  of  June,  1845,  occurred  a  notable 
event  in  his  history,  as  on  that  day  he  married  Sa- 
lali  L.  Thompson, who  was  born  in  Jefferson  County, 
Ohio.  .She  came  to  Illinois  with  her  father,  John 
Thompson,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  settled  in  Illi- 
nois about  1838  and  was  placed  on  the  roll  of 
honored  pioneers  of  La  Salle  County.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fleming  have  reared  a  family  of  three  sons 
and  three  daughters:  JMargaret  Ann,  the  wife  of 
Albert  Van  Doru,  a  fanner  of  this  county;  Mary 
E.,  wife  of  John  D.  Brown,  of  Kansas;  James  D., 
who  is  well  and  favorably  known  in  this  commu- 
nity, and  carries  on  the  home  farm;  Emma,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years;  John  C,  who 
is  married,  and  operates  a  farm  in  Nebraska;  and 
Joseph  W.,  who  is  a  farmer  of  this  county,  and  is 
also  married. 

Mr.  Fleming  devoted  his  whole  energies  and  at- 
tention to  the  cultivation  of  his  farm  in  La  Salle 
County  for  twentj^-five  years.  This  property  he 
sold  in  1867,  and  removing  to  Kankakee  Count}' 
he  purchased  a  tract  of  three  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  unimi)roved  pi'airie  land.  This  farm  he 
has  developed  to  its  present  condition  of  cultiva- 
tion, and  on  every  hand  the  care  and  attention 
devoted  to  it  by  the  owner  can  be  plainly  seen. 
Year  bj'  year  abundant  harvests  have  yielded  a 
golden  tribute  to  Mr.  Fleming,  which  is  onlj'  his 


just  reward.  He  commenced  life  in  Illinois  en- 
tirely without  capital,  but  possessed  of  two  will- 
ing hands,  a  good  constitution  and  an  abundant 
supply  of  determination  and  energy.  By  his  own 
industry'  and  enterprise,  aided  by  his  estimable 
wife,  he  has  accumulated  a  valuable  propert}',  and 
to-day  is  one  of  the  thrifty-  and  substantial  agricul- 
turists of  the  count_y. 

JMr.  Fleming  uses  his  right  of  franchise  in  favor 
of  the  Republican  part}',  to  which  he  has  given  his 
support  since  its  organization.  He  was  an  original 
Abolitionist,  and  cast  his  first  vote  for  Hon.  James 
G.  Birne}-,  of  Ohio,  in  1844.  He  is  well  and  fav- 
orably known  throughout  this  section  of  the  State, 
and  has  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances 
who  hold  him  in  tiie  highest  regard. 


©L- 


JHl 


^+^! 


[^~ 


IDXEY  SMITH  THOMAS,  M.  D.,  one  of 
the  prominent  and  well-known  pli3-sicians 
of  Kankakee  Count}',  residing  in  St.  Anne, 
conies  of  an  old  English  family  that  at  .an 
earl}'  day  was  founded  in  Canada.  His  father 
was  a  learned  man,  but  from  choice  always  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  farming,  rather  than  a 
professional  career.  The  mother  of  our  subject 
was  the  youngest  daughter  of  Col.  William  Shaw, 
who  was  a  soldier  in  the  British  army.  In  the 
Thomas  household  were  five  sons,  namely:  S.  J., 
S.  S.,  Peter,  Amos  B.  and  N.  Thomas.  Of  these, 
four  are  yet  living.  The  two  youngest  own  and 
reside  upon  the  old  homestead,  on  which  they 
were  reared.  S.  J.,  the  eldest  son,  is  now  engaged 
in  business  in  Bothwell.  Peter  died  from  small- 
pox when  tweuty-six  years  of  age. 

The  Doctor  is  the  second  son  of  the  family. 
The  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  spent 
upon  a  farm  in  Kent  Count}',  Ontario.  He  at- 
tended the  common  schools  until  he  had  acquired 
all  the  attainments  tiiere  possible,  and  during  his 
vacations  aided  in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  On 
leaving  the  district  schools,  he  went  to  the  nearest 
village  and  became  the  pupil  of  John  P.  Peter 
Davies,  a  learned  mechanic  and  draughtsman,  un- 


722 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


der  whose  instructions  be  pursued  his  studies  until 
nineteen  years  of  age.  He  then  took  a  course  of 
study  in  the  High  School  in  the  old  town  of  Niag- 
ara, and  at  the  completion  of  his  course  he  passed 
an  examination  for  entrance  into  Victoria  College. 

It  was  in  that  institution  that  Dr.  Thomas  began 
fitting  himself  for  his  life  work.  He  took  up  the 
study  of  medicine  under  the  direction  of  the  ven- 
erable Dr.  Ralph,  who  was  at  tliat  time  Dean  of 
the  college.  After  fovir  years  spent  in  that  school, 
in  order  to  [terfect  himself  in  his  chosen  pro- 
fession and  become  as  proficient  as  possible,  Dr. 
Thomas  went  to  New  York,  entering  Bellevue  Hos- 
pital Medical  College  of  that  city,  to  finish  his 
medical  studies. 

After  his  graduation,  the  Doctor  practiced  a 
short  time  in  Canada,  and  then  removed  to  Michi- 
gan, where  he  practiced  several  years.  His  next 
location  was  in  Toledo,  Ohio,  but  he  did  not  like 
the  place,  and  from  there  came  to  St.  Anne,  III., 
where  he  is  now  enjoying  a  large  and  lucrative 
practice.  Our  subject  has  been  twice  married. 
His  first  wife  died  of  consumption  in  1880,  and 
two  j^ears  after  her  deatli,  he  married  his  present 
wife. 


)-^€#i#^|-^"i^liM#i€ 


i.^"^m5^£=-^ 


LBERT  ALEXIS  AYRES.  For  over  a 
quarter  of  a  century  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  has  been  a  resident  of  Illinois. 
Since  1884  he  has  made  his  home  on  sec- 
tion 7,  Pilot  Township.  Mr.  Ayres  is  a  native  of 
Troy,  N.  Y.,  horn  October  16,  1848,  but  when  a 
year  old  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Newark, 
N.  J.  His  education  whs  commenced  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  that  city,  but  on  account  of  ill  health 
he  was  forced  to  leave  school.  He  is  largely  self- 
educated  and  has  thus  become  the  practical  busi- 
ness man  which  we  find  him  to-da3'. 

The  Ayres  family  is  of  English  descent.  The 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  born  in  New  Jer- 
sey August  10,  1786,  and  died  in  A|)ril,  1829.  He 
gave  the  following  account  of  the  family:  About 
1630,  three  brothers,  Isaac,  Daniel  and  .John  Ayres, 


came  from  England.  Isaac  located  in  New  Jersey, ' 
John  in  Virginia,  and  Daniel  in  Massachusetts. 
Isaac  Ayres  was  born  in  Woodbridge,  N.  J.,  in 
1738,  and  had  twelve  children  by  his  first  wife  and 
five  by  his  second  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Elizabeth  Denman.  Daniel  Ayres  w.as  a 
son  of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  Ayres. 

]Mr.  Ayres  is  the  eldest  child  in  a  familj'  of  five 
sons  born  to  Alexis  and  Harriet  Adelia  (Risley) 
A3'res.  Of  the  children  only  two  are  now  living, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  Isaac  D.,  who  is  rep- 
resented elsewhere  in  this  volume.  The  father  of 
this  family  was  born  in  New  Jersey  May  9,  1821, 
and  died  February  23,  1861.  He  was  a  printer 
by  trade  and  was  a  typo  under'riorace  Greeley, 
who  then  edited  the  New  York  Tribune.  In  1856, 
Mr.  Ayres  established  the  Newark  Daily  3Te7-uury, 
which  paper  became  a  stanch  advocate  of  Abolition 
and  in  fact  was  one  of  the  first  published  in  the 
interests  of  that  movement.  Mr.  Ayres  was  a  man 
of  indomitable  energy  and  good  business  ability. 
He  was  firm  in  his  convictions  and  in  his  political 
sentiments  was  a  stanch  Republican,  voting  for  the 
first  candidates  of  that  part3-.  In  his  social  rela- 
tions he  was  connected  with  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows.  The  mother  of  our  subject  was  a 
native  of  Oneida  County,  N.  Y.  She  was  bom 
March  20,  1823,  and  is  yet  living  in  the  Empire 
State.  Although  she  has  reached  the  age  of  sev- 
enty, her  three-score  years  and  ten  rest  lightly 
upon  her.  She  and  her  husliand  were  members  of 
the  Congregational  Church. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  began  life  for  himself 
at  the  age  of  twelve  as  a  clerk  in  a  paper  store  and 
received  the  munificent  salaiy  of  *1  per  week. 
After  a  short  time  he  went  to  work  for  a  jeweler 
by  the  name  of  Fields,  and  his  last  experience  was 
in  an  art  gallerv.  As  will  have  been  seen,  he 
started  out  in  life  with  no  capital  but  his  willing 
hands  and  industrious  disposition  tu  make  his  life 
a  success.  Coming  to  Illinois  with  his  mother,  lie 
located  in  Kendall  County  and  rented  a  small 
piece  of  land,  which  he  operated  for  about  five 
years.  In  1869,  he  came  to  Kankakee  County  and 
settled  in  Pilot  Township.  The  country  was  tlien 
ver^-  new  and  a  rolling  prairie  was  about  all  that 
could  be  seen   from  his  door.     Cabery,  Bucking- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


723 


liarn  and  irersclicr  were  not  tlieu  known.  Wolves 
were  plentiful  when  lie  first  knew  Pilot  Township, 
and  in  1871  the  ten-ible  prairie  fire  came  very 
nearly  destroying  their  homes.  Mv.  Aj-res  can 
trul^-  be  said  to  he  one  of  the  earl^'  settlers  of  this 
part  of  the  county.  The  j'ear  before  he  and  his 
mother  came  to  Pilot  Township  a  cyclone  entirely 
destroyed  the  house  which  was  to  be  theirs,  but  it 
was  rudely  repaired  and  they  moved  into  it.  His 
first  purchase  was  eighty  acres  of  new  land,  only 
seven  of  which  had  been  broken.  Our  subject  has 
spent  twenty-four  years  of  his  life  in  Kankakee 
County,  and  lias  witnessed  the  remarkable  growth 
and  development  of  what  is  now  one  of  the  lead- 
ing counties  in  the  State. 

Mr.  Ayres  was  married  October  16,  1873,  in 
Pilot  Township,  to  Miss  Sarah  Elizabeth  Atkins, 
who  was  born  in  Tioga  County,  N.  Y.,  on  the  11th 
of  .January,  18.51.  By  their  union  were  born  four 
sons  and  a  diuighter:  Charles  A.;  William  H., 
who  died  October  21, 1881,  at  the  age  of  six  and  a- 
half  years;  Ilattie  ^laud.  Daniel  I.  and  Albert 
Hay.  Mrs.  A3-res  was  the  third  in  a  family  of  four 
children.  Her  parents,  William  II.  and  Sarah 
(Goodrich)  Atkins,  are  rei)resented  elsewhere  in 
this  work.  Slie  was  educated  in  the  country 
schools  and  in  the  ilorris  Seminary,  of  Morris, 
Grundy  County,  111.  Before  her  marriage  she  en- 
gaged in  teaching  and  followed  that  profession 
successfully  both  in  Kendall  and  Kankakee  Coun- 
ties. To  her  husband  she  has  proved  a  valuable 
and  worthy  hel|)mate  during  the  journey  of  life. 

When  our  country  was  in  peril  and  needed  help 
to  preserve  the  Unio:i,  IMr.  Ayres  nobl^y  responded 
to  the  call  aud  went  to  enlist  in  the  Twenty-sixth 
New  Jersey  Infantry,  but  when  he  made  his  wants 
known  the  recruiting  officer  said:  "  Young  man 
go  home  and  get  a  permit  from  your  mother  and 
we  will  take  you."  But  when  he  went  home  and 
told  his  motiier  of  his  proposed  enlistment  she  re- 
plied, "Albert  are  you  going  to  leave  j'our 
mother  and  Isaac.'"  The  tears  came  into  the  bo3''s 
eyes  and  he  gave  u|)  the  notion.  Mr.  Ayres  was  for- 
merly a  Republican  in  politics  and  cast  his  first  vote 
for  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  but  in  later  years,  since  1880, 
he  h.as  been  a  firm  believer  in  the  issues  of  the 
Prohibition    party,     lie    has    been    otlicially    con- 

3.3 


nected  with  the  municipal  issues  of  his  township 
ever  since  he  located  here,  a  fact  which  shows  that 
his  townsmen  value  him  as  a  sterling  citizen.  His 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Woman's  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union  of  Ilerslier,  and  is  Secretary  of  the 
society.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ayres  are  classed  among 
the  prominent  citizens  of  Pilot  Township.  They 
have  a  good  farm,  well  improved,  and  have  re- 
cently erected  a  beautiful  home  thereon,  which  is 
alwa3-s  open  for  the  reception  of  their  many 
friends,  as  the  Ayres  household  is  noted  for  its 
hospitality. 


LBERT  W.  COTTON  owns  and  operates  a 
farm  on  section  31,  Norton  Township. 
He  is  a  native  of  Will  County,  111.,  his 
birth  having  occurred  on  the  9th  of  No- 
vember, 185.5,  and  is  a  son  of  John  S.  and  Emeline 
(Jeffers)  Cotton.  They  were  both  natives  of  New 
York, and  the  former  came  to  Illinois  in  1835.  In 
1861,  having  been  engaged  in  fanning  up  to 
that  time  in  Will  County,  he  enlisted  in  defense  of 
the  Union,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  H,  One 
Hundredth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  serving  as  a  loyal 
patriot  and  a  faithful  soldier.  He  was  taken  [jris- 
oner  bj'  the  Confederates,  and  placed  in  Ander- 
sonville  Prison,  where  his  death  occurred  in  Au- 
gust, 1863.  His  wife  is  still  living,  and  makes  her 
home  with  our  subject,  who  is  the  only  surviving 
member  of  his  father's  family.  One  sister,  Rosella, 
died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years. 

The  boj'hood  and  youth  of  Albert  W.  Cotton 
were  passed  on  his  father's  farm  in  Will  County, 
and  his  education  was  such  as  he  could  obtain  in 
the  district  schools.  On  arriving  at  man's  estate, 
he  married  in  Will  Counts,  on  the  8th  of  January, 
1879,  Jliss  Clara  E.,  a  daughter  of  Amos  Eib,  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  that  section.  Five  children 
grace  this  union:  Cora,  tieorge,  Clarence,  Bertha 
and  Amos,  who  are  still  under  the  parental  roof. 
After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Cotton  carried  on  agri- 
cultural pui-suitsin  Will  County'   until  1885,  when 


724 


PORTEAIT  AND  BIOGRAI HICAL   RECORD. 


he  sold  liis  property  and  located  on  his  present 
farm.  His  place  consists  of  eighty  acres  of  good 
and  arable  land,  upon  which  is  a  substantial  resi- 
dence, barns  and  other  farm  buildings.  To  its  im- 
provement and  increasing  value  our  subject  is  now 
devoting  himself  with  good  success. 

Mr.  Cotton  has  always  taken  quite  an  active 
part  in  local  politics.  Since  becoming  a  voter  he 
has  been  identified  with  the  Democratic  party,  his 
first  ballot  being  cast  in  the  Presidential  election  of 
1876  for  Samuel  J.  Tilden.  He  was  elected  Town- 
ship Clerk  in  Will  County,  and  made  an  efficient 
Supervisor  of  Norton  Township,  to  which  posi- 
tion he  was  elected  by  his  fellow-citizens.  For 
four  years  jirevious,  he  served  as  Township  Com- 
missioner. By  his  honoraljlo  course  in  life,  and 
his  long  residence  in  Will  and  Kankakee  Counties, 
he  has  made  many  friends  and  acquaintances,  who 
esteem  him  highly  as  a  man  of  sterling  worth. 


H****^ 


Si^^OEL  CYRIER  is  engaged  in  general  farm- 
!|  jjj  ing  and  stock-raising  on  section  2,  Aroma 
U^iM)  Townsliip,  where  he  owns  four  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  arable  land.  He  claims  Canada 
as  the  land  of  his  nativity,  having  been  born  there 
February  12,  1831.  He  was  the  second  in  a  family 
of  twelve  children  boi-n  unto  Noel  and  Louise 
(Toupiu)  Cyrier.  The  parents  were  both  natives 
of  Canada,  and  were  of  French  descent.  The  mother 
died  in  18G2,  but  the  father  survived  her  many 
vears,  and  was  called  to  the  home  beyond  in  1880. 
In  order  of  birth  their  children  are  as  follows: 
Elizabeth,  Noel,  John  B.,  Mary,  Matilda,  Victo- 
ria, Oliver,  Malvina,  Ledger,  Valeria,  Adell  and 
Charlie  E. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  si)ent  the  days  of  his 
childhood  in  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads. 
His  scliool  privileges  were  quite  limited,  in  fact,  he 
is  largely  self-educated.  He  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  when  a  young  man  of  twenty-five  years. 
In  1850  he  came  to  the  United  States,  and  at  once 
made  his  wa>'  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Bourbonnais 
Township,   Kankakee    County,   where    he    began 


working  on  a  farm  by  the  month.  He  was  thus 
employed  for  about  five  j-ears.  On  the  expiration 
of  that  period  he  went  to  Iroquois  County  and  be- 
gan farming  for  himself  in  Papineau  Township, 
purchasing  forty  acres  of  wild  prairie  land,  upon 
which  not  a  furrow  had  been  turned  or  an  im- 
provement made.  He  at  once  began  its  develop- 
ment and  acre  after  acre  was  placed  under  the 
plow  until  the  whole  amount  yielded  to  him- 
bounteous  harvests. 

It  was  in  1856  that  Mr.  Cyrier  was  married  to 
Miss  Emerencie  Paradis,  and  by  their  union  was 
born  a  family  of  thirteen  children,  the  eldest  of 
whom,  Charles,  died  in  1878;  Archille  is  the  sec- 
ond in  order  of  birth;  Victoria  is  the  wife  of  Mor- 
ris Darais;  Philip  and  Emile  are  married  and 
work  for  tiiemselves;  Leonie  is  at  home;  Virginia 
and  George  died  in  infancj';  Arcelia,  Joseph,  Alex- 
ine,  Arthur  and  Josepiiine  are  at  home.  Tlic girls 
have  all  attended  school  at  St.  Anne's  Academy. 
The  motlier  of  this  family  died  at  her  home  in 
this  county  in  July,  1885,  and  her  remains  were 
laid  to  rest  in  St.  Anne's  Catholic  Cemetery.  She 
was  a  faithful  Christian  lady,  a  devoted  member 
of  the  Catholic  Church,  and  her  friends  through- 
out the  community  were  man}'.  The  lady  who 
now  bears  the  name  of  ]\Irs.  Cyrier  was  formerly 
Miss  Herlin  Gagnon,  and  their  marriage  was  cele- 
brated in  1888. 

Mr.  Cyrier  continued  his  residence  in  Iroquois 
Count}'  until  1875,  when  he  again  came  to  Kanka- 
kee County  and  made  purchase  of   one    hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  2,  Aroma  Town- 
ship.    Since  that  time  the  boundaries  of  his  farm 
have  been  extended  until  it   now    comprises  four 
hundred    and    forty    acres    of    valuable    land,  all 
highly  cultivated   and    well  improved  with  good 
buildings  and  the  accessories   of    a    model    farm. 
He  carries  on   general  farming  and  stock-raising 
with  excellent  success,  and  holds  rank  among  thei 
practical    and     progressive    agriculturists    of   thej 
community.     He  is  also  numbered  among  the  sub- 
stantial citizens,  a  position    to  which   he   has  at- 
tained by  steadily  working  his  way  upward,  un- 
daunted  by  the   obstacles  and   difficulties    whichi 
would  have  impeded  his  progress  had  he  been  of  a| 
less  determined  and  energetic  nature.     Mr.  Cyrier  j 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


725 


votes  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  is  a  stalwart 
advocate  of  tlie  Democracy.  He  has  served  as 
Assessor  one  term,  Imt  has  never  been  an  otlice- 
secker,  preferring  to  devote  hi.s  time  and  atten- 
tion to  his  business  Miterests.  In  religiuus  belief 
he  is  a  Homan  Catholic,  and  holds  membership 
with  the  church  in  St.  Anne. 


^J{.  .lOHN  1".  SIIUONTS  was  born  in  Pans, 
Truniliull  C'oiint3',  Ohio,  on  the  3d  of 
April,  1817,  and  is  the  son  of  .lohn  and 
Magdeleua  (I)oseman)  Shronts,  lioth  na- 
tives of  Pennsj'lvaiiia,  where  they  lived  near 
Youngstown.  The  fatlier  was  a  farmer  until  after 
middle  life,  since  which  time  he  has  followed  the 
business  of  keeping  a  liotcl.  About  18o8  lie  emi- 
grated to  Ohio,  where  he  lived  until  18.50,  when 
he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  about  two  and 
a-half  miles  southeast  of  Momence,  on  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  to  which  he  added 
one  hundred  acres  about  two  3ears  later.  There 
he  lived  for  ten  years.  In  18G0  he  removed  to 
INIoraence,  and  engaged  in  the  hotel  business  for 
some  fifteen  years. 

The  mother  of  our  subject  was  previously  mar- 
ried, in  1829,  at  which  time  she  became   the  wife 
of  Isaac  Kenrich.  and   l)_v  that   union   were  born 
tiiree  children,  a  son  and  two  daughters:  Solomon; 
Catherine,  tiie  wife  of  Dr.  I.  L.  Simington,    liv- 
ing at  Ashland,  Xeb.;  and  Ann,  who  married  John 
Fender.     Mr.  Kenrich   departed    this  life  in  1835. 
In  the  spring  of   1837,   Mrs.  Kenrich   became   the 
wife    of   .John    Shronts,    Sr.,    and    to    them    were 
born  five  children.    Samuel   is  represented  on  an- 
other page  of  this  work.    .John   F.,  our  subject,  is 
.the  second   of   the  family.     Isaac  Leroy  lives    in 
[ankakee.     .Julia   .\.  married   Matthew  Campbell, 
who    was   a   soldier  in    the   late  war,  and   served 
,in  a  jMichigan  regiment  during  the  entire  service. 
le   was  a    prisoner    in    Andersonville    for    many 
months,  and  there  received  permanent  injury;   in 
^llie  s[)ring  of  18'J0  he  w.as  drowned  in  the  Kanka- 
kee Kiver.     Maria    is    now  Mrs.  Richard  Randall, 
Englewood,  III. 


Dr.  Shronts  was  reared  on  iiis  father's  farm  near 
Momence,  and  is  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  this 
townshi|).  He  received  a  common-school  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  this  place,  after  whicli 
he  clerked  for  about  two  years  in  the  drug  store  of 
Dr.  J.  C.  Lane.  He  then  went  to  Chicago,  com- 
pleted a  course  at  Bryant  it  Stratton's  Business 
College,  and  tlien  again  entered  the  employ  of 
Dr.  Lane,  remaining  with  him  for  two  j-ears  longer, 
after  which  he  entered  the  medical  department  of 
the  Universit}^  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  ArJ)or.  For 
three  years  afterward  he  compounded  prescriiitions 
in  a  drugstore  in  Kendall  County,  III.  From  there 
he  took  a  course  in  Rush  IMedica!  College,  of  Chi- 
cago, from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in 
1868.  He  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  Newton  County,  Ind.,  where  he  remained 
for  three  years.  Locating  in  Momence  in  1871, 
he  has  here  built  iiii  a  large  and  lucrative  |)r.actice. 
For  seventeen  years  he  h.as  been  a  pension  sur- 
geon, having  received  the  appointment  when 
Grant  was  President.  He  is  also  surgeon  for  the 
Chicago  ik  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  Company, 
which  position  he  has  held  for  lifteen  years.  He 
ranks  high  in  his  profession  and  is  a  respected  and 
honored  citizen  of  Momence. 

On  the  21st  of  December,  18CG,  Dr.  Shronts  mar- 
ried Miss  Mariette,  daughter  of  Henry  T.  and 
Mary  (Fritz)  Smith,  who  were  natives  of  New 
York.  One  son  has  blessed  their  union,  Claud  F., 
who  was  recently  graduated  from  the  Northwest- 
ern University  at  Evanston,  111.,  taking  the  degree 
of  Bachelor  of  Science.  On  the  12th  of  July, 
1885,  Mrs.  Shronts  was  called  to  the  home  beyond, 
and  her  funeral  was  largely  attended.  The  Mo- 
mence Council  No.  8',t7,  H.  A.,  of  which  the  Doc- 
tor is  a  member,  and  for  which  he  is  tlje  medical 
examiner,  attended  in  a  body  and  contributed 
beautiful  lloral  decorations  in  testimony  of  her 
character  and  worth  and  in  order  to  show  their 
respect  and  fraternal  regard  for  their  honored 
brother  in  his  great  bereavement. 

Dr.  Shronts  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Ida  A.  Wickes,  on  the  28lh  of  Decemljcr,  1880. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Joliii  B.  and  Lois  (Spring) 
Wickes,  of  Momence,  who  were  both  natives  of  tlie 
Empire  Slate.     Mr.  Wickes,  who  was  born   in   Ni- 


726 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL   RECORD. 


agara  Cotinty,  N.  Y.,  iu  1825,  was  one  of  tlie  earl}' 
settlers  of  Kankakee  County,  to  which  he  came  in 
1848.  In  1852  he  was  man-ied  to  Miss  Spring 
at  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  and  four  children  blessed 
their  union:  Elbridge  C,  P'rank  H.,  Ida  A.  and 
Flora  Lillian.  Mr.  Wickes  followed  the  occupa- 
tion of  a  farmer,  and  was  also  a  merchant,  hotel- 
keeper  and  liveryman.  In  the  early  history  of 
this  county  he  also  ran  a  stage  line.  He  was  the 
owner  of  several  fine  f.arms  in  Momence  and 
Ganier  Townships,  comprising  about  one  thousand 
acres,  and  in  addition  to  operating  his  land  he  was 
engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business  at  Danville, 
111.,  for  some  years  prior  to  his  death.  He  passed 
away  on  the  28th  of  December,  1886,  and  his  wife 
after  surviving  him  for  five  years  departed  this 
life,  January  25,  1891. 

Dr.  Shronts  is  a  member  of  Momence  Lodge  No. 
481,  A.  F.  &,  A.  M.;  belongs  to  Kankakee  Chapter 
No.  78,  R.  A.  M.;  and  Ivanhoe  Coraraandery  No. 
33,  K.  T.  He  served  las  fellow-citizens  as  Alder- 
man of  the  Second  Ward  of  Momence.  He  has 
been  a  resident  of  this  city  for  over  forty  years, 
and  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  substantial  citi- 
zens of  the  place. 


■iJ.|>hItW|.^i    I 


hM  ARQUIS  D.  L.  HUNTER  is  engaged  in 
farming  on  section  19,  and  for  the  past 
three  years  has  been  engaged  in  raising 
fine  road  horses.  He  is  a  native  of  Illi- 
nois, and  was  born  in  Edgar  County,  near  Paris,  on 
the  22d  of  November,  1836,  being  a  sou  of  Andrew 
and  Charlotte  E.  (Stratton)  Hunter.  The  father 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  Scotcii  de- 
scent. In  their  familj^  were  two  children,  our  sub- 
ject being  the  elder.  His  sister,  Marj'  ,1.,  was  the 
wife  of  Smith  B.  Buntain,  and  in  December,  1871, 
she  was  called  to  bcr  final  rest.  The  father  of  our 
subject  removed  to  St,  Joseph,  Mo.,  in  the  spring 
of  1839,  near  which  citj'  he  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixtj'  acres  of  land.  In  the  following  summer, 
1840,  occurred  his  death,  and  in  Jnlj'  of  the  same 
year  his  wife  also   departed   this  life.      Their   re- 


mains were  interred  in  the  family  burying-ground 
on  tiie  farm  near  St.  Joseph.  The  father  was  a 
AVhig  politically  and  was  (juite  successful  .as  an 
agriculturist. 

Our  subject  was  not  yet  three  years  of  age  when  , 
he   was  deprived  by    death  of   both  parents.    Hej 
was  taken  by  an  uncle,  who  brought   him  back  to! 
his  birtlipLace.     Until  he  was  about  fourteen  years! 
of  age  he    lived  with   that   uncle  and  his  grand-i 
father  and  then  began  working  on  a   farm  by  thej 
month  during  the  summer  season,  attending   the 
.district  schools  during  the  winter.      In    1844,  Mr.j 
Hunter,  then   eight  years  of  age,  came   with   his' 
uncle  to  Kankakee  County.     In  1850  he  returnedj 
to  Paris,  111.,  where  he    became  a  student  in  the 
Paris  Seminary  for  two  years  and  was  graduated 
in  1853  from  a  private  college  of  that  city.      Ha 
then  returned  to  Kankakee  County  and  for  a  yean 
worked  for  his  uncle,  W.  J.  Stratton,  on  his  farm.j 
Next  he  went  into    partnership  with   that  gentle-l 
man  in  breaking  prairie  and  threshing,  which  they| 
continued  until  1856.     Mr.  Hunter   the  following 
year  purchased  one  hundred   and  sixty   acres    of 
partly  improved  farm  land  in  Sumner  Township! 
upon  which    he  lived   until    1861,   when    he   pur^ 
chased  property  in  Momence  and  removed  to  that 
city. 

August  22,  1862,  Mr.  Hunter  entered    the   ser^ 
vice  of  his  country  in  the  defense  of  the   Union 
enlisting  as   a  private   in   Comi)any  H,  Seventyl 
sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  being  mustered  into  serl 
vice  in  Kankakee.     He  took  part  in  many  battles 
and  engagements  of  the  war,  the  first  being  at  Cold-j 
water.  Miss.     Among  the  other  important  battle 
in  which  he  participated  was  that  of  Natchez,  th 
siege  and  capture  of  Vicksburg,  Duvall's  Bluff.aud 
Morganza  Bend,  from  which  latter  place  he  was  senl 
back  to  Vicksburg  and  then  to  New  Orleans.     Hi, 
next  went  with   his  regiment  to  Florida,  and  wa| 
at  Pensacola   and    later  assisted  in  the  capture  < 
Ft.  Blakely,  Spanish  Fort  and  Selma,  Ala.      Frori 
there  he  went  on  a   steamer  to    Galveston,    TexJ 
where  he  was  stationed  on  guard  duty  until  Augl 
ust,  1865,  at    which    time    he    bore    the    rank   o| 
Second  Lieutenant.     JMr.  Hunter  was   taken  pris 
oner  at  Alexandria,  was  held  for  three  days  and 
then   paroled.     Though  he  took  part  in  so  manj 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


r27 


hattles  and  engai^emeiits  and  was  man}'  times 
stationed  in  tlie  front  of  the  battle,  he  was  for- 
tunate, as  he  was  never  wounded  in  any  engage- 
ment. 

After  receiving  liis  discharge  from  tlie  service, 
Mr.  Hunter  returned  to  Momence,  soon  afterward 
purchasing  tlie  fai-m  of  one  hundred  and  sixteen 
acres  on  section  ly,  (ianier  Township,  where  iie 
now  lives,  and  which  he  has  made  his  home  until 
tlie  present  lime.  In  1882  he  built  a  steam  elevator 
and  hay  barn  at  Exline  and  engaged  in  handling 
grain,  hay  and  coal  extensively  until  1888,  when 
he  sold  an  interest  in  his  business,  but  he  still 
deals  extensivel\'  in  ha^-. 

In  1857  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Hunter 
and  Jliss  Amanda  Graham  and  to  them  has  been 
born  one  ciiild,  a  son,  William  A.,  who  married 
Hattie  Hyde,  and  has  one  child,  M3-rtle  H.  He 
assists  his  father  in  operating  the  homestead. 

Our  subject  is  a  Republican  in  politics  and  has 
been  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  twelve  }'ears,  and 
was  l^chool  Director  and  Highway  Commissioner 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  is  interested  in  civic 
societies  and  is  a  Knigiit  Templar,  belonging  to 
Kankakee  Lodge  Xo.  389,  A.F.  <fc  A.  M.;  Kankakee 
Chapter  Xo.  78,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Ivanhoe  Corn- 
man  deiy  No.  33,  K.  T.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
Whipple  Post  No.  414,  G.  A.  R. 


r.^  AMUEL  G.  .SALTZGABP:R,  now  deceased, 
was  for  a  number  of  j-ears  a  well-known 
resident  of  Rockville  Township.  He  was 
a  n.itive  of  Pennsylvania,  his  birth  having 

occurred  in  that  State  on   Christmas  Daj'  of  1825. 

His  father,  Samuel  Saltzgaber,  Sr.,  is  still  living  at 

the    advanced    age   of    more   than    ninet3'   j'ears. 

Both  he    and    his    wife    are   of   German    descent. 

They  had  a    family  of   seven    children,  namely: 

Catherine,  Henry,   Samuel,  Frank,  John,  and  two 

who  are  now  deceased. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  the  d.ays  of  his 

boyhood  and  youtli  upon  a  farm.     He  was  well  edu- 


cated in  the  German  language  and  also  attended 
the  English  schools  f«  some  extent.  When  four- 
teen 3-ears  of  age  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself 
to  make  his  own  xv&y  in  the  world.  For  tliree 
years  he  served  an  apprenticeship  to  the  black- 
smith's trade  in  Mansfield,  Ohio,  and  when  his 
term  of  service  had  expired  he  followed  that  busi- 
ness in  Sandusky  and  Ottawa  Counties  of  the 
Buckeye  State.  Thus  his  time  wasemploj-ed  until 
the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war. 

Mr.  Saltzgaber  noticed  the  growing  signs  of  un- 
easiness in  the  South,  saw  that  rebellion  was 
threatened  and  determined  that  if  the  South  at- 
tempted to  secede  he  would  strike  a  blow  in  de- 
fense of  the  Union.  It  was  in  August,  1861,  that 
he  enrolled  his  name  as  a  private  with  the  bo3^s  in 
blue  of  Company  L.  Third  Ohio  Cavalrj'.  He 
served  under  Gen.  Kilpatrick  and  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Franklin,  Chattanooga,  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  Lookout  Mountain,  Dalton,  Resaca  and 
many  other  engagements.  He  was  wounded  near 
Atlanta  in  the  neck  b^^  a  minie-ball  but  was  never 
taken  prisoner.  Indeed  he  was  alwa^ys  found  at 
his  post  of  duty,  faithfully  defending  the  stars 
and  stripes,  under  which  he  had  enlisted.  He 
served  until  October,  1864,  when,  his  term  having 
expired,  he  returned  home. 

The  succeeding  year,  Mr.  Saltzgaber  spent  in 
Ohio.  He  then  came  to  Kankakee  County,  in  1 865, 
and  located  in  Rockville  Township.  Previous  to 
his  removal  he  had  purchased  eightj'-three  and 
a-lialf  acres  of  land  on  section  19,  and  settling 
thereon  he  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  which  he  followed  until  his  death.  He 
also  carried  on  a  blacksmith  shop  which  w.os  lo- 
cated upon  his  farm. 

On  the  20th  of  M.\y,  1849,  Mr.  Saltzgaber  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of 
John  B.  and  Nancy  (Allen)  Smith.  Twelve  chil- 
dren were  born  of  their  union:  Charles  N.,  Bj'ron 
A.,  Cabaska  (deceased),  Alice  and  Benson  (twins, 
both  deceased);  William  A.,  Frank,Oscar  (deceased), 
Samuel  D.  and  George  (twins),  Archer  T.  and 
Delia.  Frank  acquired  his  education  in  Valpar- 
aiso, Ind.,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Normal 
School  of  that  city  in  the  Class  of  '88.  Since 
that  time  he  h.as  engaged  in  teaching,  and  for  the 


728 


PORTRAIT?  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


past  three  years  has  been  Principal  of  the  Buck- 
ingham scliools.  He  is  a  man  of  excellent  ability, 
and  in  his  profession  has  a  high  reputation,  which 
is  well  deserved.  Samuel  was  also  educated  at 
Valparaiso,  and  has  been  a  successful  teacher  in 
the  public  schools  of  Illinois  for  eleven  years. 

Mr.  Saltzgaber  was  a  man  of  sterling  worth  and 
by  his  own  labor  he  became  well  to-do.  He  al- 
ways took  an  active  part  in  political  affairs  and 
manifested  a  commendable  interest  in  every  en- 
terprise calculated  to  prove  of  pul)lie  benefit.  So- 
ciallj',  he  was  a  member  of  Whipple  Post  No. 
414,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Kankakee,  and  was  the  first  mem- 
ber of  that  post  called  away  by  death.  He  died 
Octobei  6,  1887,  and  his  remains  were  interred  in 
Deselm  Cemetery.  In  his  death  his  family  lost  a 
loving  inisband  and  father,  and  the  community 
one  of  its  valued  citizens. 


<^  I^ILLIAM  J.  MANN  is  a  substantial  farmer 
\rJ//  of  Rockville  Township,  residing  on  the 
V^^  Shaw-waw-nas-see  Reservation.  He  comes 
of  a  well-known  family  in  Kankakee  Count}',  one 
that  has  been  identified  with  its  growth  and  de- 
velopment since  an  early  day.  His  father,  Sam- 
uel Mann,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
of  Scotch  descent.  He  married  Rebecca  King,  a 
lady  of  Irish  lineage,  their  union  being  celebrated 
in  1816,  two  years  after  Mr.  Mann  had  removed 
from  the  Ke3'stone  State  to  Ohio.  He  located  near 
Mansfield,  Richland  County,  and  became  one  of 
the  earl}'  settlers  of  that  community.  He  was  a 
hatter  by  trade,  but  in  Ohio  secured  a  tract  of 
Government  land  and  engaged  in  farming.  His 
death  occurred  in  the  Buckeye  State  August  12, 
1867.  Throughout  the  community  he  was  held  in 
the  highest  regard,  he  being  a  highly  educated 
man,  well  fitted  to  be  a  leader  among  men.  With 
the  Christian  Church  he  held  membership.  He 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  was 
three  times   wounded   on   the   Huron   River,  near 


where  the  city  of  Sandusky  now  stands.  II is  wife 
was  also  a  member  of  the  Ciiristian  Church.  Her 
death  occurred  November  9,  1875,  and  her  remains 
were  interred  by  tlie  side  of  iier  husband  in  the 
Shelby  Cemetery,  of  Shelby,  Ohio. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mann  had  a  family  of  eight  chil- 
dren, namely:  Alexander,  who  died  in  1875; 
Samuel,  who  died  in  181)1;  Polly  A.,  widow  of 
John  Sludebaker  and  a  resident  of  Cleveland, 
Ohio;  .lane,  widow  of  William  Ililes  and  also  a 
resident  of  Ohio;  Rebecca,  wife  of  Geoiije  Brown 
.of  Baltimore,  Ohio;  .James  I).,  who  died  in  1879; 
William,  of  this  sketch;  and  Charles,  of  Baltimore, 
Ohio. 

Our  subject  acquired  a  good  practical  education 
in  the  common  schools  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen 
he  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  (loing  to 
Shelb}',  Ohio,  he  served  an  a|i|)renticeshi|)  of  al- 
most four  years  to  the  blacksmith's  trade,  after 
which  lie  followed  that  business  in  the  IJuckeje 
Slate  until  the  spring  of  1855,  when  he  emigrated 
to  Kankakee  County,  111.  In  company  with  his 
brother,  Dr.  James  Mann,  he  established  a  drug 
store  in  Manteno  and  engaged  in  that  line  of  bus- 
iness for  two  years.  He  then  went  to  Joliet, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  for  a  year,  after 
which  he  returned  to  Manteno,  and  in  connection 
with  work  at  his  trade  also  followed  farming.  In 
1859,  he  opened  a  blacksmith  shop  in  Rockville, 
which  he  carried  on  for  three  years.  He  then  sold 
out  and  again  took  up  his  residence  in  ]\Ian- 
teno,  where  he  started  a  blacksmith  shop  and  did 
business  for  a  period  of  fourteen  years. 

On  the  15th  of  December,  1858,  Mr.  iNLann 
wedded  Miss  Mareia  S.  Rol/inson,  who  was  born 
in  Will  County,  III.,  September  25,  1836,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Lucius  R.  and  Olive  (Spafford)  Robin- 
son. Iler  parents  were  both  natives  of  Connecti- 
cut and  were  of  English  descent.  They  came  to 
Illinois  in  1835,  locating  near  Joliet,  which  at 
that  time  was  a  village,  containing  only  three 
houses.  After  seven  years  spent  in  that  localitj' 
they  came  to  the  portion  of  Will  County  now  em- 
braced in  Kankakee  County  in  1842,  where  Mr. 
Robinson  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  Government  land  on  section  23,  Rockville 
Township.     It   was   a  wild  and  unimproved  tract. 


PORTRAIT  AlvD  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORb 


lie  liuill  :i  loji;  cabin  iix.'io  foci  and  in  it  made  his 
i}onie  for  ten  ^-ears.  Ho  did  iiis  tradinj;  in  Joliet 
and  Chicago,  hauling  all  of  his  grain  with  ox- 
teams  to  the  latter  place,  roiiniring  six  or  seven 
days  to  make  the  trip.  The  death  of  Mr.  Robin- 
son occurred  July  14,  18.50,  and  he  was  laid  to  rest 
on  the  old  honiostoad.  His  wife  [lassed  awa^' 
August  21,  1882.  Tho  Robinson  family  numbered 
ten  children:  Elias,  who  died  in  1844;  Lois,  who 
died  September  21,  1888;  A'ino.who  died  at  the  same 
time  .as  Klias,  tliov  being  drowned  in  Uock  Creek; 
Amy,  wife  of  William  Iloag;  Francis,  who  died 
June  22,  1873;  Jlrs.  Mann;  Jane,  wife  of  William 
Temple,  of  Nebraska;  Lucius  R.,  of  Kankakee; 
Delia,  widow  of  Elisha  Waterman;  ami  Jason  A., 
a  farmer  of  IJockville  Townshi|). 

By  the  union  of  Mr.  and  JLs.  Mann  have  been 
born  seven  children,  as  follows:  Nellie,  wife  of 
Lyden  Turner,  a  farmer  residing  in  Cabciy,  III.; 
Clara,  wife  of  AVilber  Hayden,  a  farmer  of  Yellow- 
head  Township;  Luella,  wife  of  H.  H.  Nelson,  a  gen- 
eral merchant  of  Cabcry;  Charlie,  at  home;  Jessie, 
wife  of  George  Canney;  and  Leon  and  Leslie, 
twins. 

On  selling  out  his  blacksmith  shop  in  ilanteno 
in  187G,  Mr.  jMann  established  a  shop  in  Kanka- 
kee, and  also  a  carriage  and  plow  factory.  He 
there  did  a  good  business  until  1884,  when  he  sold 
out  and  purchased  his  present  home  in  Rockville 
Township,  where  he  has  since  Carried  on  general 
farming.  His  life  has  been  a  busy  and  useful  one 
and  the  success  that  has  come  to  him  is  but  the 
just  reward  of  his  own  labors. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Mann  takes  ([uite  an  active 
interest  and  by  his  ballot  supports  the  Republican 
part}'.  His  fellow-townsmen,  recognizing  his 
worth  and  ability,  have  called  upon  him  to  serve  as 
Collector,  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  Constable.  His 
public  duties  he  has  ever  discharged  witli  prompt- 
ness and  fidelity,  thus  winning  the  commendation 
of  all  concerned.  .Socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  himself  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Jlethodist  Church.  They  are  people  of 
sterling  worth  and  throughout  the  community  in 
which  the}'  reside  are  held  in  high  esteem  for  their 
many  excellencies  of  chaiaotor.  (_)ur  subject  is  a 
self-made  man,  wlio  started  oul  in  life  for  himself 


at  the  early  age  of  fourteen  years.  His  career  has 
been  an  iionorabie  and  u|)right  one  as  well  as  suc- 
cessful, and  in  many  res|)ects  is  wortliy  of  emula- 
tion. 


-=^m>^-<u 


a5ii_ 


::-«- 


Sy^ 


ONATHAN  WARNKH,  who  resides  on  sec- 
tion 5,  Rockville  Township,  where  he  owns 
and  operates  a  farm  of  eight}' .acres  of  land, 
is  a  native  of  the  Keystone  Slate.  He  was 
born  in  Clearfield  County,  Octolier  4,  181!),  and  is 
one  of  a  family  of  eight  children.  His  father, 
Hezekiah  Warner,  was  born  in  the  Empire  Slate, 
and  was  of  Welsh  extraction.  He  married  Sarah 
Nichols,  and  they  became  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Jonathan;  Hannah,  now  the  wife  of 
Leonard  Morey;  Lucy,  wife  of  Ervin  Strong; 
Hezekiah,  who  died  in  1885;  Delbert,  who  died  in 
1888;  Jerome,  who  died  in  1870;  Ilortense,  wife 
of  Oscar  Hall;  and  Adeline,  wife  of  J.  Fuller.  The 
father  of  this  family  died  in   Wilmington,  111.,  in 

1862,  and  the  mother,  who  survived  him  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  passed  away  on  the  4th  of  February, 
1886. 

Our  subject  was  born  and  reared  upon  his  f.a- 
Iher's  farm.  His  advantages,  educational  and  oth- 
erwise, were  not  very  great  in  his  youth.  He  re- 
mained under  the  parental  roof  until  he  had 
attained  his  majority,  when  he  started  out  in  life 
for  himself  by  working  a  farm  on  shares.  He 
remained  in  the  State  of  his  nativity  until  the  au- 
tumn of  1847,  when,  hoping  to  benefit  his  finan- 
cial condition  by  emigrating  Westward,  he  came 
to  Illinois,  making  the  trip  by  team  and  by  water. 
He  first  located  in  Wilmington,  Will  County, 
where  he  rented  land  for  two  or  three  years.  He 
then  purchased  forty  acres  in  that  locality  and 
continued  to  make  his  home  in  Will  County  until 

1863,  when  he  removed  to  (Irundy  County,  whore 
the  two  succeeding  years  of  his  life  were  passed. 

February  16,   1810,  Mr.   Warner   was  joined   in 

marri.age   with   Miss   Julia  A.  Mead,  daughter  of 

John  and  Elizabeth   I\Iead.     Seven  children   have 

been  born  of  this  union.     Byron  G.  is  in  the  First 

I    National  Bank  of    Wilmington,  111.;  Foster,   who 


730 


PORTRAIT  AND  EIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  the  late  war,  died  in 
the  service  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  in  the  year  1863; 
the  next  in  order  of  birth  is  Jacob;  Charles  is 
a  fanner  of  Rockville  Township;  Jolin  makes  his 
home  in  Joliet;  Ada  died  in  infancy;  and  Adeline 
died  April  17,  1890.  The  mother  of  this  family 
was  called  to  lier  final  rest  in  1855,  and  lier  re- 
mains were  interred  in  Starr's  Grove  Cemetery. 
Mr.  Warner  was  again  married,  January  12,  1860, 
his  second  union  being  witli  Miss  Lucy,  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Chloe  Palmer.  Four  children  grace 
this  marriage,  the  eldest  of  whom  is  Lura,  who  is  at 
home;  Julia  is  the  wife  of  Walter  Reed,  a  resident 
of  Kankakee;  Delia  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Knight, 
and  they  live  in  Rockville  Township;  and  Jerome 
is  still  under  the  parental  roof. 

In  his  political  affiliations,  Mr.  Warner  is  a 
Democrat,  and  socially,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  witii  which  he  has  been  connected 
for  nearly  forty  years.  His  fellow-townsmen  recog- 
nize in  liim  a  man  of  sterling  worth,  and  the  com- 
munity numbers  him  among  its  valued  citizens. 
The  year  of  his  arrival  in  Kankakee  County  was 
1865.  At  that  time  he  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  5,  Rockville 
Township,  and  began  its  development.  There  he 
has  since  made  his  home.  He  now  carries  on  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock-raising,  and  is  doing  a  good 
business.  His  land  is  all  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation, and  upon  his  place  he  has  made  many 
good  improvements,  which  stand  as  monuments  to 
his  tlirift  and  enterprise. 


UGH  LANCASTER,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  the  count}',  now  owns  and  operates  a 
good  farm  on  section  34,  Rockville  Town- 
ship. He  was  born  in  Kentucky,  Novem- 
ber 27,  1820,  and  is  one  of  a  family  of  six  children 
whose  parents  were  William  and  Nancj'  Lancaster. 
The  father  was  also  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and 
there  resided  until  our  subject  was  three  years  of 
age,  when  he  removed  to  Franklin  County,  Ind., 
becoming  one  of  its  earliest    settlers.     By  occupa- 


tion he  was  a  farmer,  and  followed  that  business 
tliroughoiit  the  greater  part  of  liis  life.  Hugh  was 
earlj'  inured  to  the  labors  of  the  farm,  and  gave 
his  father  the  benefit  of  his  services  in  the  fields 
until  he  attained  liis  majoiit\\  He  tlien  left 
home,  and  began  working  in  his  ovvii  interests,  be- 
ing employed  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  day  or  by  the 
moutli.  He  first  worked  in  the  harvest  fields  for 
fifty  cents  per  day,  and  then  worked  by  the  month 
for  about  three  years.  On  the  exjiiration  of  that 
period,  lie  was  married,  and  rented  land  in  Ind- 
iana for  two  years,  when  he  came  to  Illinois. 
This  was  in  1817.  Locating  in  what  is  now  Kan- 
kakee County,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Bour- 
bonnais  Township,  where  he  rented  a  farm  for  about 
five  years.  He  then  removed  to  Rockville  Town- 
ship, and  purchased  eighty-four  acres  of  land  on 
section  34,  it  being  a  part  of  the  Indian  reserve. 
The  only  improvement  upon  the  place  was  a  small 
log  cabin,  and  the  tract  was  almost  entirely 
covered  with  a  heav^'  growth  of  timber,  but  with 
characteristic  energy  he  began  clearing  it,  and  in 
the  course  of  time  had  tlie  entire  amount  under 
the  plow.  His  fields  are  now  well  tilled  and  yield 
to  him  a  golden  tribute  in  return  for  his  care  and 
labor.  In  connection  with  general  farming,  Mr. 
Lancaster  also  carries  on  stock-raising  and  does  a 
good  business  in  this  line. 

During  the  earlier  years  of  his  residence  here, 
our  subject  experienced  the  hardships  of  life  on  the 
frontier,  undergoing  many  trials  and  privations  of 
pioneer  life.  For  several  years  he  had  to  haul  his 
grain  all  the  way  to  Chicago,  for  there  were  no 
near  markets.  The  unsettled  condition  of  the 
county  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  he  has  killed 
many  a  deer  on  the  site  of  the  present  city  of 
Kankakee.  He  has  witnessed  almost  the  entire 
growth  of  the  county,  has  seen  its  wild  lands  trans- 
formed into  beautiful  homes  and  farms,  while 
towns  and  villages  have  sprung  up,  and  the  work 
of  civilization  has  been  carried  forward  so  rapidly, 
that  one  would  scarcely  recognize  in  the  Kankakee 
County  of  to-daj'  that  of  forty  years  ago. 

July  4,  1844,  Mr.  Lancaster  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth A.  McGruder.  Their  union  was  blessed 
with  seven  children,  but  four  are  now  deceased: 
William,  Laura.  Julia  and  John  K.     Those  still  li  v- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


731 


ing  are  Henrietta,Obadiah  and  Amanda  J.  The  fam- 
ily is  widel}-  and  favorablj'  known  in  this  commn- 
nity.  Mr.  Lancaster  is  a  leading  citizen  of  Rock- 
ville  Township.  In  politics  he  has  been  a  life- 
long supporter  of  the  Democratic  part}-,  and  has 
served  in  the  offices  of  School  Diiector  and  Road 
Commissioner.  All  the  family  hold  membership 
with  the  United  Brethren  Chnrch.  He  is  an  up- 
riglit  man,  who  has  the  high  regard  of  all  with 
whom  he  has  been  brouifht  in  contact. 


=-l^+^l=- 


J^^NTHONY    CANAVAN    was   a    native    of 
i@7L)||    Ireland,    his    birth    occurring  in    Count}- 
Mayo  in  1822.     He  was  one  of  a  famil\- 
.^^^  of  eleven  children   born  to  Anthonj^  and 

Kittie  (Kirby)  Canavan.  The  boyhood  days  of 
our  subject  were  passed  in  his  native  land,  where 
he  received  the  advantages  of  a  fine  education. 
He  resolved  to  seek  his  fortune  in  America  while  still 
a  youth,  and  in  pursuance  of  that  plan  hade  .adieu 
to  the  friends  and  scenes  of  his  youth,  and  in  1840 
took  passage  on  a  sailing-vessel,  his  destination  be- 
ing Philadelphia.  For  nine  weeks  and  three  days 
he  was  upon  the  broad  Atlantic,  and  upon  his  ar- 
rival in  the  Quaker  City  he  obtained  employment 
in  a  wholesale  grocery.  With  one  firm  he  re- 
mained for  nine  yeais,  and  was  ever  faithful  to 
their  interests. 

In  1849,  Mr.  Canavan  concluded  he  would  leave 
mercantile  life  and  devote  himself  to  agriculture. 
Coming  to  Illinois,  he  decided  to  locate  in  Kanka- 
kee County,  and  worked  a  rented  farm  in  G.anier 
Township.  After  living  upon  this  farm  for  four 
years,  Mr.  Canavan  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  in  Sumner  Township,  situated 
on  section  19.  This  property  he  improved,  and 
there  carried  on  general  farming  and  stock-raising. 
He  was  possessed  of  tlie  necessary  attributes  for 
success — industry  and  econoni}' — and  in  addition 
exercised  wise  judgment  in  the  investment  of 
his  mone}'.  By  degrees  he  added  to  his  original 
purchase  adjoining  property,  uutil  his  possessions 
amounted  to  four  hundred  and  eightj'-two  and  a- 
half  acres  of  valuable  land. 


In  1841,  Mr.  Canavan  was  married  to  Miss  Ann 
Hughes,  who  is  a  daughter  of  James  and  Mar}' 
(CariH'}')  Hughes.  Mrs.  Canavan  was  born  in  1822, 
and  is  living,  still  in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health, 
although  now  seventy  years  of  age.  Eleven  chil- 
dren were  born  of  this  union,  ten  of  whom  are  still 
living.  The  four  eldest  children  were  born  in 
Ireland,  and  arc  as  follows:  James,  John,  Tony 
and  Mary.  The  others,  who  were  born  in  the 
United  States,  are  Austin,  Patrick,  Tiiomas  (who 
died  in  infancy)  and  Thomas,  all  of  whom  were 
born  in  Phil.adelphia;  Kate  and  Nellie,  who  were 
born  in  Ganier  Township;  and  Maggie,  who  was 
born  in  Sumner  Township.  The  latter  is  the  only 
one  still  residing  under  the  parental  roof. 

Mr.  Canavan  served  his  township  in  various  of- 
fices requiring  ability  and  fidelity,  among  which 
we  mention  Treasurer,  which  he  held  a  number  of 
years.  Supervisor  about  twelve  years,  Trustee,  As- 
sessor and  Collector.  He  was  a  strong  politician, 
and  was  ever  interested  in  the  success  of  his  party, 
being  a  stanch  Democrat.  Mr.  Canavan  lived  and 
died  in  the  faith  of  the  Catholic  Church.  He  was 
called  to  his  final  rest  on  the  6th  of  March,  1890, 
and  his  remains  lie  buried  in  the  Sumner  Cemetery. 

His  family  have  erected  a  beautiful  monument 
to  mark  his  last  resting-place.  As  one  of  the 
early  pioneers  he  deserves  special  notice,  for  he 
assisted  materially  in  opening  up  and  making  hab- 
itable this  now  prosperous  county.  He  struggled 
manfully  through  the  hardships  and  privations 
common  to  a  new  and  sparsely  settled  region,  and 
well  deserved  the  |)rosperity  which  he  enjoyed 
during  his  last  years. 


io~ 


if?  EVI  C.  RICE,  who  is  now  deceased,  w.as  a 
I  (®  well-known  citizen  of  Kankakee  County  of 
jJ'—^V  an  early  day,  and  as  an  honored  pioneer 
and  a  soldier  of  the  late  war,  he  well  deserves  rep- 
resentation in  this  volume.  The  record  of  his  life 
is  as  follows:  He  was  born  in  St.  Clair,  Mich.,  on 
the  17th  of  December,  1819,  and  was  a  son  of  Peter 
and  Sallie  (Swift)  Rice,  who  had  a   family  of   five 


732 


PORTRAIT  AND  BlOGRArHICAL  RECORD. 


children.  '  He  lost  his  mother  when  he  was  about 
seven  .years  of  age,  and  when  quite  young  he  was 
bound  out  by  his  father  to  a  farmer.  Thus  the 
privileges  and  advantages  of  his  youth  were  quite 
limited,  but  he  possessed  enterprise  and  industry, 
and  throughout  his  life  always  made  the  best  of 
his  opportuniies. 

The  year  1840  witnessed  the  emigration  of  Mr. 
Rice  Westward.  lie  had  determined  to  make  a 
home  in  Illinois,  and  located  first  in  Cook  County, 
where  he  remained  for  about  twelve  years.  In  1853 
he  came  to  Kankakee  County,  settling  in  Rock- 
ville  Township.  Previous  to  his  arrival  he  had 
here  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land.  The  tract  was  in  its  primitive  condition, 
not  a  furrow  liaving  been  turned  or  an  improve- 
ment made,  but  he  at  once  began  its  development, 
and  placed  it  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  so 
that  it  yielded  him  a  good  retiu'n  for  the  care  and 
cultivation  he  bestowed  upon  it. 

On  the  27^1  of  September,  1850,  Mr.  Rice  was 
married  to  Miss  Mar\'  B.  Murbach.  By  tlieir  union 
■was  born  a  family  of  seven  children,  six  of  whom 
are  yet  living,  namely:  Mary  B.,  John  S.,  I^^mma 
J.,  Rhoda  A.,  Sallie  A.  and  Lizzie  A.  The  family 
is  widely  and  favorably  known  in  the  community, 
its  membei's  ranking  high  in  the  circles  of  society 
in  which  they  move. 

On  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party, 
Mr.  Rice  joined  its  ranks,  for  it  was  formed  to  pre- 
vent the  further  extension  of  slavery,  and  he  held 
strong  abolition  principles.  Anxiously  he  watched 
the  growing  discontent  in  the  South,  and  though 
he  dreaded  the  war  be  resolved  that  if  secession 
was  attempted  he  would  strike  a  blow  in  defense 
of  the  Union.  In  consequence,  in  1863,  he  re- 
sponded to  his  country's  call  for  troops,  and  as  a 
private  joined  the  boys  in  blue  of  Company  I,  One 
Hundredth  Illinois  Infantry.  Bidding  a  fond, 
and,  as  it  proved,  a  last,  adieu  to  his  family,  he 
left  his  home  and  marched  to  the  front.  He  was 
at  once  engaged  in  active  service,  and  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Chattanooga  received  a  wound  from  which 
he  never  recovered.  He  was  taken  to  Nashville 
and  placed  in  the  hospital,  but  all  efforts  to  save 
his  life  were  futile,  and  he  passed  away  in  No- 
vember,   18G4.     His  remains   were  laid  to  rest  in 


the  South.  Mr.  Rice  was  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church,  and  lived  an  upright, honorable  life, 
in  harmony  with  his  professions.  He  had  many 
warm  friends,  and  his  death  was  widcl3-  mourned, 
not  only  by  his  immediate  family,  but  by  a  large 
circle  of  acquaintances  as  well.  Mrs.  Rice  and 
three  of  the  children,  John,  Lizzie  and  Sallie,  still 
reside  on  the  old  homestead,  provided  by  the  hus- 
band and  father  prior  to  his  enlisting  in  the  service 
of  his  countrv. 


'ill  OIIN  B.  GAY,  a  well-known  farmer  of  Rock- 
ville  Township,  residing  on  section  7, 
claims  Vermont  as  the  State  of  his  nativit}'. 
_  He  was  liorn  in  Windsor  County,  on  the 
6th  of  August,  1827,  and  is  one  of  ten  children 
born  of  the  union  of  William  and  Ann  (Brevorte) 
Gay.  The  members  of  this  famil3-  were  Eliza, 
Cordelia,  John,  Jerome,  Harriet,  Harvey,  Mary  E., 
William  P.,  Romain  and  Ellen.  In  1836,  when 
our  subject  was  a  lad  of  nine  years,  William  Gay 
removed  with  his  family  to  Washington  Count}', 
N.  Y.,  where  they  resided  until  1840.  Tliat  year 
witnessed  their  emigration  Westward,  and  saw 
them  located  in  Michigan,  where  the.y  remained 
until  the  following  spring,  when  they  removed  to 
Joliet,  111.,  making  the  journey  by  team.  After  a 
short  time  spent  at  that  place  they  took  up  their 
residence  in  Cook  County,  where  tiiey  remained 
until  1849,  when  they  came  to  what  is  now  Kan- 
kakee County.  The  father  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  from  the  Government,  and 
began  the  development  and  improvement  of  a 
farm,  on  wliich  he  made  his  home  until  his  death. 
He  passed  away  March  8,  1889,  at  the  very  ad- 
vanced age  of  ninety-three  years.  The  wife  and 
mother  was  called  to  her  final  home  the  same  year. 
Her  death  occurred  just  five  weeks  before  that  of  ^ 
her  husband,  she  having  reached  the  age  of  eighty- 
nine  years.  They  were  highly'  respected  people,] 
and  were  numbered  among  the  honored  pioneers] 
of  this  count}'. 

The  subject  of   this  sketch   is  one  of  the   well- 
known  citizens  of  Rockville  Township.     He  left] 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


his  native  State  at  the  age  of  nine  years,  and 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  various  removals 
until  they  reached  tliis  county,  wliere  he  has  since 
made  iiis  home.  Between  the  ages  of  nine  and 
thirteen  years  he  was  a  canal  driver  on  the  Cham- 
plain  Canal,  and  in  compensation  for  his  services 
received  only  the  meagre  sum  of  $7  or  $8  per 
month.  After  coming  to  the  West  he  assisted  his 
father  in  the  Labors  of  the  farm,  and  remained  un- 
der the  parental  roof  until  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  On  attaining  his  majority  lie  began  earning 
his  own  liveliiiood  by  working  as  a  farm  hand  by 
the  month,  and  thus  his  time  was  spent  for  about 
five  years.  When  he  had  accumulated  enough 
capital  through  his  industry,  econom_v  and  good 
management,  he  purchased  eight}'  acres  of  land  on 
section  7,  Rockville  Township,  the  farm  on  which 
he  now  resides. 

As  a  companion  and  helpmate  on  life's  journey', 
he  chose  Miss  Emma  Taylor,  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Mary  Taylor.  Their  union  was  celebrated 
.Julj'  30,  1855,  and  was  blessed  with  a  famil}-  of 
four  children,  but  Stella,  the  eldest,  died  August 
30,  1861,  two  days  Itefore  reaching  her  fifth  birth- 
day. Byrilda  Tj.  is  now  the  wife  of  A.  D.  Mann; 
Julia  is  the  wife  of  J.  Shroffler;  and  ITattie  mar- 
ried George  Rowe. 

In  his  political  affiliations  Mr.  Gay  is  a  Prohibi- 
tionist, but  has  never  sought  or  desired  the  honors 
or  emoluments  of  public  office.  He  devotes  his 
entire  time  and  attention  to  his  business  interests, 
in  which  he  has  met  with  success.  He  started  out 
in  life  at  the  verj'  earl}'  age  of  nine  years.  Energy 
and  enterprise  have  characterized  his  business 
career  and  in  consequence  his  efforts  have  been 
crowned  with  prosperity,  so  that  now  he  is  one  of  the 
well-to-do  agriculturists  of  the  communitj',  as  well 
as  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  valued  citizens  of 
his  adopted  count}-. 


i^^EORGE  EXLINE,  a  respected  farmer,  who 
-  owns  and  operates  a  good  farm  on  sections 
J(  5  and  6,  Aroma  Township,  was  born  near 
Covington,  Fountain  County,  Ind.,  January  4, 
1836.     His  father,  Samuel  Exline,  was  a  native  of 


Ohio,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  the  ]?uckeye  State 
January  17,  1811.  When  a  young  man  he  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Fountain  County,  Ind.,  where 
he  acquired  his  education.  His  school  privileges, 
however,  were  quite  limited.  After  attaining  his 
majority  he  was  married,  in  1833,  to  Miss  Mary 
Ann  Lowe,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Julia  A.  (Tay- 
lor) Lowe.  The  young  couple  began  their  domes- 
tic life  upon  a  rented  farm,  where  they  lived  until 
183G,  when  they  came  to  Illinois. 

The  previous  year  Mr.  E.Kline  had  made  the  trip 
witj]  an  ox-teain,  secured  a  claim,  built  a  log  cabin 
and  made  a  few  other  improvements,  after  which 
he  returned  to  Indiana.  The  following  spring  he 
brought  his  wife  and  family  to  the  home  which  he 
had  prepared.  Tiie  farm  was  located  in  what  is  now 
Aroma  Township,  Kankakee  County,  but  was  then 
a  part  of  Will  County.  When  the  land  came  into 
market,  Mr.  Exline  purchased  the  farm  upon  which 
he  had  first  settled,  containing  one  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  of  land,  on  sections  5  and  6.  In  those 
early  days,  all  kinds  of  wild  game  were  found  in 
abundance.  Indians  still  lived  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, and  the  vvork  of  progress  and  civilization 
seemed  scarcely  to  have  begun.  The  father  of  our 
subject  remained  upon  his  first  farm  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1849.  His  remains  were 
interred  on  the  old  homestead.  In  politics,  he  was 
a  Whig,  and  was  a  highly  respected  citizen. 

There  were  five  children  In  the  Exline  family, 
the  eldest  of  whom  was  George;  Mahlon  was  the 
second  in  order  of  birth;  Leander  J.  is  living  in 
Kankakee;  Albert  E.  makes  his  home  in  Galveston, 
Tex.;  and  Alonzo  A.  is  a  resident  of  Chicago. 

George  Exline,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
was  only  about  a  month  old  when  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  this  county.  He  was  reared  amid 
the  wild  scenes  of  frontier  life,  and  endured  all 
the  hardships  of  the  pioneer.  The  nearest  market 
in  those  days  was  Chicago,  and  to  the  city  they 
hauled  all  their  grain.  George  conned  his  lessons 
in  a  log  schoolhouse,  but  is  mostly  self-educated, 
and  through  experience  and  observation  he  has 
become  a  well-informed  man. 

After  his  father's  death,  Mr.  Exline  took  cliarge 
of  the  old  homestead,  where  he  has  since  lived. 
He  h.as  .added  to  it  from  time  to  time,   until   now 


734 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  RECORD. 


within  the  boundaries  of  the  farm  are  comprised 
five  hundred  and  tliirty  acres  of  good  land,  all 
well  improved,  and  he  now  rents  the  greater  part 
of  it.  His  success  has  been  achieved  through  his 
well-directed  efforts,  good  management,  enterprise 
and  untiring  industry.  In  politics,  he  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  Republican  party,  but  has  never  been 
an  ortice-seekef,  preferring  to  devote  his  time  and 
attention  to  his  business  interests.  His  entire  life 
has  been  passed  in  this  county,  and  he  well  de- 
serves representation  among  its  honored  pioneers. 


'  OSEPH  GUERTIN,  wlio  for  many  years  was 
a  i)rominent  citizen  of  St.  Anne,  and  one  of 
its  leading  business  men,  well  deserves  rep- 
*5^^'  resentation  in  the  histor}-  of  Kankakee 
County-.  lie  was  born  at  St.  Hyacinthe,  Province 
of  Quebec,  Canada,  June  24,  1833,  and  was  one  of 
ten  children,  eight  sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of 
whom  grew  to  mature  years.  One  of  the  sous  now 
lives  in  Vermont  and  two  in  Massachusetts.  The 
father,  Pierre  Gucrtin,  was  a  native  of  Canada 
and  was  of  French  descent.  He  carried  on  farm- 
ing extensivelj'  in  his  native  land,  where  he  spent 
his  entire  life.  He  died  in  middle  age,  but  liis 
wife  reached  the  age  of  sevent}'  jears.  In  the 
Patriot  War  of  1832  he  served  as  a  Captain. 

Joseph  Guertin,  our  suljject,  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  remaining  at  home  with  his  parents  until 
seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  began  clerking  in 
a  general  merchandise  store  in  St.  Hj'acintiie. 
After  three  years  spent  in  that  way,  he  c^me  to 
the  United  States  and  pursued  a  business  course 
of  study  in  Ticonderoga,  N.  Y..  after  which  he  re- 
turned home  and  again  entered  the  store  of  his 
old  employer.  It  was  in  1855  that  he  came  to 
Illinois,  locating  in  Kankakee,  where  he  clerked 
for  Mr.  Sibley.  In  1860,  he  came  to  St.  Anne, 
and  opened  a  general  store  in  wliat  is  now  called 
the  "  old  village,"  where  he  did  business  until 
the  Chicago  k  Eastern   Illinois  Railroad  was  built. 


The  town  then  began  to  grow  toward  the  railroad, 
and  moving  with  the  tide  he  erected  a  store  in 
tiie  center  of  the  business  locality. 

On  the  19th  of  May,  18G2,  Mr.  Guertin  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Virginia  Chiniqu}',  daughter  of 
Achille  and  Luce  (Eraser)  Chiniquy,  of  St.  Anne. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  Canada,  and  her 
father  was  a  brother  of  the  Rev.  C.  Chiniquy.  He 
died  February  5,  1882,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven, 
and  his  wife  passed  away  fourteen  months  later, 
in  April,  1883,  when  sixty-two  years  of  age. 
There  were  nine  children  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Chiniqu}',  eight  of  whom  are  now  living.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Guertin  had  a  family  of  four  sons  and  two 
daughters,  the  eldest  of  whom  is  Corinne;  Edwin 
married  Miss  Blanche  Hall,  daughter  of  Xewton  B. 
Hall,  of  Decatur,  Ala.,  and  with  his  wife  and 
daughter,  Lucile,  he  resides  in  Benton  Harlior, 
Mich.,  but  travels  for  a  wholesale  grocery  house  of 
Chicago;  Walter,  who  makes  his  home  in  St.  Anne, 
married  Miss  Lillie,  daughter  of  Henry  Lowe,  of 
Waldron,  111.,  b3'  whom  he  has  one  son,  Percy; 
Joseph,  Blanche  and  Aljjhonse  are  the  younger 
members  of  the  family. 

From  the  time  he  located  in  St.  Anne  until  his 
death,  Mr.  Guertin  was  constantly  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits.  Since  his  death,  his  sons 
Walter  and  Joseph,  under  the  old  firm  name  of 
Guertin  &  Sons,  have  carried  on  the  business. 
Their  store,  which  is  the  largest  in  the  place,  is 
conducted  on  the  department  s^'stem,  the  stock 
consisting  of  dry  goods,  groceries,  crockerj',  boots 
and  shoes,  gents'  clothing  and  furnishing  goods, 
hardware,  furniture  and,  in  fact,  everything  kept 
in  a  first-class  general  store.  Our  subject  not  only 
built  u\>  a  large  store,  but  a  large  trade  as  well, 
and  did  a  flourishing  Imsiness.  He  also  accu- 
mulated considerable  land,  owning  at  the  time  of 
his  death  two  farms  near  St.  Anne,  one  of  three 
hundred  acres,  and  the  other  of  two  hundred 
acres.  On  the  latter,  which  adjoins  the  corpora- 
tion lines,  is  a  beautiful  park,  used  in  the  summer 
season  for  pleasure,  and  in  it  is  a  good  race  track. 
Besides  this  he  owned  his  beautiful  home  property 
and  a  number  of  other  houses  and  lots  in  town. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Guertin  was  a  stanch  Democrat, 
and  during  President  Cleveland's  first  adniinistra- 


PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPIUCAL   RECORD. 


78'. 


lion  he  served  as  Postmaster  of  St.  Anne.  He  was 
also  Supervisor  of  his  township  for  three  years, 
and  was  the  prime  mover  in  the  recovery  of  $30,- 
(100  worth  of  bonds  illegally  issued  to  the  Chi- 
cago it  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad,  then  known  as 
the  Chicago,  Danville  it  Vincennes  Railroad.  He 
served  as  Village  Trustee  and  also  held  other 
town  offices  with  a  promptness  and  fidelity  which 
won  him  the  commendation  of  all.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  Church,  to  which  his  wife 
and  family  also  belong.  A  public-spirited  and 
[.rogressive  citizen,  he  always  took  an  active  inter- 
est in  everything  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the 
community  and  he  did  much  for  its  upbuilding 
and  development.  He  was  called  to  his  final  rest 
August,  15,  1891,  and  in  his  death  the  family 
mourned  a  faithful  husband  and  father  and  his 
county  a  valued  citizen. 


_>• 


/  ^^s^^H" 


<|l  IfelLLIAM  H.  BURCHARD.  a  grain  and  hay 
\  rJ/l  merchant  of  Momence,  was  born  in  Madi- 
J^^  son  County,  N.  Y.,  near  Hamilton,  August 
17,  IS.'il.  He  is  a  son  of  Patrick  Henry  and  Mary 
(Mosley)  Burchard,  both  natives  of  the  Empire 
State.  This  worthy  couple  had  only  two  children, 
William,  and  Mary,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  Warren 
E.  Wallace,  a  farmer  of  Grant  Park.  The  mother 
died  in  1855,  and  a  few  years  later  Mr.  Burchard 
married  Jlrs.  Celestia  Buell,  bj-  whom  he  has  a 
daughter,  Lettie,  now  the  wife  of  Thomas  Wheeler, 
a  dealer  in  lumber  and  coal,  of  Grant  Park. 
In  his  early  life  Patrick  Burchard  followed  farm- 
ing in  the  State  of  his  nativity,  and  when  a  young 
man  went  to  California,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business,  which  he  followed  for  ten  years. 
He  was  in  partnership  with  his  brother,  who  after- 
ward went  to  Honduras,  where  he  married  a  Span- 
ish lady,  and  has  since  lived. 

After  a  period  of  ten  years,  Mr.  Biuchard,  father 


of  our  subject,  returned  to  New  York,  was  mar- 
ried and  then  resumed  farming.  About  1860  he 
came  to  Illinois,  and  located  on  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  near  Grant  Park,  to  which 
he  afterward  adtlcd  another  tract  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres.  There  he  resided  until  1871, 
when  he  sold  one  of  his  farms  and  removed  to 
Momence.  In  this  city  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  cheese,  devoting  his  energies  to  that  en- 
terprise until  1875,  when  his  cheese  factory  was 
destroyed  bj'  fire,  and  he  returned  to  the  old  farm. 
The  following  year,  however,  he  again  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  cheese,  but  his  factory  was 
again  burned,  causing  a  loss  of  about  ?!8,000.  En- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits,  Mr.  Burchard  then 
spent  his  remaining  years  upon  the  farm. 

William  II.  Burchard,  whose  name  heads  this 
record,  passed  the  days  of  his  boyhood  under  the 
parental  roof.  No  event  of  special  importance 
occurred  during  his  childhood.  He  received  a 
common-school  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Hamilton.  N.  Y.,  and  afterwards  supplemented  the 
knowledge  thus  gained  by  a  course  of  study  in  the 
University  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  and  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  law  department  in  1876.  He  had 
come  with  his  parents  to  the  West  in  1860,  and 
has  since  made  his  home  in  Illinois. 

On  the  14th  of  October,  1879,  Jlr.  Burchard  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Luella  F.  Campbell, 
daughter  of  Clinton  C.  and  Olive  (Curtis)  Camii- 
bell,  of  Grant  Park.  Three  children  were  born 
unto  them,  but  one  died  in  infancy.  The  daugh- 
ters, Olive  M.  and  Maud  C,  are  still  with  their 
parents. 

From  the  time  of  his  marriage  until  1885,  Mr. 
Burchard  engaged  in  the  grain  and  hay  business 
in  (irant  Park,  Init  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  he 
sold  out  and  came  to  Momence,  where  he  has  car- 
ried on  the  same  line  of  business  continuously 
since.  He  has  succeeded  in  building  up  an  excel- 
lent trade,  and  as  the  result  of  his  good  manage- 
ment and  well-directed  efforts,  he  has  acijuired  a 
comfortable  competence.  He  exercises  his  right  of 
franchise  in  support  of  the  Uepublican  party.  He 
served  for  three  years  as  Village  Trustee,  and  for 
six  years  has  held  the  oHice  of  School  Director. 
The  cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm  friend. 


indp:x. 


707 

87 

280 

653 


Gei-anl,  Anthony S58 

(iibsou,  Kobert '"'■'5 

Gilkerson,  John ''-^ 

GUkerson,  K.  S ^^^ 

Goepper,  Charles 240 

Uohlke,  F.  VV S13 

Goodell,  Z.  K.  A Wl 

Goodill,  Robert....^ ■"8 

Gou,'ar,J.F 3«7 

Gougar.Capt.  W.T <41 

Granger,  A.  L 546 

Granger,  Peter 

Grant,  Ulysses  S 

Gray, Joshua 

Gray,  Stephen 

Greenwooci.  Anarew 655 

Gregg,  E.D 21S 

Gubtail,  Luther 214 

Gucrtin,  Joseph '■** 

Guilford. G.N "0 

Gunnerson,  Gunner 418 


H 


Hall.H.B ""SS 

Hall,  I.  H 349 

Hamilton,  John  M l'^* 

Hamlin.  J.  L '-00 

4B9 


Inkster,  James. 
Irwin,  J.  L 


..390 
.550 


Hanna,  I.  B 

Hanna,  Maj.  K.  J 271 

Hardebeck,  J.  H 543 


.107 


Harrison,  Benjamm.. . 
Harrison,  William  Henry —  51 

Hasker,  G.  \V 545 

Hatch, F.D :'<" 

Hatch.F.S 294 

Hatton,  Sylvester 46G 

Hatton,  W.  L 510 

Hawkins,  M.J.  B 3B6 

Hay,  Leon 630 

Ha.vdon,  Joseph 402 

Hayes,  Rutherford  B 91 

Heil,  Michael 324 

Hendrix,  W.  L 222 

Herschcr,  Frederick 4.17 

Hipke,  William 422 

Holcomb,  Amasa 619 

Holt,  Charles 2ti8 

Holtzman ,  Frederick 432 

Hornbergcr,  Frederick 512 

Hotchkiss,  E.  E t;l4 

Hughes  Bros 41 1 

Huling,  G.  V 245 

Hunter,  M.  D.  L 72fi 

Hunter,  VV.  R 404 


Jack.son,  Andrew 43 

Jackson,  John 476 

Jacobus,  Henry 290 

Jeltcrsou.  Thoiias 27 

Johnson,  Andrew 83 

Johnson,  J.  T 444 


Kankakee  Democrat 314 

Kankakee  Gazette 303 

Kankakee  Times 369 

Kelsey,  J.  J 492 

Kenaga,  W.  F 671 

Kendall,  E.  H 389 

Knecht,  Jacob 316 

Knecht,  J.  G 320 

Knight,  S.  L 695 

Xnight,  Solon «49 

Konklin.H.C 263 

Kramer,  Henry 512 

Krueger,  William 411 


Illinois  Eastern  Hospital  for 
the  Insane 282 


Lalleur,  Antony 292 

La  Fontaine,  Rev.  C 397 

Lamport,  E.  C 584 

Lancaster,  Hugh 730 

Lavery,  David 590 

Lawrence,  M.  B 675 

Lecour,  Joseph 312 

Legg,  L.  D S.W 

Legris,  F.  E 252 

Legris,  Joseph 6(5 

Leonard,  J.  F 264 

Letourneau,  Hon.  G.  R 217 

Leutlotr,  Frederick 228 

I^e  Vasseur,  Noel 247 

Lewis,  J.  B 595 

Llllie,  James 234 

Lincoln,  Abraham 79 

Livingston,  C.  P 37C 

Livinsston,  J.  M 706 

Loring,  Harrison .'>78 

Lovell.G.F 736 

Lowe,  H.  P 455 

Lynds,  D.  D. ,  M.  D 433 


M 


Madison,  James 31 

Magruder,  H.  A 500 

Magrudcr,  T.  H 501 


Mann,  John 718 

Mann, W.J 728 

Martin,  E.S 499 

Martin,  F.  G 372 

Mathieh.Levi,  M.  D 509 

Matteson,  Joel  A 147 

McElvain,  David 204 

McElvain,  William 712 

McGillis,  VV.  A 274 

McGrew,  James 519 

Mcintosh, S.  H 387 

McKay ,  Alexander 377 

McKinstry,  J.  M 412 

McNamee,  G.  B 580 

McNichols,  C.  S 481 

Mead,  Harmon 421 

Mellen,  Alphon.so 536 

Merrick,  G.C.,  M.  D 687 

Mertens,  Henry 3.55 

Metcair,  Chester 594 

Milk,  Lemuel 463 

Millanson,  J.  B 572 

Miller,L.H 2.'i9 

Monroe,  James 35 

Morrical,  Harrison 398 

Munger,  R.  C 661 

Myers,  Jacob 541 


N 


Nattorf,  H.  W 410 

Nerr,  J.  J 426 

Nichols,  A.  B 273 

Nichols,  James .548 

Nichols,  J.  D 285 

Nichols,  John 663 

Nichols,  J.  S 607 

Nichols,  Roswell 335 

Nichols,  Samuel 436 

Noble,  Gad  683 

Null,  J.  W .560 


o 


Obrecht ,  J.acob 678 

Obrecht,  Michael  614 

O'Brien,  Jefferson 442 

Oglesby,  Richard  J 163 

Olsen,  Rev.  A.  C 224 

O'Neil,  Dennis 532 


Parish,  W.  W.,  Sr 414 

Pasel.J.  J 44t 

Perkins,  William 208 

Perry,  L.  H 360 

Perry,  R.  A 676 

Peters,  H.  N 608 

Peters,  John 338 

Peters,  M.  R 690 

Peterson,  J.  D 697 

Peterson,  J.  H 369 

Pickering,  W.  A 555 

Pierce,  Franklin 71 

Plante,  Abram 467 

Polk,  James  K .59 

Pollmann,  Frederick 604 

Porter,  C.  C 455 

Porter,  M.  M 470 

Potter,  W.  S 553 

Powell.  Elias 629 

Pumel,G.  \V 304 


R 


Ransom,  J.  S .570 

Rantz,  H.  E 365 

Rau worth,  William 707 

Raymond,  J.  W 709 

Reed.G.H 199 

Reinhart,  Jacob 652 

Reins,  C.Y 487 

Renter,  Henry 501 

Reynolds,  John 123 

Rice,  G.  W 388 

Rice,  L.  C 731 

Richardson  Bros 409 

Richardson,  J.  T 596 

Richardson,  Hon.  Reuben. .  .446 

Rietz,  E.  F 582 

Riggs,  Porter 404 

Riker.D.C 645 

Riley,  M.F 695 

Ruger,  Capt.  Jacob 296 


Paddock,  Hon   D.  H.. 

Paddock,  J. W 

Palmer,  John  M 


. . .  .650 
....715 
....167 


Saltzgaber,  S.  G 727 

Salznian,  Louis 330 

Sana.saek,  Preston 251 

Sawyer,  R.  H 2.58 

Sawyer,  Hon.  T.  S 445 

Schafer,  Henry 413 

Schlegel,  H.  E 577 

Schmeltzer,  J.  F 667 

Schneider,  Charles 559 

Schneider,  L.  H :158 

Schneider,  Louis,  Jr 466 

Schroedcr,  Rev.  Fredgrick . .  .21 1 

Scott,  David.  ..f<- 301 

Seramlin,  Farmon 673 

Scramlin,  J.  H 216 

Seager.P.H 393 


INDEX. 


Searls,  G.  A 663 

Serene,  I.  A 279 

Sergeant,  (i.  C 477 

Shaller,  J.  H 542 

Sherman,  K.  D 571 

Shreffler,  Daniel 7ia 

Shronts.J.  F.,M.  D 725 

Sbrontz,  Samuel 608 

Small,  A.  L.,  M.  D 32:5 

Small,  John 368 

Small,  Lennington 257 

Smith,  A.  G 203 

Smith,  C.  F..  M.  D 425 

Smith,  John 435 

Smyth,  C.  A 370 

Snow,  William 508 

Spencer,  O.  B.,  M.  D 31fi 

Stansberry,  F.  M 293 

Starr,  Hon.  C.  K 211 

States,  H.B 554 

States,  VV.  V 201 

Stebbing,  Preston,  M.  D 306 

Stevens,  Zenas f>0(i 

St.  Germain,  Roraain 281 

St.  Viateur's  College 225 

Siotldard,  Ichabod 46S 

Storrs,  H.  M 223 

Stratton,  J.  P 523 

Streeter,  E.  C 381 

Streeter,  L.  C 490 

Stroud,  Thomas 510 


Strunk,  W.  F 602 

Styles,  Anthony 480 

Swan,  Henry  379 

Swannell,  Arthur 269 

Swannell,C.  E 368 

Swihart,  Simpson 626 


Tart,  Stephen .• . .  584 

Taylor,  Hon.  D.  C 314 

Taylor,  M.  S 235 

Taylor,  Samuel 705 

Taylor,  Zachary 63 

Thomas,  S.  S. ,  M.  D 721 

Thorson,  Thor 628 

Thurber,  W.  L 626 

Todd,  Hiram,  M.  D 698 

Todd.Maj.  W.  VV 684 

Tracy,  F.N 271 

True,  Charles,  M.  D 270 

Turner,  Jonathan 514 

Tyler,  John .55 


u 


Unz,  W.J 

Uran,  B.  F.,  M.  D.. 


551 

..'...289 


Van  Buren,  Martin  47 

Van  Doren ,  W.  H 693 

Van  Home,  G.  W.,  M.  D 402 

Van  Kirk,  E.  M 616 

Van  Meter.  H.  0 250 

Van  Riper,  M.  H.,  M.  D 261 

Vetter,  Rev.  George 6.54 

Vining,  Jetferson. 502 

Voss,  C.  E 272 


w 


Wagner,  G.  M 489 

Wallace,  G.F 577 

Walter,G.  M 513 

Walton,  A.  S  699 

Warner,  Jonathan 729 

Washington,  George 19 

Watson,  W.  P 639 

Webler,  Peter 431 


Webster,  J.  H 351 

Weis,  G.E 200 

Wheeler,  George 579 

Wheeler,  Herbert,  M.  D 423 

Wheeler,  Hon.  H.  K 267 

Whi  ttum,  F.  B 197 

Wikstrom,  E.  A 392 

Wilber,  Slocum 459 

Wildnian,  Robert 252 

Wilkins,  F.  L 377 

Williams,  Ira 498 

vVilliamson,  William 64ii 

Willman,  J.  E 603 

Wood,  John 155 

Woodard,  Cyrus 328 

Woodard,  Edwin 475 

Woodruff,  W.  K 315 

Worcester,  Hannibal  591 

Wright,  Elnathan 688 


Yates,  Richard 159 

Yonke,  Paul 391 


:poi?.t:e?.j^its. 


Adams,  John 22 

Adams,  John  Q 38 

Allison,  J.  W 238 

Altgeld,  John  P 186 

Arthur,  Chester  A 98 

Atkins,  W.  H 312 

Atkins.  Mrs.  W.  H 343 

Avery,  George .528 

Babst,  Lawrence 374 

Beveridge,  John  L 170 

Bissell,  William  H 150 

Bond,  Shadraoh 110 

Bratton,L.  B 610 

Bratt  n.  Sirs  L.  B Oil 

Buchanan,  James 74 

Byrns,  A.J 484 

Carlin,  Thomas  134 

Carrow,  J.  J 494 

Carrow,  Mrs.  J.  J 495 

Chipman,  Edward 220 

Clarke, H.C 19* 

Cleveland,  S.  Grover 102 

Cobb,  Emory 332 

Cobb,L.B  562 

Cobb,  Mrs.  L.  B oC3 

Coles,  Edward 114 

Crawford,  Franklin 310 

Cullom,  Shelby  M 174 

Danforth,  R.  0 254 

Danforth,  Mr.s.  H.  0 255 

Day,  Daniel 406 

Day,  Mrs.  Daniel 407 


Dayton,  Andrew 505  ' 

Dayton,  Mrs.  Andrew 506 

Denny.  D.  H  450 

Denny,  Mrs.  D.  H 451 

Dole,  D.  W 598 

Dole,  Mrs  D.  W 599 

Dorion ,  Theophile .  ..396 

Duncan,  Joseph 1.30 

Easton,  J.  B .586 

Easton,  Mrs.  E.  A .587 

Easton,  Mrs.  Gracia 587 

Edwards,  Ninian. 118 

EwiDg,  W.  L.  D 126 

Falter,  George 230 

Falter,  Mrs.  George 231 

Fetterly ,  Lawrence 580 

Fifer,  Joseph  W 182 

Fillmore,  Millard 66 

Ford,  Thomas 138 

Fortin,  Ti mothy 642 

French,  Augustus  C 142 

Gartield,  James  A 94 

Gilkerson,  John 622 

Gilkei-son,  Mrs.  John 623 

Gilkerson,  R.  S 634 

Gilkerson.  Mrs.  Agnes  N 635 

GSougar,  Capt.  W.  T 440 

Grant,  U.  S 86 

Gunnerson ,  Gunner -.418 

Gunnerson,  Mrs.  Gunner. ..  .418 

Hamilton,  John  M 178 

Harrison,  Benjamin 106 


Harrison,  W.H .50 

Hayes,  R.B 90 

Holcomb,  Amasa 616 

Holcomb,  Mrs.  Janette  R  —  617 

Huling,  G.  V 244 

Jackson,  Andrew 42 

Jefferson,  Thomas 26 

Johnson,  Andrew 82 

Kenaga,  W.  F 670 

Knight,  Solon 648 

Legris,  Joseph 605 

Legris,  Cleophe 604 

Lincoln,  Abraham 78 

Madison,  James 30 

Matteson,  Joel  A 146 

McGrew,  James 516 

McGrew,  Mrs.  M.  A 517 

Mcintosh.  S.  H 381 

Mcintosh.  Mrs.  S.  H 385 

Mertens,  Henry 354 

Milk,  Lemuel 462 

Miller,  L.  H 258 

Monroe,  James 34 

Munger,  K.  C B58 

Munger,  Mrs.  R.  C 659 

Myers.  Jacob ,.  ..538 

Myers,  Mrs.  E.  A .539 

Noble,  Gad 6S0 

Noble,  Mrs.  Gad 681 

Oglesby,  Richard  J 102 

Paddock,  J.  W 714 

Palmer,  John  M 166 


Pierce,  Franklin 70 

Polk.  J.  K 58 

Potter,  W.  S 550 

Potter,  Mrs.  W.  S 551 

Ranlz.H.E 364 

Rantz,  Mrs.  H.  E 364 

Reynolds,  John 122 

Scott,  David 298 

Scott,  Mrs.  David 299 

Serene,  I.  A ..     .276 

Serene,  Mrs.  I.  A 277 

Small,  Dr.  A.  L 320 

Small,  Mrs.  A.  L ,321 

Starr,  Hon.  C.  K 208 

Starr,  Mrs.  C.  R 209 

Taylor,  Samuel 702 

Taylor,  Mrs.  M.  E 703 

Taylor,  Zachary 62 

Tyler,  John 54 

Uran,  Dr.  B.  F 288 

Van  Buren,  Martin 46 

Van  Doren,  VV.  H 692 

Wallace,  G.  F .574 

Wallace,  Mrs.  G.F 575 

Washington,  George 18 

Webler,  Peter 428 

Webler,  Mrs.  Sarah 429 

Wheeler,  H.  K 26U 

Wood,  John 1.54 

Woodard,  Edwin 472 

Woodard,  Mrs.  Edwin 473 

Yates ,  Richard 1.58 


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■■■■■■■■■I  mi  ■■■■II II  III  11 


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